Quintin Mecke

Quintin Mecke (born December, 1972) was a candidate in the 2007 San Francisco Mayoral election. He is a Democrat.

Biography

Mecke was born in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, in December 1972. He has a B.A. in Religion from Dickinson College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from San Francisco State University.

Mecke volunteered with the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa, after college. In 1997, following a near-fatal mountain climbing accident in Alaska, he moved to San Francisco, where he began working for Supervisor Tom Ammiano.

Mecke has been involved for many years as a community leader in safe affordable housing issues. During his tenure on the San Francisco Shelter Monitoring Committee, he worked with homeless individuals and families; homeless shelter service providers; and community based advocates to establish 'Minimum Standards of Care' for San Francisco's Homeless Shelter System which previously did not provide universal standards of care for the shelter residents. This landmark legislation, signed into law in April 2008, improved the quality of life and safety in the shelters.

Professional and Leadership Experience

Mecke is currently the Communications Director for Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco). In the fall of 2008, Mecke managed the campaign for the successful San Francisco propositions Yes on N and Yes on Q on the November 4 General Election ballot. Previously he was the Program Director for the Safety Network Partnership, a public safety program in San Francisco that develops community-driven responses to crime and violence. From 2006 to 2009, he was also the Chair of the Shelter Monitoring Committee, which inspects the city’s homeless shelters. A former community fellow with the Coro Foundation, Mecke is a recent graduate of the S.F. Chamber of Commerce’s “Leadership San Francisco” program.

Mecke was the President of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco for several years and served on the Board of Directors for the arts organization CounterPULSE from 2005 to 2008.

Political Activism

After spending most of 1999 doing volunteer work in India, Mecke returned to work in Ammiano’s office.

Mecke helped organize the South of Market Anti-Displacement Coalition (SOMAD). He also worked for Matt Gonzalez's 2000 campaign for Supervisor.

In 2001, Quintin was selected to be a member of the Civil Grand Jury, and wrote a report for the Grand Jury on homeless in San Francsico. He famously debated Gavin Newsom on Care not Cash, in which he challenged Newsom’s claims of “care.”

Mecke worked on the Elections Task Force on Redistricting in 2002, then joined the mental health field, finding employment for adults with mental illness and working again with Supervisor Ammiano on his 2002 ballot measure “Exits from Homelessness.”

In 2003, Mecke was a Community Fellow with the Coro Foundation and worked on Matt Gonzalez’s run for Mayor. The following year, he became the S.F. Human Services Network’s Director of Policy and Communication, as well as the President of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. A longtime Western Addition resident, he worked on Ross Mirkarimi’s campaign for Supervisor.

Mayoral Candidate

Concerned about rising homicide and violent crime, homelessness and affordable housing, and parks and open space, Mecke entered the 2007 Mayoral race to challenge incumbent Mayor Gavin Newsom on his record. Mecke received endorsements from several progressive local elected officials and was endorsed by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.

Mecke lost the November 6, 2007 mayoral race. He finished in second place with 6.33% of the vote.

External links

• Quintin Mecke for Mayor