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Now that the election journey is ending, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who supported me, believed in my vision, and joined me on this journey. Your support has meant the world to me.
I want everyone to know—I didn’t run for mayor because I wanted the title; I ran because I couldn’t stand by and watch as San Francisco suffered. I dedicated a substantial amount of my time, energy, and resources to this campaign because I wanted to end the chaos and create a better environment for everyone.
It takes a lot of courage for an ordinary person like me to step into this race. I am not a politician. I don’t have experience running a campaign, and public speaking doesn’t come naturally to me. But I’ve pushed myself into this race, fully aware of the challenges I’d face and the sacrifices I’d need to make.
This campaign wouldn’t exist without my wife, Kay. She has been with me through it all—taking on countless campaign tasks before and after my son’s birth. Without her, I wouldn’t be here today, and I’m grateful for everything she has done. Having her in my life is the best thing that ever happened to me.
To me, my campaign was a success in many ways, even though I didn’t win. Despite the obstacles stacked against me, the votes I received far exceeded my expectations, making all the hard work truly worthwhile. Running a campaign on my own was not easy. I built and designed every piece of campaign material, including a website in four languages. I gathered information and developed solutions for the challenges we faced. Even in the hospital, waiting for our son to arrive, I had my laptop with me, working to keep the campaign moving forward.
After becoming a father in July, things got even more challenging. Balancing fatherhood with the campaign often meant only 2-4 hours of sleep each night. Alongside the intense workload, I also faced obstacles from local organizations and media outlets. Nearly all debates and forums excluded me, with only one organization welcoming my participation. Media coverage focused solely on the five well-known candidates, leaving me largely unseen and significantly limiting voters' opportunities to get to know me as a mayoral candidate and my vision for our city. Given these challenges, I believe I did an exceptional job. To receive this level of support, under such circumstances, makes me incredibly proud of what I accomplished. One day, I look forward to talking to my son about this experience. I want him to know that I chased my dream and put everything into this journey.
To everyone who believed in me, thank you for your support. I wish I could thank each of you in person to show how much your support means to me. The past few months have been an incredible journey. I’ve gained so much, but nothing compares to the joy of welcoming my son into the world. Here’s to brighter days ahead for all of us—I wish you the very best and thank you again for being a part of this journey.
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