Effective Campaigning at Harvey Milk Plaza

By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis

(Cross-posted from our campaign page.)

Since our alternative candidacy is a very grassroots effort, we need to press lots of flesh and a top location for that is at the Harvey Milk Plaza transit hub in the heart of the Castro.

In recent days, we've been at the plaza during the evening rush hour greeting voters and potential donors distributing as many campaign cards as possible. It's been surprising hearing how many people say they're not on Facebook and we tell them the page is open to all regardless of being a user of Facebook or not.

One of the pleasures campaigning at this location is getting reacquainted to the many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folks and people living with HIV/AIDS we've met over the decades.

Every encounter with an old friend or hearing words of encouragement from strangers is a "win" for our campaign. We hope this sort of old-fashion electioneering educates voters that we're on the fall ballot and persuades them to tell their social media contacts about our campaign.

This photo is of an old acquaintance named Shadow who had nothing but words of praise to share, well, that and a very welcomed bear hug. Thanks, Shadow for your support and embrace, not to mention posing with our #ILikeMikeSF sign.

D8 Bisexual Activist Sue Englander Endorses Us
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis 
(Cross-posted from our campaign site.)

If you've been at Harvey Milk Democratic Club meetings, union picket lines or LGBT solidarity protests in recent years you've likely seen District 8 bisexual voter and activist Sue Englander.

Seems we've known and seen her organizing for countless years and when asked for her endorsement for our alternative candidacy, without hesitation she smiled and said yes.

We were at the District 8 Democrats' meeting at Rafael Mandelman's apartment, and we quickly grabbed him and had his snap this photo of Sue and Michael together. Sue has sent us this fabulous endorsement statement and we have two things to say: thank you. From Sue:

"I'm endorsing Mike because he and I share a love of the Castro and Mission neighborhoods as broadly diverse communities and livable spaces, something that is fast disappearing.

"Most recently, he impressed me with his tireless and successful effort to persuade SF DPW and BART to wash away the debris and bird droppings at the 16th Street Plaza. For Harvey Milk, it was dog poop and for Mike, it's pigeon poop!

"I know that Mike will work to ensure a livable city for all San Franciscans, one that is deeply inclusive, immensely creative, and just a bit crazy and full of passion - just like Mike!"