Candidate for
Supervisor; City of San Francisco; District 4

I was fortunate to be born to first generation Chinese immigrants who decided to make the great city of San Francisco their home. During my first few years my parents lived at 1450 22nd Avenue in what is now supervisory district 4 and throughout my formative years I was raised, went to schools and learned about city life in the greater Sunset.

After years of playing baseball at West Sunset Playground, shooting baskets at the Sunset Rec Center, attending West Portal and Herbert Hoover, surfing at Ocean Beach, and graduating from Saint Ignatius, I'm proud to be able to call the Sunset my home. I graduated from San Francisco State University, I rent my home here, and my public relations business is based on Irving Street. Because of my deep roots I understand the distinct needs of our area. But my experience also includes living and working in other parts of San Francisco, and I know the challenges that face us in the Sunset are not unique to this district.

Over the last decade I have been fortunate to work with community leaders throughout the City on confronting the key issues facing us as we move into a new century # education, health care, transportation, crime and the quality of life in our neighborhoods. It has been my honor to serve our City first as a member of the KQED Community Advisory Panel and then as a member of the KQED Board of Directors. As an advocate for our communities I have helped to shape public forums to look for solutions to the rise in hate crimes and to help increase the benefits of community-based journalism. This neighborhood-based process of gathering input is critical to finding solutions that work for all of us.

As an entreprenuer and the owner of a small business I also understand the importance of effective budgeting and sound financial management. Prior to starting my public relations firm in 1994 I spent more than a decade in the publishing world. During my college years at San Francisco State I started an industry trade magazine and a cutting edge lifestyle magazine for the emerging snowboarding market. I was able to complete the Stanford University Professional Publishing Course while building my businesses. When the multinational publishers moved into the growing snowboard market I closed my publications and went on to work in marketing and business development for PC World Communications.

It was with the founding of Hsieh and Associates that I was able to begin working even more effectively for our community. I was an outspoken advocate for community concerns in the mayoral campaigns of Frank Jordan and Willie Brown. Working with a citywide coalition, I fought to rebuild Laguna Honda Hospital and keep effective services for senior citizens in our community. Making our schools and community colleges safe for our children was at the heart of my work on educational reform. And I have been able to work with all of the diverse communities in San Francisco while standing up for those who have too often been left out of the political process.