Come Out for Friday's Fundraiser at Sweet Inspiration
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis
(Cross-posted from our campaign site.)

Our small #ILikeMikeSF team is committed to supporting small businesses in District 8 and that is why we have organized a fundraiser with Michael Colter and Wendy Mogg, the husband and wife team who own the fabulous Sweet Inspiration Cafe.

Does this place have the absolute best and most delicious desserts in the Castro area? Judging by their legions of patrons, including us, the answered is an unqualified yes.

This Friday, September 5th, from 5 pm to 7 pm, we're holding a fun-raiser and expect to bring some bucks for our alternative candidacy at Sweet Inspiration Cafe, located at 2239 Market Street, near Sanchez.

There's no minimum required donation and we're offering a selection of desserts and coffee at this early evening party. Stop by after work or before you begin your Friday night of bar hopping.

The fab Veronika Fimbres has graciously agreed to serve as our Hostess With the Mostess, and she's promised to wear a fabulous new outfit and bring her bubbly personality and infectious laugh to add good cheer to the event.

We're requesting that everyone bring their cameras to shoot photos of themselves standing with Michael in front of a sign reading #ILikeMikeSF, then share the images on their social media platforms.

Not only do we want to see you and raise money for campaign costs, we also need you to spread the word via social media that we're on the November ballot and need everyone's assistance to build awareness for us.

With only ten-weeks to go before Election Day, we're gearing up for sending a message to the incumbent and his wealthy real estate developers that a strong contingent of District 8 voters are mad as hell and we're using our votes to express dissatisfaction and a demand for change that respects diversity.

We look forward to seeing your beautiful faces this Friday!

Mike & Mike: No Campaigning At 'Into the Woods'

At the risk of providing oppo research to the incumbent Supervisor, I wish to make a public confession. Until last month, I'd never seen a production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" and was familiar with the musical only through listening to the original Broadway cast recording.

I know, both my Sondheim Club and Showtune Queen Cards were in jeopardy of being canceled, but thankfully that's no longer the situation. Still, there may be a hit-piece mailer in the works over this gay transgression. So be it!

My husband Mike's birthday was in July and I bought us orchestra tickets to the San Francisco Playhouse company's fantastic production of "Into the Woods", playing just off Union Square.

One of the best aspects of our partnership is how Mike and I make preparations before leaving the apartment, for a date with each other, getting to the theater separately, he takes Muni and I ride my bike, then meeting in the lobby. Adds to the "date" aspect of it all.

We adored the show and the performers and musicians were all top-notch. Real-life twin sisters play Cinderella's step-sisters, the Witch is a powerhouse African-American singer who stopped the show when she revealed a sizzling dominatrix costume under her tattered robe, the Baker is a handsome bear/dancer/singer charmer and the music was performed by an eight-piece band.

Since seeing the show, we've played the CD often and now anxiously await the arrival of Disney's film version in December starring Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp. Be smart and get tickets today to the SF Playhouse show before it closes in September.

I'll get back to campaign related posts soon enough, but just want everyone to know spending quality, entertaining time with Mike at a terrific production of this Sondheim work was the best birthday present to share with each other.

Weekend Woof #88: Smoothies and Furries

This week's edition is a combination of attractive dudes seen around the Castro gayborhood and handsome furry faced fellas striking poses with our for our #ILikeMikeSF campaign. Many thanks to all the guys for gracing the lens of my camera.

The hot weather on Saturday in Jane Warner Plaza had some smooth men showing off well-developed muscles in the sunshine.

I don't know the name of the dude with the super bushy, wide beard on the bike but the smiling fella in the baseball cap is our former neighbor Russell. He let me rub my fingertips on his facial fur and I can report it was thick and bristled at my touch.

The handsome furry man on the bench is Matthew who works at the Opera Plaza Cinema and he supports our alternative candidacy, and follows us on Twitter. On the bottom is my friend Damien from the Immune Enhancement Project, left, and his date Jonathan.

And how was your week for male-gazing?

Alice Club Questionnaire Tickles Funny Bones
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis
(Cross-posted from our campaign page.)

If it's one thing we've learned in our decades of political advocacy it is the value of laughter, as both a powerful healing tool and a counter-balance to the craziness endemic to politics.

We wish to thank the conservative LGBT leaders and members of the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club for providing us with deep and extended gales of laughter earlier this month.

The club has long been the stomping ground of the incumbent District 8 Supervisor, faithfully embraces his policies and agenda at City Hall, and provided him with an early endorsement in his reelection bid.

We received a time-wasting questionnaire from Alice along with a confusing and poorly-written note, and we're going to unpack each sentence just for the fun of it.

Alice says: "Attached is the Alice Fall Questionnaire which we would appreciate your completing if your [sic] wish.

#ILikeMikeSF replies: Why in heaven's name are they sending out a questionnaire to all District 8 challengers, when we are fully aware of how devoted the club is to the incumbent? A response is likely to be used to defame his opponents.

Alice says: "You are aware of our pre-endorsement of our former Alice co-chair [the D8 incumbent] for re-election, which is why you haven’t received this before."

#ILikeMikeSF replies: Yes, we're quite aware of this fact and totally understand the club has ignored his challengers. Why does the club pretend it's interested now in what we have to say on any issue?

Alice says: "However, it would be useful to know your position on the various questions we ask, and it would be appreciated if you would respond.

#ILikeMikeSF replies: Please explain how and why it would be useful. Is there is snowball's chance in hell that the club would actually consider rescinding the early and enthusiastic endorsement, making it up for grabs?

Alice says: "Of course, disregard the return date, but hopefully you can complete [sic] before [our deadline]."

#ILikeMikeSF replies: Well, why have a return date (do they actually deadline?) in the first place? We'll also disregard the incredible sloppiness of this entire endeavor except for the humor value of it.

Oh, and no, we didn't attend their endorsement, but we sure have enjoyed Alice proving they can be ridiculous. Asking candidates so late in a club's useless endorsement process to answer a questionnaire, when they've already made their preferred choice well known, is an insult to voters and challengers.

Guerneville Gay-cation & Campaigning Up North

My husband Mike had last week off from work and to make sure he had a restful time, he sent me packing on a gay-cation up to the charming town of Guerneville up in Sonoma county.

I put my bike on Golden Gate Transit and the Sonoma County Transit buses earlier this week, and glad I had my two-wheels to ride around the woods and to the beach along the Russian River.

Staying at the Woods Lodge during the week meant I got a great deal on a room and the place was very quiet, so I was able to unwind and de-stress before the fall campaign season begins in earnest.

Being a consummate advocate, I took my #ILikeMikeSF propaganda with me and after a conversation with these two young gay men from San Francisco, took a photo of them with our campaign sign. That's Christian on the left and his sweetie Nicholas on the right.

When I came home, Mike was so rested and relaxed it was clear he hadn't been to his law firm all week and enjoyed his time-off from assisting me with the political campaign.

Now, back to electioneering and if you haven't already RSVPed to the invitation: https://www.facebook.com/events/771671746207651 , to our September 5th fundraiser at Sweet Inspiration on Market Street near Noe, please do so now. It's gonna be a blast!

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!"

Democracy Victorious! Debates Approved!

By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis
(Cross-posted from https://www.facebook.com/petrelis4supe8 and dated August 4th.)

Thanks to several modifications by Judge Sam Feng at this morning's hearing, our campaign can now participate in panels hosted by advocacy groups and candidate debates, to be held closer to election day.

He agreed that Michael could appear this Wednesday, August 6th, at the San Francisco Latino Democratic Club's special early endorsement meeting but to avoid being near the District 8 incumbent Supervisor.

Our defense attorney Derek St. Pierre and Michael must compile a list of other endorsement meetings of interest, then must request and will be granted expedited calendaring in Feng court to consider any potential proximity issues for the candidates.

Regarding formal debates in the fall organized by groups such as the League of Women Voters, Feng will allow Michael full participation in them including directly questioning the incumbent if the host organization's format calls for such engagement.

Do-it-yourself democracy in San Francisco was enhanced today by Judge Feng, and we are grateful for his modifications.

Many thanks to our supporters who were in court today, including Patrick Connors who tweeted this photo of Michael being interviewed by reporter David Stevenson of KTVU, left, and his lawyer on the right. You can read all of Patrick's tweets and view his #ILikeMikeSF photos here: https://twitter.com/uppityfag.

Weekend Woof #86: Bear - It's What's For Dinner!

The #ILikeMikeSF team has been out pressing the flesh at Harvey Milk Plaza with our materials for the District 8 Supervisor campaign, which is where many of these photos were snapped this week. Some were also taken today down at the SF Eagle Bar, where we went simply to enjoy the fine bears on the prowl.

Be sure to visit our campaign sites here https://www.facebook.com/petrelis4supe8 and also here http://www.ilikemikesf.org. 

Thanks to all the furry fellas who graced my camera lens!

The two shirtless bears have been known to provide eye candy for the queer dudes of the Castro, but I've always seen them in tee shirts till today.

A couple of salt-and-pepper bearded daddies to look at and one with a stogie in his mouth for the cigar fetishists among us.

OMG, a furry member of the Lollipop Guild standing on the Yellow Brick Road looking so adorable. Awwww.

The sweetest chub cub I met all week was this dude. Don't let the gray hairs fool you. He's all cub.

Here are youngish beefy dudes seen at Up Your Alley a few week back. And how was your week for bear-and-beef watching?

First Economic Statement Filed 2-Days Before Deadline

This was written by Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis

Our campaign is justifiably delighted to not only have successfully filed our first economic statement with the San Francisco Ethics Commission, but we filed two full days ahead of the July 31 deadline.

Michael and his longtime partner Mike Merrigan attended the required commission training in April, stayed on top of deadlines, and when needed were communicating frequently with commission deputies and workers at the Department of Elections.

On July 29, we spent almost an hour on the phone with a terrifically helpful Ethics deputy together making sure our data was properly entered, then taking the actual electronic steps necessary to file our Form 460.

We have been painfully aware of how the progressive community and its political institutions provide no training or support to activists who want to run for elected office.

Basically, you're on your own figuring out the paperwork, filing deadlines and adhering to local and state laws, while also gathering signatures and raising funds, speaking before clubs and advocacy organizations, and contending with invitations to answer questionnaires or attend listening sessions organized by unions.

If progressives in this town want to get more of their ilk elected and have their hands on the levers of power, they must begin training a cadre of potential candidates and leaders, of all varieties from serious and to alternative and message challengers, in how to navigate the election process.

Back in November, we pulled papers intending to get on the ballot and we achieved that goal, and have tremendously enjoyed engaging with voters and citizens in our unique do-it-yourself brand of democracy.

Every step has been a valuable lesson learned and we can't say it often enough: thank you for assisting us in this campaign!