Manny Yekutiel was accused of sexual assault. The SF Democratic Party just endorsed him – The San Francisco Standard
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A progressive organizer accused Yekutiel of sexually assaulting him at a house party in 2020. Yekutiel denied the claims.
A raucous and, occasionally, ill-tempered meeting of the San Francisco Democratic Party on Wednesday night featured impassioned pleas, angry interruptions, and a five-minute recess as members weighed whether to endorse District 8 supervisor candidate Manny Yekutiel.
At the center of it all was an allegation of sexual assault.
Two months ago, a political organizer accused Yekutiel of forcibly grabbing his testicles and attempting to penetrate him with his fingers at a 2020 house party. Yekutiel denied the claims.
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After three rounds of voting Wednesday in a Visitacion Valley community center, members of the San Francisco Democratic Party board voted to solely endorse Yekutiel in the District 8 supervisors race to represent the Castro, Noe Valley, and other neighborhoods.
After two rounds of voting in which there was no majority for any District 8 candidate — Yekutiel, Rep. Nancy Pelosi aide Gary McCoy, marketing strategist Darshini Patel, and attorney Michael Nguyen — a single member changed their vote, earning Yekutiel the endorsement: Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who initially backed McCoy.
“I know Gary very well. He’s someone I consider a friend. He’s someone I consider a colleague,” Dorsey said, saying McCoy’s journey in drug recovery would bring needed representation to the Board of Supervisors.
The votes followed a ranked choice process that eliminates candidates each round if they fail to get a majority. During the third vote, Democratic Party board members could decide between Yekutiel and “no endorsement.”
After the vote, members of the crowd shouted “gross” and “disgusting,” and Yekutiel’s accuser, Brad Joseph Chapin, said, “Shame on you.”
Afterward, multiple party board members asked for clarification of the process, seemingly confused at how it works.
The chair of the party, Nancy Tung, tried to explain the process using an example of apples, oranges, bananas, lychee, and grapes.
“Who didn’t vote for lychee in the first round? I don’t know!” she said.
Hours before the meeting, a judicial commission working at the behest of the Democratic Party released its findings, concluding it could not recommend action against Yekutiel in response to Chapin’s claims because the alleged assault did not occur at “an official meeting or any sponsored event of the [SF Democratic Party].”
Before the vote, Chapin stood and shamed the Democratic Party for asking him to recount the alleged assault despite knowing its own rules barred it from finding Yekutiel at fault.
“I’m really disappointed in your investigation. Because when I went to your attorneys, I asked them explicitly if this was a waste of my time, because none of this happened at a Democratic Party event,” Chapin said.
The attorneys reassured Chapin the investigation could move forward, he said.
“You knew that this was a sham,” Chapin said. “You should all be fucking ashamed of yourselves.”
The Democratic Party endorsement is a highly valued rubber stamp and puts endorsed candidates’ faces on mailers sent throughout the city every election. It is particularly valued in low-profile races.
As the congressional contest to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the state billionaire tax, and the effort to save Muni and BART begin to soak up airwaves and cellphone ad space, that endorsement may prove decisive for the candidates running for District 8 supervisor, the contest for a district of roughly 85,000 people.
As first revealed by The Standard in June, Chapin alleges that Yekutiel forcibly squeezed his testicles at a house party in 2020. After seeing Yekutiel launch his run for office this year, Chapin filed a police report, saying he felt responsible for protecting others.
Prosecutors did not charge Yekutiel.
“I’m grateful to have earned the San Francisco Democratic Party’s endorsement,” Yekutiel said in a statement. Our campaign is focused on delivering results on the issues voters care about most, making San Francisco more affordable, building the housing we need, supporting small businesses, and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Early in the meeting, Tung told the board that the party’s independent process did not substantiate Chapin’s allegations, nor did it discount them.
“The jurisdiction of this body is limited in nature,” Tung said. “It’s up to you how you take this information and weigh it in your endorsement process.”
While Chapin’s accusation against Yekutiel kicked off the party meeting, most public comment came from District 8 residents supporting Yekutiel, including his campaign volunteers.
Chapin sat in the front row as dozens sang Yekutiel’s praises.
“What is the point of the money, time, and energy the Democratic Party pumps out if you aren’t supporting candidates who will take a risk on big projects worthy of San Francisco and tens of thousands of members of District 8,” said Julia Isbester, a resident. “We should be supporting visionary generational talent, like Manny.”
At times, Chapin shouted critiques of those speaking, alleging they were supporting someone who had committed sexual assault. Tung repeatedly asked Chapin to respect public commenters and at one point called a five-minute recess after asking Chapin to stop interrupting speakers.
Some spoke in favor of McCoy, including many representatives of labor, from unions representing City College of San Francisco teachers to regional bus drivers.
Apollo Wallace, a business agent with Teamsters Local 2785, told the party that the Teamsters gave McCoy its sole endorsement.
“As a third-generation San Franciscan, raised in District 8, I support Gary McCoy, and I stand with survivors,” Wallace said.
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