Bevan Dufty
Encyclopedia
Bevan Dufty is an American
politician and former Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
. He represented San Francisco's District 8, encompassing the 71,000 residents of Ashbury Heights, Buena Vista, The Castro, Diamond Heights, Dolores Park
, Duboce Triangle, Glen Park, Noe Valley, Sunnyside and Twin Peaks
.
and Maely Bartholomew, who had lost most of her family in the Holocaust. Dufty was raised in Harlem
, NYC where his mother befriended jazz musician Billie Holiday
, who would later become his godmother. His voice can be heard on a recording made in the Dufty household where Holiday makes jokes about his red underpants.
After moving from Harlem to California
at age 16, Dufty finished high school at Menlo-Atherton High School
in Atherton, CA, just south of San Francisco. Dufty graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
, where he was a student body co-president and earned a degree in Political Science.
for Education in the office of New York Rep. Shirley Chisholm
. Later, he served as Chief Legislative Assistant to Rep. Julian Dixon, a post in which he helped craft legislation that created the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. In San Francisco, he worked for former Supervisor Susan Leal
, served as an aide under Mayor Willie Brown, and coordinated the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services.
A Democrat
, Dufty was elected a supervisor from the city's eighth district in 2002 before being re-elected
in 2006. He served as Chair of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority
, Chair of the City Operations & Neighborhood Services Committee as well as a Representative on the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Board. As Supervisor, Dufty was known for being highly accessible and maintaining strong constituent relations.
Dufty is openly gay
and his election campaigns have often won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
. In 2006, Dufty and lesbian friend Rebecca Goldfader had a daughter, Sidney.
In September 2009, Dufty announced he would be a candidate for Mayor of San Francisco
in the 2011 election.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and former Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
. He represented San Francisco's District 8, encompassing the 71,000 residents of Ashbury Heights, Buena Vista, The Castro, Diamond Heights, Dolores Park
Dolores Park
Mission Dolores Park is a San Francisco, California, city park located in the neighborhood of Mission Dolores, at the western edge of the Mission District, which lies to the east of the park. To the west of the park is a hillside referred to as "Dolores Heights" or considered a part of the Castro...
, Duboce Triangle, Glen Park, Noe Valley, Sunnyside and Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
.
Early life
Dufty is the son of writer William DuftyWilliam Dufty
William Francis Dufty was an American writer, and nutrition activist. Including ghostwriting, he wrote approximately 40 books.-Biography:...
and Maely Bartholomew, who had lost most of her family in the Holocaust. Dufty was raised in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, NYC where his mother befriended jazz musician Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, who would later become his godmother. His voice can be heard on a recording made in the Dufty household where Holiday makes jokes about his red underpants.
After moving from Harlem to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
at age 16, Dufty finished high school at Menlo-Atherton High School
Menlo-Atherton High School
Menlo-Atherton High School is a four-year comprehensive secondary school located in Atherton, California which was established in 1951. Menlo-Atherton is part of the Sequoia Union High School District....
in Atherton, CA, just south of San Francisco. Dufty graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where he was a student body co-president and earned a degree in Political Science.
Political career
After graduation, he served as Senior Legislative AssistantLegislative assistant
A legislative assistant is a legislative staffer who works for a legislator by monitoring pending legislation, conducting research, drafting legislation, giving advice and counsel, and making recommendations....
for Education in the office of New York Rep. Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. She was a Congresswoman, representing New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to Congress...
. Later, he served as Chief Legislative Assistant to Rep. Julian Dixon, a post in which he helped craft legislation that created the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. In San Francisco, he worked for former Supervisor Susan Leal
Susan Leal
Susan Leal is a water utility consultant, the co-author of the book Running out of Water. Formerly, she was the General Manager of SFPUC, San Francisco Treasurer and a San Francisco Supervisor. She lives in San Francisco, CA.-Early life and education:...
, served as an aide under Mayor Willie Brown, and coordinated the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services.
A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Dufty was elected a supervisor from the city's eighth district in 2002 before being re-elected
San Francisco, California, election, 2006
The 2006 San Francisco Board of Supervisors elections occurred on November 7, 2006. Five of the eleven seats were contested in this election. Four of the five incumbents ran for reelection, while one sought another elected office....
in 2006. He served as Chair of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority
San Francisco County Transportation Authority
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority is a state chartered sub-regional transportation planning and programming agency for San Francisco County. SFCTA is a separate legal entity, with its own administrative structure, policies, staff, budget, and with separate borrowing capacity...
, Chair of the City Operations & Neighborhood Services Committee as well as a Representative on the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Board. As Supervisor, Dufty was known for being highly accessible and maintaining strong constituent relations.
Dufty is openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and his election campaigns have often won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
. In 2006, Dufty and lesbian friend Rebecca Goldfader had a daughter, Sidney.
In September 2009, Dufty announced he would be a candidate for Mayor of San Francisco
Mayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
in the 2011 election.