Brodkin Files to Run for San Francisco School Board

Margaret Brodkin. File photo by Luke Thomas.

By Luke Thomas

July 1, 2010

Former Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF) Director Margaret Brodkin has filed to run for San Francisco School Board, Fog City Journal can confirm.

Brodkin filed papers Tuesday with the San Francisco Department of Elections declaring her intent to run for one of three seats up for re-election on the seven-member Board.  Board of Education President Jane Kim, Vice President Hydra Mendoza and Commissioner Shree Maufus currently hold those seats.

Kim, who is running in the race to succeed District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly, is not seeking re-election to the Board of Education.

“I’ve made a career and a calling of advocating for children and youth for 32 years,” Brodkin told FCJ.  “Now the next horizon is taking on a leadership position and working with our challenged schools to support opportunity and success for our most vulnerable young people.  We need to bring all the resources of the community together so we can all participate in making schools exciting places to learn and centers of the community that address the comprehensive needs of children. My years of experience make me almost uniquely qualified to help create partnerships that will ensure that young people can succeed in school and in life.”

Brodkin is lauded across the political aisle for her fierce advocacy for children.  Prior to serving as DCYF Director for the Newsom administration, Brodkin served as Executive Director for Coleman Advocates for Children, a San Francisco based child advocacy organization.

Newsom ousted Brodkin in 2009 when she resisted attempts by the Newsom administration to raid the DCYF budget to help balance that year’s budget deficit.

Luke Thomas

Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

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