Fourteen small-business owners have challenged Mark Farrell’s ballot designation as a “small-business owner,” calling the designation “purposefully designed to mislead voters.”
The letter was sent to the Department of Elections on Monday morning, the last day for the public to object to a ballot designation requested by a candidate.
The letter says the designation “offends the sensibilities of any true small-business owner in San Francisco.”
It was sent by members of the Small Business Forward, a small-business advocacy group that counts bars, restaurants, bookstores, salons and retail shops as members.
The business owners recounted Farrell’s venture-capital firm, Thayer Ventures’, history of investments, including raising $43 million by selling stock in 2019. Farrell also took the company Inspirato public, and had investments in the company worth more than $400 million in 2021.
“Mr. Farrell’s proposed ballot designation strains credulity and offends the sensibilities of any true small-business owner in San Francisco,” the letter reads.
When Farrell talked about his professional experience publicly, on his campaign website, in political donation declarations, or during interviews with media and university students, he referred to himself as lawyer, investment banker, and co-founder of Thayer Ventures, but never a small-business owner.
His venture capitalist firm listed $100 million in capital, according to a company press release.
“The nature of Thayer Ventures is so far removed from what it means to be a small business in San Francisco,” the letter reads. “Negotiating lease terms, navigating tax liabilities, supporting a local workforce, and serving the residents and visitors of San Francisco.”
Farrell’s campaign declined to comment.
The Department of Elections said it is reviewing the information and has requested additional information from Farrell, according to department director John Arntz.
The Department of Elections wrote in an email earlier this month that Thayer Ventures falls within the U.S. Census Bureau definition of a small business, which references the Small Business Administration: A firm generating up to $40 million in revenue, with 100 to 1,500 employees. So, technically, Farrell can use the designation on the ballot.
The small-business owners today asked the Department of Elections to “put the burden on” Farrell to prove that his designation is factually accurate and does not mislead voters on the November ballot.
“I thought it was laughably dishonest,” said Justin Dolezal, co-owner of Bar Part Time. Dolezal is aware of the history of candidates choosing questionable ballot designations, “but this instance is … not in the same universe,” he said.
Small-business owners said they don’t believe that Farrell would understand the daily struggles of small business owners in the city, “people who struggle with payrolls, the loss of city grants and paying rent,” Dolezal said.
Avi Ehrlich, owner of Silver Sprocket comics bookstore, who signed the letter, called Farrell’s request for the small-business-owner designation “extremely dangerous.”
“It’s rude to present yourself to be part of a group when you are not,” said Ehrlich. “If he’s someone who wants to be supportive of small businesses, I don’t see much in his platform that shows he’s going to champion for small businesses.”
Supporting small businesses doesn’t appear to be front and center when Farrell talks about his vision for San Francisco as mayor. On his campaign website, it was the fourth slide on his policy priorities, and his plan is to “exempt every small business making less than $5 million in gross receipts from paying business taxes.”
“He represents a small group of wealthy people,” said Dolezal. “He’s not a friend of small businesses.”
Candidate Bilal Mahmoud seeks to list himself on the ballot as a “Climate Non-Profit Director” but there is little evidence that such a nonprofit (Electric Action) exists.
Mahmood offers as evidence the following:
a) An article from the SF Standard stating that Electric Action has “only a nominal online presence“ and “does not appear in state filings.“
b) A byline Mahmood created himself from an op-ed he submitted to the SF Chronicle one day before the filing deadline.
c) An article from SF Chronicle, focusing on Mahmood working with California Assembly member Matt Haney on a piece of legislation, but does not describe Mahmood as the leader of a nonprofit, nor name Electric Action in any way.
None of these submissions provide any evidence that Electric Action is an active nonprofit, that Mahmoud is its executive director, or that his principal vocation or occupation is a “nonprofit director.”
Rather, it would seem by contrast that there is substantial evidence indicating that Bilal Mahmood’s principal occupation, based on his income, is as a business consultant.
Interesting! I wonder if Mission Local will look into this. I bet the Chron won’t.
Here’s the SBA definition, for what little that apparently matters to anyone: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards
What is the counter-definition the opponents propose? They know it when they see it?
The definition is a technicality. Technically Trump is a christian and a devout one if you ask him. If you want to vote for this guy knock yourself out. I have no problem with that. My eyes and my gut says this is an opportunist pretending to something he is not. I find it deeply offensive and I’m not agreeing to it. This is not a coordinated effort and thank you to mission local for doing actual reporting.
Great. So Farrell’s defense will be “the government told me it was fine to lie, so I lied.” Of course you did Mark. And it’s only a “moderate” lie, right?
No link to the letter?
You are next Bilal Mahmood. In a series of well documented events, while campaigning in 3 different campaigns, candidate Mahmood has condistentlt misrepresented himself. He was never a neuroscientist, and was never an economist as he claimed in all of his campaign materials (recently scrubbed of these references). Now candidate Mahmoud claims to be a “climate non profit director”, whatever that is. Mahmood has a history of misleading voters about his professional redume. According to California Elections Code Section 13107 (a) (3) “proposed ballot designations submitted must accurately state the candidate’s principal profession, vocation, or occupation.”
In the purported justification for his ballot designation, Mahmood states he is Executive Director at Electric Action, with employment starting January 1, 2023. No evidence supports this designation. Electric Action’s website, https://www.electricaction.org/, is simply a landing page with no links, no information and with only two sentences: “Electric Action is a nonprofit advocacy organization seeking to advance comprehensive climate outcomes through innovative, technology and bold legislation. Built and supported by climate leaders, activists, and technologists.” There is no reference to Bilal Mahmoud, no description of the organization, of any leadership, financial filings, any programs, or any description of the work of the supposed “nonprofit”, which, based on more research, simply does not exist.
Go to the website. Nothing there. Only a landing page. What exactly does Bilal Mahmood do for a living? Who is he?https://www.electricaction.org/
According to California Elections Code Section 13107 (a) (3) “proposed ballot designations submitted must accurately state the candidate’s principal profession, vocation, or occupation.”
Mark Farrell ain’t a “small business” man. Not by a long shot.
Nothing new here..of course he is misrepresenting himself, like a few others.Lies and corruption at local/national levels are the fabric of the political system of this nation ; you can say whatever you want, say the opposite the next day, you can turn your coat, it is all good..No one is explaining what he/she is planning to do if elected , how they gonna do it, where the money will come from, how long, etc etc..a long time ago someone proposed to put on the ballot a proposition which would put in jail anyone who lied when campaigning and not delivering the goods when elected.
I think the whole thing is pretty funny. It is 2024, the era of delusion is in full force. You can identify as anything you want just as long as you sincerely feel that you are that identity. Truth is so old fashion! Perhaps the San Francisco Giants is a small business as well. There are only nine people that I see working at one time!
It’s fraud pure and simple. That’s who the man is. Take him or leave him
Again i just posted a comment.It was not posted. Nothing in it to justify.Do not let your personal opinion influenced what is an acceptable comment or not..Do not be so righteous.
Of all the things to run a coordinated attack campaign against Farrell over, this is a strange choice.
Not strange at all. For many years now since leaving elected office, Mark Farrell has described himself as a venture capitalist and an investment funds specialist. Now that he’s campaigning to be mayor, he has chosen to describe how he makes a living as “I’m a small business man.” That stinks to high Heaven.
Do not forget the bike coalition gets millions of dollars a year.In my opinion and many others they penatrate media with anti car comments.The voters are regularly lied to from city officials. I do not care about Farrell ‘s work description. The people in government in SF have make too many financial mistakes.Someone with money is less likely to be corrupt.
My, how autoist of the Bike Coalition! I never knew that drivers are victims.
Was it a boneheaded move? Absolutely. Is it going to cost Mark Farrell a single vote? Especially when his stances on crime, funding the police, and open-air drug markets align with the vast majority of the city?
Absolutely not.
Just like many gay voters don’t care about his knowledge of drag queens. Most voters won’t care about his ballot designation. His stances on issues and plans for first full term are far more important.
He is misleading voters, if that is what you want from a Mayor, we already have one in office now!
I am a gay voter and care about him presenting himself as something he is not.
I considered him, but it cost him my vote. The hubris. Just another rich guy pretending to be a regular fella. Sorry pal. Better call Miss Clairol, your roots are showing.
He wants to re-open Market Street to private cars which is such a reactionary and clueless attempt to “revitalize” downtown that I’d be falling over laughing if he wasn’t serious about it.
Mark Farrell might have some really good ideas for the City of San Francisco! But his complete boneheadedness on this ONE issue completely disqualifies him from consideration to this voter and he just landed in the same box as Mayor Breed – two candidates who won’t be getting ANY ranked voice from me.
Best of luck to the other candidates who I’ll be ranking. And – if Mr. Farrell reconsiders his ridiculous private cars return to Market Street platform – I’m happy to add him back to my list of considerations for the Mayoral ballot!