District 8 Candidate Rafael Mandelman. Photo by Luke Thomas.

By Luke Thomas

July 12, 2010

The San Francisco Tenants Union today announced it has endorsed Rafael Mandelman in the hotly contested race for District 8 Supervisor.

“As someone who strongly supports rent control, Rafael is the clear choice for tenants in District 8,” said Tenants Union Executive Director Ted Gullicksen. “As an attorney who grew up here and works with cities across the Bay Area on development and affordable housing, we know Rafael will be at the forefront in helping us develop sound, progressive housing policies that will be focused on keeping San Franciscans housed and ensuring that new arrivals can find an affordable place to live.”

The San Francisco Tenants Union has been fighting for the rights of tenants and for the preservation of affordable housing in San Francisco since 1971.

Sixty-five percent of District 8 residents are renters.

“I am honored that the Tenants Union has endorsed my candidacy,” Mandelman said. “From the struggle for rent control in the 1970s to 1998′s Proposition G to end the abuses of OMI evictions, the Tenants Union has been the city’s leading advocate for tenants. As a member of the Board of Supervisors I will work to preserve the City’s supply of rent-controlled units and other tenant protections that have allowed working class and lower income San Franciscans to remain in their homes even as property values and market rents have soared.”

Considered a Progressive frontrunner candidate in the race, Mandelman adds the SF Tenants Union to a growling list of important endorsements including the California Nurses Association, Sierra Club, United Educators of San Francisco, San Francisco Labor Council, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Supervisors John Avalos, David Campos, Chris Daly, Eric Mar and Ross Mirkarimi, Community College Board Trustee John Rizzo, Board of Education President Jane Kim, School Board Commissioners Kim Shree Maufus and Sandra Lee Fewer, BART Board Director Tom Radulovich, former State Senator Carole Migden, former Board of Supervisors Presidents Harry Britt and Aaron Peskin, former Supervisor Jake McGoldrick and former Board of Education President Mark Sanchez.