Asian American and Ethnic Studies lecturer Eric Mar, a 16-year teaching veteran at SF State, has raised $10,000 toward his campaign to represent the Richmond District on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors for the city election in November.

Mar seeks to replace existing District 1 Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, who will be termed out at the end of 2008. A Democrat, Mar officially filed for candidacy in November 2007.

“I feel confident. I have a real good chance of being elected,” Mar said Tuesday, the day of the California primary, from a cafe in the Richmond.

Mar said he has the backing of several progressive members of the board. “McGoldrick, current supervisor of the Richmond, as well as supervisors Tom Ammiano, Chris Daly and current board president Aaron Peskin, endorse and support me.”

Though Mar has met the $5,000 minimum requirement for public financing, he said he has received only 60 of 75 eligible contributions to qualify for the program. Eligible contributions must come from residents of San Francisco, and only the first $100 of any contribution goes towards the first $5,000.

“I have a lot of $500 checks from people outside of San Francisco, and a lot of $10 and $25 checks from working families, students and recent college graduates,” said Mar, who expects to receive the remaining contributions by Feb. 15, months before the August deadline.

The purpose of public financing, Mar explained, is for candidates to show they have a broad base of support. However, the specific dollar amounts and eligi-ble number of contributions are there specifically to ensure that public funds don’t just go to anybody.

“It’s a progressive reform that allows grassroots candidates, whether they are tenants, or even students who want to run for public office, to have a fighting chance to be elected in San Francisco,” Mar said.

Mar currently teaches four classes at SF State, and said his experiences with students have given him a broader, city-wide perspective as a prospective supervisor.

“My teaching at SF State has given me an understanding of the diverse neighborhoods and communities in San Francisco, so even though I would be representing the Richmond District, I feel I have a broader view of the neighborhoods in the city,” said Mar, who currently sits on the San Francisco Board of Education.

Mar’s first interaction with SF State was when he moved into the university’s Asian Student Union House in the Richmond as a 22-year-old student. He took classes at SF State while on leave from classes at UC Davis. Having lived in the Richmond for 22 years, Mar said that, along with preserving the neighborhood for working families, he would con-tinue to keep students’ interests in mind.

“I will help improve public transit and support affordable housing in the Richmond and throughout the city. I also have the ability to bring together young people with many seniors that live here,” he said.

Mar formerly practiced immigration law and served as the former president of the Board of Education in 1995. He said he supports underrepresented groups in society.

“I always advocate expanding democracy for disenfranchised communities such as immigrants, lower income wage earners and younger voters.” he said.

Andrew Hom, a teaching assistant in Mar’s Asian American Ideals and Institutions class, is ready to support the lecturer’s run for supervisor.

“I’m on standby. I’ll help him out with his campaign in any way that he needs,” said Hom, a 39-year-old Asian American studies major. “If it means passing out fliers or cooking hot dogs in the park, I’m prepared to do any number of things.”

Hom, a native San Franciscan, said Mar’s background as an immigration lawyer and his desire to represent certain populations in San Francisco make him a qualified candidate for a supervisor seat.

“He demonstrates empathy that clearly shows his interests are aligned with target groups like immigrants, low income earners, and the work force, which composes a fair amount of San Francisco,” Hom said. “He really listens and understands the story behind peoples' lives.”

Hom added that Mar encour-ages political awareness among his students, an important matter given the apathy he said he has noticed in underclassmen as a teaching assistant.

“Eric stresses everyone is free to make their own decisions on anything and encourages critical thinking,” Hom said.

“He’s somebody who listens to other peoples’ issues and opinions, and somebody who understands what people in the city need,” said Margo Chui, 18, a student in an Asian American studies class Mar teaches.

Chui, a business major and San Francisco resident, said she would probably vote for Mar should he run in November.
Mar’s characteristics in the classroom would also help him as a supervisor, Chui said.

“As a teacher, he is charismatic. That would make him a good supervisor and translates to a lot of people in the city liking him,” Chui said.