Candidate for
Director; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District; District 8

Nicholas Josefowitz has built a career bringing a can-do attitude and his Democratic values to solving our society's toughest problems. He founded a solar energy company that brought clean power to thousands of families, and has been a successful advocate working to build more vibrant, sustainable and affordable communities.

Nicholas launched RenGen Energy, a company that developed and built renewable energy power plants. Nicholas quickly grew the business, building over $100m of solar power plants and providing thousands of homes and businesses clean electricity. He worked closely with communities and local governments to create consensus and generate well-paying local jobs. If elected, Nicholas will bring his skills and experience building cutting-edge, clean infrastructure to bringing world-class public transportation to San Francisco.

A lifelong Democrat, Nicholas has been fighting for a just and sustainable future ever since he first knocked on doors for John Kerry's presidential campaign in college. Appointed by Mayor Ed Lee to the San Francisco's Environment Commission, and a member of SPUR's transportation policy committee, Nicholas has focused on promoting vibrant, sustainable and affordable communities. With Mayor Ed Lee and Sup Mark Farrell, Nicholas helped bring low-cost loans to San Franciscans looking to upgrade their homes to make them more comfortable and energy efficient. With Sup Eric Mar and community groups in the Richmond, Nicholas has pressured the city to plan for significantly improved speed, reliability and frequency of buses on Geary Blvd. Nicholas also co-authored an influential review of Caltrans, the state transportation agency, which identified structural issues in the organization that encouraged urban sprawl and led to poor performance. The report spurred much needed action in Sacramento. Nicholas has a track record of working hard, thinking creatively, and making government work for all San Franciscans. If elected, Nicholas would bring his Democratic values and his can-do attitude to bringing world-class public transportation to San Francisco.

Nicholas's commitment to world-class public transportation is grounded in his family, and his community. He knows that every minute we spend stuck in our commutes, is an extra minute that we don't spend with our family or our friends. As a volunteer with numerous non-profit and community groups -- serving on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council, the California League of Conservation Voters and as the founder of Leadership For a Clean Economy -- Nicholas hears from San Franciscans the difficulties they face getting around the city, and the brutal effect it can have on their lives. If elected, Nicholas would be laser focused on creating the world-class public transportation system that would allow all San Franciscans to get to work and get back home again as quickly and reliably as possible.

Nicholas graduated from Harvard. He lives in Pacific Heights with his wife Tali, whom he met in college. In their spare time they like exploring the city on foot, and cooking for each other and friends.