It looks like campaign activity in San Francisco’s Richmond district has descended from snarky shenanigans to seriously bad behavior as a frontrunner in the race filed a restraining order against a prominent political influencer and supporter of the incumbent, who reportedly grabbed her arm after a candidate forum Monday evening.
“I left the stage and was talking with attendees in the main area in front of the stage. At approximately 7:35 p.m., I began to walk toward the door,” District 1 Supervisor candidate Marjan Philhour wrote in a statement to police Tuesday morning. “As I walked past a group of people, David Heller yanked my right forearm, startling me and causing me to turn abruptly […] David asked me, ‘Did you send him to come after me?’ At which point he pointed at Mark Dietrich who was standing about 2 feet away. I was shocked and said, ‘David, do not touch me.'”
The exchange took place shortly after the District 1 supervisorial candidate forum held by the League of Women Voters at the Internet Archive, Monday, Sept. 16.
Heller is a longtime political fixture in the Richmond as president of the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants and Property Owners Association. He also enthusiastically supports Philhour’s leading opponent, incumbent Connie Chan. Heller also strongly supported Chan’s predecessor, Sandra Lee Fewer. Philhour has run against both incumbents previously, losing by thin margins.
Recent events, such as 2022’s redistricting process, have some pundits now predicting that Philhour’s third time will be the charm. It would seem that, as a result, some of Chan’s more visible supporters are acting out.
The District 1 race has been punctuated by multiple instances of guerilla theater, often driven by social media.
The District 1 race has been punctuated by incidents of what can be best described as extraordinary behavior by some candidate supporters. Back in February, Julie Pitta, another prominent Chan supporter, lost her position as a columnist for the Richmond Review neighborhood newspaper after being caught removing window signs supporting Philhour from neighborhood businesses. Pitta now leads the Phoenix Project, a nonprofit publisher that has been critical of the fundraising of centrist political candidates in the current election cycle.
According to sources present at the Sept. 16 forum, Heller appeared to be agitated by criticism of his civic group on social media posted by Mark Dietrich, a Philhour supporter.
“I was sitting in the front row at the at the event and as I was sitting there a few minutes before the event started, he walked up to me and he just kept asking, ‘Do you wanna f[—] with me? Why are you f[—]ing with me? And he just repeated it over and over again,” Dietrich told The Voice in a phone call.
The District 1 race has been punctuated by multiple instances of guerilla theater, often driven by social media, that can be more entertaining, depending on your point of view. Much of the theater is focused on public safety issues, which have become a top concern for residents. Heller has also organized street theater to boost issues he cares about, such as opposing special transit lanes on Geary Blvd.
But when assault becomes the response to antics, it may be time for some reflection.
The Voice reached out to both David Heller and the Connie Chan campaign for comment but had yet to hear back by press time.
