Joel Engardio Explained

Joel Engardio
Office:Member of the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
from District 4
Term Start:January 8, 2023
Predecessor:Gordon Mar
Birth Date:17 September 1972
Birth Place:Saginaw, Michigan
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Lionel Hsu (m. 2015)
Alma Mater:Michigan State University (BA)
Harvard Kennedy School (MPA)
Occupation:Journalist
Website:Supervisor Joel Engardio - District 4

Joel P. Engardio[1] (born September 17, 1972) is an American politician, writer, and public-safety advocate.[2] He is the supervisor for District 4 of San Francisco, California, serving since 2023 after unseating incumbent Gordon Mar in the 2022 San Francisco Board of Supervisors election.[3]

Early life and education

Engardio is a native of Saginaw, Michigan, where he attended Arthur Hill High School.[4]

Engardio graduated with a bachelor's in journalism from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.[5]

Media career

Engardio is a former journalist. He moved to San Francisco in 1998 to cover Tom Ammiano's mayoral campaign during the 1999 San Francisco mayoral election.

Engardio and Tom Shepard directed the documentary Knocking about Jehovah's Witnesses.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Engardio ran three failed campaigns for District 7 supervisor in 2012, 2016, and 2020.

Engardio ran for District 4 supervisor after his neighborhood was redistricted from District 7. He was elected in November 2022, unseating incumbent Gordon Mar by a margin of 50.9% to 49.1%.[6] Engardio is the first gay supervisor elected to represent the city's westside.[7]

Political stances

Engardio is categorized as a moderate. Engardio supported the 2022 recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and the 2022 recall of three San Francisco Board of Education commissioners.[8]

Engardio authored Proposition G: Offering Algebra 1 to Eighth Graders. [9] This proposition would encourage the San Francisco Unified School District to allow eighth graders to take Algebra I, in place of needing to wait until ninth grade.

Personal life

When he was elected to supervisor, Engardio lived in the Lakeshore neighborhood of San Francisco. He was raised a Jehovah's Witness, however he does not identify with the religion.

Engardio is gay. He has been married to Lionel Hsu since 2015.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Miller . David Ian . 2007-05-14 . FINDING MY RELIGION / A new film, "Knocking," offers a fresh look at the much-maligned Jehovah's Witnesses . 2022-11-22 . SFGATE . en-US.
  2. Web site: Morris . J. D. . 2022-10-26 . S.F. election: Here's where Sunset supervisor candidates stand on public safety and housing . 2022-11-23 . San Francisco Chronicle . en-US.
  3. Web site: Morris . J. D. . Barned-Smith . St John . 2022-11-18 . Moderate Joel Engardio just won an S.F. supervisor's seat after three failed bids. What changed this time? . 2022-11-21 . San Francisco Chronicle . en-US.
  4. Web site: Moran . Darcie . 2013-06-27 . Michigan marriage equality 'just a matter of time': Saginaw native, San Francisco resident Joel Engardio says about DOMA ruling . 2022-11-21 . mlive . en.
  5. Web site: Bajko . Matthew S. . February 29, 2012 . Political Notebook: Gay man seeks westside SF supervisor seat . 2022-11-21 . Bay Area Reporter . en-us.
  6. Web site: Incumbent SF supervisor Gordon Mar concedes to Joel Engardio in Sunset District race . 2022-11-23 . www.cbsnews.com . 17 November 2022 . en-US.
  7. Web site: Li . Han . Ege . Mike . 2022-11-17 . Joel Engardio Heads Toward Historic Victory in SF Sunset Race . 2022-11-23 . The San Francisco Standard . en-US.
  8. Web site: Morris . J. D. . 2022-11-17 . Moderate Joel Engardio unseats progressive S.F. Supervisor Gordon Mar . 2022-11-22 . San Francisco Chronicle . en-US.
  9. Web site: Proposition G: Offering Algebra 1 to Eighth Graders San Francisco . 2024-02-21 . www.sf.gov.
  10. News: Engardio . Joel . 2015-06-28 . A perfect union of lessons learned . 2023-01-09 . San Francisco Examiner.