Mission Local is publishing a daily campaign dispatch for each of the major contenders in the mayor’s race, alternating among candidates weekly until November. This week: Daniel Lurie. Read earlier dispatches
This reporter was with Kit Lam, Lurie’s political consultant and Chinatown companion, who had been waiting for Lurie’s arrival. Already, he had prepared snacks for Lurie to try — two boxes of dragon beard candies, a white sweet treat with layers of light sugar strands wrapped around a crumbly core of coconut, peanut, and sesame seeds. Lam had bought them 15 minutes earlier from Derek Tam, the candy maker at the Dragon Papa Dessert booth.
Some shopkeepers waved to Lurie as he walked up to them. They’re now spotting Lurie all the time in Chinatown. A Chinese grandma, who seemed star-struck by Lurie when she and her husband walked past him, stopped the candidate and asked for a picture together. Lurie gladly obliged. “You’ve got yourself in the mail!” Reagan said while laughing. He said he has seen Lurie’s advertisement in his mailbox multiple times. “You guys are pretty aggressive and you are getting your name out there!” The fund, kicked off by a gift from Lurie and overseen by Yekutiel, was able to have “a bit leftover” from last year to fund this year’s night market, said Yekutiel, who happened to be walking past Lurie and this reporter on Friday night.
“I think he feels the same way as I do and he’s doing something about it,” Lee said, adding she might sign up to volunteer for Lurie while looking at Marcelo Colussi, a new field worker for Lurie who was also standing at the corner of Sacramento Street and Grant Avenue. “Experience is really important,” said Michael, adding that he has doubts about Lurie’s understanding of how things run in City Hall. for mayoral candidacy is one month away and “anyone could still jump in.” But one thing is certain — he will be voting for up to four candidates in this ranked-choice race.