The District Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer of San Francisco, responsible for overseeing the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses. The four candidates running for District Attorney are the current interim District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Joe Alioto Veronese, John Hamasaki and Maurice Chenier.
Brooke Jenkins
Jenkins is the incumbent of the seat, appointed by Mayor London Breed in July 2022 to fill the vacancy of Chesa Boudin who was recalled in the latest election. Jenkins served as Assistant District Attorney from 2014 to 2021. However, in 2021, Jenkins resigned from the office due to frustration with Boudin’s policies. Jenkins then began working on the campaign to recall Boudin. Her priorities are addressing violent and repeat offenders, implementing consequences for drug dealers and furthering criminal justice reform.
She recently announced felony charges against fentanyl drug dealers.
Jenkins has been endorsed by California State Senator Scott Wiener, Mayor Breed and Supervisors Dorsey, Mandelman, Safaí and Stefani, the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club and the United Democratic Club.
Jenkins did not respond to requests for comment.
John Hamasaki
Hamasaki is a criminal defense attorney and has run a criminal defense law firm for 13 years. He also served as a San Francisco Police Commissioner. His concern for Jenkins’ office being too close to Mayor Breed due to her appointment compelled him to run for the seat. Hamasaki’s priorities are furthering justice and policing reform, as well as expanding the Political Corruption Unit.
Hamasaki said that one of the most pressing issues is restoring accountability in the district attorney’s office. Hamasaki said, “It feels very political right now, as it has since the recall.”
“I think there’s a problem right now in that we have the District Attorney and the City Attorney, both appointed by Mayor Breed, as the two investigating agencies within the city,” Hamasaki said.
Hamasaki is endorsed by the SF Democratic Party, Supervisor Dean Preston and the Harvey Milk Democratic Club.
Joe Alioto Veronese
Alioto Veronese began his career in 1992 as an officer in the San Francisco Police Department, where he served for three years. Following this, he became the youngest Senior District Attorney investigator for fraud. He was then appointed to the San Francisco Police Commission, and later was appointed to the California Criminal Justice Commissions. Alioto Veronese later served as a Fire Commissioner. Alioto Veronese said that he is running for District Attorney because of the “lack of attention to the city and its needs, despite the fact we are spending billions and billions of dollars.”
“I am on a mission to rescue San Francisco from the gloom that it’s currently in,” Alioto Veronese said.
Alioto Veronese plans to arrest fentanyl dealers to address the city’s fentanyl crisis. He wants to re-establish the Misdemeanor Division to target car break-ins and property crimes, as well as the Political Corruption Unit to address alleged corruption in San Francisco politics.
Alioto Veronese said he would reinstate a Political Corruption Unit. “Politicians are stealing money from San Francisco. One of my first moves [to fight corruption] would be to remove the appointment authority of the Chief of Police away from the mayor who politicizes the position and inappropriately exerts her authority,” he said.
Alioto Veronese supports slowly reforming the police system. He states solutions for repeat violent offenders, prosecuting property crimes, enacting tough gun sentences and prioritizing hate crimes as his priorities.
Maurice Chenier
Chenier is a private litigation and trial attorney and has been in practice for 29 years. He describes himself as the most pro-police, law and order candidate.
Chenier is the only non-Democrat running for District Attorney, registering himself as an independent. He challenged Kamala Harris in the 2007 District Attorney race but withdrew due to a lack of funds for his campaign. Chenier has served as a law clerk to the California Department of Justice Antitrust Division and later, the Federal Public Defender’s office in San Jose.
Chenier has not received endorsements from any figures or organizations.
Chenier did not respond to requests for comment.
