Catherine Stefani

After graduating from law school, she served as a deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County. She was a political aide for Cindy Chavez when Chavez served as Vice Mayor of San Jose. She also worked for Herb Wesson, a member of the California State Assembly. In San Francisco Stefani worked as an aide first for Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier and subsequently for then Supervisor Mark Farrell for nine years in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.[4]

From 2000 to 2003, Stefani developed, hosted, and produced For The Record, a television show about legal issues.

She is a spokesperson for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the co-founder and former leader of the group's San Francisco chapter.[5] She served on the Board of Directors of the Homeless Prenatal Program.[6]

She's a graduate and supporter of Emerge America.[7]

She was recognized with an "Ignite Honors" award in 2016 for "consistently putting her beliefs into action, engaging and mentoring other women and transforming her community."[8]

When Mark Farrell resigned as District 2 Supervisor to become Mayor of San Francisco in January 2018, he selected Stefani as his successor. An hour after she was sworn-in Stefani formally declared her candidacy for the position in the upcoming November election and went on to win election to a full term.[9]

In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Stefani was the lone vote in dissent of the budget proposal declaring it "fiscally irresponsible"[10] "I would budget within our means, and with the money that we have at the time that we have it, not based on tax measure [sic] on the ballot in November, and not based on reserves we shouldn’t be dipping into.”

In response to a pay-to-play corruption scandal in which city officials were arrested for taking bribes in exchange for awarding city contracts, in July 2020 Stefani introduced the "No GRAFT Act". The legislation closes a loophole in the city's contract procedures to prevent corruption.[11]

On May 12, 2020, Stefani resigned from her position on the Behavioral Health Commission Board over alleged financial impropriety, contract mismanagement, and inappropriately applying for and accepting a Paycheck Protection Program loan from the Small Business Administration.[12] She introduced legislation to end the contract between the Commission and the non-profit that was contracted to provide staffing and support in a move to "reform the structure of the Behavioral Health Commission to eliminate any corrupt or inappropriate behavior in its administration."[13][14]

In February 2019 Stefani challenged the renewal of a multi-million dollar contract with another mental health services provider pointing out that the organization "are not scoring highly on RFPs, have not always met standards and are not at their budgeted level of deliverables".[15]

In response to an increase of car break-ins in early 2018, Stefani called for a series of hearings with the San Francisco Police Department.[16] Later that year, after a successful test of increased security at two San Francisco municipal garages, Supervisor Stefani called for the increased security methods to be implemented at all 22 public garages.[17] In October 2020 she called for a red light camera at an intersection in her district where a pedestrian had been killed earlier that year.[18]

Shortly after taking office, Stefani introduced the Free Speech Protection Act prohibiting firearms within 500 ft (150 m) of public events of 50 people or more such as protests, marches and rallies. Law enforcement is excepted from the prohibition.[19]

After the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, Stefani introduced a resolution that designated the National Rifle Association a domestic terrorist organization.[20] On September 4, 2019, the Board of Supervisors passed the resolution with a unanimous vote.[21]

In April 2019 she requested the San Francisco City Attorney draft legislation to implement gun violence restraining orders which would allow firearms to be temporarily seized from owners who pose a safety risk to themselves or others.[22]

In 2019, Stefani voted for a resolution to declare a state of emergency for traffic injuries and deaths in San Francisco, reaffirming the city's 2014 Vision Zero commitment.[23] However, Stefani has opposed public bike share in District 2 in private meetings with residents and has not advocated for the expansion of protected bike lanes and transit in the district.[24]

In March 2019 Stefani called for a hearing to investigate the lack of mental health services available to San Francisco's homeless population, and requested more hospital beds for those who need psychiatric treatment.[25]

After the closing of the Clay Theater, an historic single-screen movie theater, in March 2020 Stefani introduced legislation to limit the use of such theaters in an attempt to preserve them.[26]

She is an active member of the Italian-American Community and represented San Francisco in Assisi, Italy for the 50th anniversary celebration of the sister city partnership of Assisi and San Francisco.[27]

After much objection by the Italian-American community over the renaming of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day, Stefani – who is of Italian descent – struck a compromise with an ordinance declaring that the day also be recognized as Italian Heritage Day. She stated "It is my hope that on this day, the city and county of San Francisco can celebrate the rich diversity and contributions of both its indigenous and immigrant communities."[28]

Stefani was a co-sponsor of an ordinance in October 2018 that required 30% of public artwork in the city depicting historical figures be women. The first monument to be erected would depict poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.[29] The San Francisco Arts Commission's selection panel recommended visual artist Lava Thomas' proposal, a 9-foot tall bronze book with Angelou's face and quote etched onto it. However, the proposal was rejected by the Commission's Visual Arts Committee.[30][31] Stefani led this decision, calling for the SFAC to restart the selection process with clearer criteria for a what constituted a monument. Stefani justified this decision, according to the San Francisco Examiner, stating, "As I carried the legislation across the finish line to elevate women in monuments, I wanted to do it in the same way that men have been historically elevated in this city."[32] This decision to confirm Thomas' proposal has sparked public backlash. She has since apologized and Thomas' proposal was accepted in November 2020.[33]

When the Christopher Columbus statue at San Francisco's Coit Tower was removed by city officials in June 2020, Stefani supported the removal stating "I know as well as anyone that Columbus has historically been a symbol of pride in Italian Americans’ contribution to this nation. But Columbus also represents the painful foundations of American history — the slavery, subjugation and conquest we must all condemn."[34]

Stefani was appointed as the county clerk for San Francisco County by Mayor Ed Lee on January 29, 2016.[3] During her tenure as Clerk the number of transactions increased by 27.5% and revenue increased by 5.7% due to efficiencies implemented under her leadership.[8]