Both of the candidates running in the Nov. 5, 2024, general election for California State Assembly District 19 — David Lee (D) and Catherine Stefani (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Lee:
“I was born and raised in San Francisco and am a proud SFUSD graduate. After completing my bachelors and masters degrees, I went on to complete my PhD at San Francisco State University (SFSU).
I became the Executive Director of Chinese American Voter Education Committee (CAVEC) in 1993, where I organized hundreds of voter registration drives and reached over 100,000 voters … I also served as Chair of the U.S. Census Information Steering Committee.
At SFSU, I taught American politics and was an active member of the Faculty Rights Panel of the SFSU Chapter of California Faculty Association. At Laney College, I run a program supporting ESL and BIPOC students, many of whom are first-generation and identify as AAPI. I organized the first AANAPISI grant from the US Department of Education for any CCC, successfully lobbying for $2.5 million to support mental health services for AAPI and immigrant students at Laney College and Berkeley City College.
I served on the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission … I chaired the Capital Committee on the Commission for seven years, where I managed bond money for Rec Park and fought to establish more open spaces and parks for residents.”
Stefani:
“I was born in San Francisco and my parents—a union nurse and a Vietnam War veteran—raised me in the Central Valley. After high school, I attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga and earned a J.D. and LL.M. from the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. I have devoted my career to public service, first as a prosecutor in Contra Costa County, and later as a senior legislative aide to my two predecessors on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. After serving as San Francisco County Clerk, I was appointed to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and I won election in 2018 and reelection in 2022. As Supervisor, I have fought alongside community leaders for public safety, better parks and schools, more affordable housing, government accountability and transparency, and real solutions to San Francisco’s homelessness and addiction crises. I have lived in San Francisco for over two decades, and I am raising my children, Dominic and Gianna, here with my husband, Chris. I have also led San Francisco’s chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, served on the board of directors of the Homeless Prenatal Program, and competed in several triathlons to raise money to fight leukemia.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
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