Opinion: Why I support Danny Sauter for District 3 Supervisor

The Chinese American community has had a long and fractured history of political organizing in San Francisco. When building from within our own community we've produced highlights like Betty Yee and Fiona Ma. Unfortunately, we've also produced lowlights like Leland Yee and Ed Jew.

As our population has grown and shifted from mostly immigrants ensuring a voice and representation in San Francisco, the next phase for our community is recognizing the allies that will help build the coalition for our priorities of public safety, education, and opportunity.

The younger generation of activists that have arisen during COVID and the recent rise of Stop Asian Hate see that we cannot tackle these issues alone.

This is why myself and other newer groups like Save Cantonese and the Association for the Advancement of Asians want to recognize longtime ally, Danny Sauter, in his campaign for District 3 Supervisor.

While many during an election year would like to tout their connections to the Chinese American community, Danny has put the effort in to integrate himself and understand our issues.

His involvement with Save Cantonese extends beyond advocacy with his learning of conversational Cantonese to practice with the seniors to hear their thoughts in their own words. This has spilled over into his work with Cameron House and other small businesses in Chinatown with a better understanding of the needs of the local community leading to his support for Yick Wo Elementary School.

While identity politics would push for only Chinese American candidates, we have seen historically that this has not always led to the best outcomes for our community.

Danny has earned the endorsement of numerous Asian American organizations and has shown not with his words but his actions that he would work towards the best interest of the Asian American community that he seeks to represent. This is how the Asian American community continues to build its political power by bringing in allies that we can trust.

*Brian Quan was born and raised in San Francisco. He is a political activist and former President of the Chinese American Democratic Club.