Lowell High School
Roberta Achtenberg, former Assistant Secretary of HUD (Housing and Urban Development), has come home to run for the office of mayor of San Francisco.
Running an economical campaign is how Achtenberg plans her strategy.
"I have a $1 million campaign, while the other candidates (Willie Brown, Frank Jordan) have $2 and $3 million campaigns," Achtenberg said. "I can do that because I have such a grass roots staff."
Achtenberg has more than 1500 supporters who send her $10, $15 and $25 checks. Some have contributed up to $100. According to Darren Seaton, Achtenberg's press secretary, the former San Francisco Supervisor needs this support because she doesn't have special interest sponsors.
"The other candidates from the race have special interest groups backing them," Seaton said. "She's not going to get all that special interest money because she's not that beholden to special interest groups doing business with the city."
Though Achtenberg does not expect support from special interest groups, she does believe she has the support of the electorate.
Achtenberg thinks most of her support will come from the east side of San Francisco. "The campaign is going great," she said. The communities of Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill and the Castro are her major supporters.
"San Francisco has an antiquated city government, and she wants to bring it up to 20th century standards," Seaton said. "Fundamental reform needs to be made in the city government."
"She was in HUD for two years. She was the assistant secretary for fair housing in HUD," Seaton said.
According to Seaton, Achtenberg wants to expand affordable housing, public transportation (MUNI), and other civil services. She wants to reinvent the city's government.