Quintin Mecke

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

1 Biography
2 Professional and Leadership Experience
3 Political Activism
4 Mayoral Candidate
5 References
6 External links

[edit] 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. As a Member of the San Francisco Shelter Monitoring Committee, he is currently working 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 does not currently provide universal standards of care for the shelter residents.

Once the City's Shelter System has implemented universal standards to improve the quality of life and safety in the shelters, more homeless people will be inclined to enter the shelters to get off the street and out of the parks.

[edit] Professional and Leadership Experience

Mecke is currently the Program Director for the Safety Network Partnership, a public safety program in San Francisco that develops community-driven responses to crime and violence.^[1] He is also the Secretary 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 currently serves on the Board of Directors for the arts organization CounterPULSE.^[2]

[edit] 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.”^[3]

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.

[edit] 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.^[4] Mecke has received endorsements from several progressive local elected officials.^[5]^[6]

Mecke lost the November 6, 2007 mayoral race. He finished in second place with 6.33% of the vote.^[7]