Student runs for District 6

By Greg Zeman
The Guardsman

City College graphic design student Nate Payne is trying to turn his vision of a new and improved District 6 into legislative reality by running for City Supervisor in the upcoming election. He is seeking to replace Chris Daly who has reached his term limit as a supervisor.

“I’d like to make this a self-made district where we don’t have to rely on corporations to make the city,” Payne said. “We can use local business and community involvement.”

Payne’s life story is a familiar one in the Bay Area. He was born in the Philippines but moved to San Francisco when he was four years old, and has lived here ever since.

“I’m a native of SF for 28 years. I’ve been here through the earthquakes, the dot-com bust … I’ve been here through everything.”

A father of three, Payne says that his candidacy is about making the city safer and stronger for his own daughters.

“I believe it starts with the children, with us educating our children and volunteering our time to motivate these kids to stay out of trouble,” he said. “I emphasize children a lot because they are our future and they’re going to be running the streets of SF soon, and hopefully City Hall as well.”

He says that his political philosophy is based on the words of former city Supervisor Harvey Milk, “The American dream starts with the neighborhood.”

“I’m just a person,” he said. “But I’m a person with a dream and I follow my dreams. I’m about making things happen.”

Payne’s candidacy is based on a three-part platform: safe neighborhoods, controlled public spending and housing programs.

“Something we need to do to save money in our districts, instead of hiring all of these cops to the patrol the streets, is to work together as a community to watch our neighborhood,” Payne said. “For us to improve District 6 and the city of San Francisco, it starts with improving ourselves.”

Payne also wants to bring green businesses, like solar power companies, to District 6 to create new jobs and encourage the production of clean energy.

Payne says his philosophy of personal responsibility is an integral part of his plan for fostering community growth and cooperation in District 6 to combat the unique issues its residents face.

In an effort to establish his credibility with voters early on, Payne has refused to accept any public funding to offset his campaign costs.

“I’m opposed to matching funds,” he said. “I’d rather use that money to help out other students.”

Payne views his rejection of public money as a matter of integrity.

“I decline to be a part of the problem when I can be a part of the solution,” he said. “It shows strength that I don’t have to take money from the city, because if you do, it shows that you could take money from lobbyists or anyone else once in office.”

Payne isn’t afraid to suggest sweeping policy initiatives in his quest for solutions to social problems facing the state and his district, including childhood obesity.

One of the policies Payne has already begun researching and considering is a punitive tax on sugar and high fructose corn syrup, which he believes will positively impact City revenue and obesity rates, particularly among children.

“When it comes to my district, there’s a lot of talk about narcotics, but sugar, that’s the other white powder that kills people,” he said. “There are more people who die from sugar and diabetes than from overdosing on cocaine or narcotics.”

He says that he supports removing high-sugar foods and beverages from public schools and encouraging better nutrition among San Francisco youth.

“If you look at the prison system, their food nutrition is higher than what they’re serving the kids in school,” Payne said. “Better nutrition is one step on the right path towards producing future law-abiding citizens who will definitely give back to the community.”

Payne is confident that by addressing the issues facing children and young people early on, it will remove the need to address destructive behavior later.

“We need kids to understand and learn how to operate a small business, instead of seeing these young children selling weed and crack or cocaine which have been plaguing South of Market for years — the TL for years — and like I said, it starts with children.”

Payne is looking for volunteers to help with all aspects of his campaign. He can be contacted through his campaign website: www.votenate2010.com