The Roots I was raised in the suburbs of St. Louis, where "Show Me" wasn’t just a state motto—it was a way of life. It meant you didn't just talk about a problem; you showed up with a shovel or a plan to fix it. Growing up in a community that valued looking out for your neighbor taught me that leadership isn't about a title. It’s about the work you do when the cameras aren't rolling. I’ve lived in the city and the country, and what I’ve learned is that at the end of the day, we all want the same thing: a safe street, a fair shake, and a seat at the table.
The Responsibility For me, is about honoring a debt. I’m an early-40s Black woman who knows that my right to stand here was paid for by ancestors who spent two and a half centuries working for a future they could only dream of. I don’t take my voice for granted, and I don’t think you should either. Our vote is a sacred legacy, and staying on the sidelines while our city faces real challenges isn't an option. I’m stepping up because our ancestors didn't struggle so we could just "get by"—they struggled so we could lead.
I’m running as an Independent because I’m tired of the performance. We’ve had enough of the political theater that puts party loyalty over the people of District 6. Whether it’s SOMA, Mission Bay, or Treasure Island, our neighborhoods deserve a representative who answers to the residents, not a party platform. I’m not here to play the "Dumb Ass" games of identity politics or empty promises. I’m here to bring that St. Louis common sense to San Francisco. I’m here to listen to the folks who actually keep this city running.
After taking some time to recover and reflect following a major loss, I am back with a fire in my belly and a clear focus. I am ready to do the heavy lifting to reclaim our streets and our city’s future. I’m not a career politician; I’m a neighbor who is ready to work. We don't need more rhetoric; we need results. It’s time to stop the sidelines talk and start the front-line walk. My name is Donnie Wilson Bates, and I’m asking for the opportunity to show you what real, independent leadership looks like.
I will treat public safety and workforce housing as the essential infrastructure required for businesses to thrive and stay in our city. My plan cuts the red tape for small businesses and uses my experience in crisis management to ensure our commercial corridors are clean, safe, and open for everyone.
We must protect the "legacy businesses" that give San Francisco its soul by offering tax incentives and simplifying the permit process. I will invest in street-level infrastructure—better lighting and community ambassadors—to create an environment where businesses and residents can grow together safely.
As a COVID-19 Hotel Lead, I saw firsthand that housing is the first step toward mental health and recovery. I support a "Housing First" model that is backed by real accountability, ensuring every dollar spent on supportive services results in a safer street and a stabilized life.
In San Francisco, we can no longer ignore the prosperity gap. While the city's unemployment rate is currently 3.8%, that number doesn't tell the whole story. The reality is that a single individual in San Francisco now needs an annual pre-tax income of at least $67,469 just to cover basic living expenses. Despite this, over one-third of our local workforce is still earning less than $20 per hour. District 6 is the engine of San Francisco, but that engine is stalling for the people who run it. With a chronic shortage of over 340,000 skilled trades workers statewide, we have a massive opportunity to move our neighbors from low-wage survival to high-wage stability. I am running to bridge this gap by creating 'direct-to-career' pipelines into the trades and healthcare sectors—industries that provide the $119,000 median household income our residents need to actually afford to live in the city they build.
Community Platform: Rebuilding the Village in District 6 We live in a city of nearly a million people, yet for too many in District 6, the world is a lonely place. You can be surrounded by thousands and still feel completely left out. I am running to change the culture of our neighborhoods from one of isolation to one of true community. Being a representative isn't just about what happens at City Hall; it’s about what happens on our sidewalks and in our community rooms. I want to champion 'The Village Initiative'—simple, low-cost, high-impact ways to bring us back together. I’m talking about community game nights, bingo at the local center, and organized 'Neighbor Walks' where we pair up to ensure our elders aren't walking alone or feeling empty. It takes so little to be of service—holding a door, helping a neighbor struggling with bags of laundry, or simply checking in on the person next door. We’ve spent too much time being self-absorbed; it’s time for us to be a little selfless. I’m running to lead a District 6 that looks out for one another, where no one is left to feel like a stranger in their own home. It’s time we stop just living next to each other and start living with each other.
We often say our children are the future, but they are living in the struggle right now. In District 6, our youth are growing up in one of the most expensive and complex environments in the world. We cannot expect them to lead tomorrow if we don't protect them today. Protecting our children means ensuring that every child in this district has a safe route to school and a warm place to sleep at night. It means addressing the mental health crisis head-on by putting more counselors in our community centers and fewer barriers to care. We need to create 'Safe Zones'—physical spaces where kids can go after school for those game nights and community connections we talked about, away from the pressures of the street. Their struggles are real: from the digital divide to the trauma of seeing neighbors in crisis. I am running to be a voice for the voiceless. I will fight for universal after-school programming and local internships with our tech neighbors so that a child born in SOMA doesn't just watch the future happen from the sidewalk—they help build it. We owe it to them to be the shield that protects their potential and the bridge that carries them to their dreams.
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!