Sophie Maxwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sophie Maxwell
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| Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from District 10 |
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| In office January 2001 – January 2011 |
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| Preceded by | N/A |
| Succeeded by | Malia Cohen |
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| Born | April 9, 1950 San Francisco, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Relations | Enola Maxwell (mother) |
| Residences | San Francisco, California |
| Occupation | Politician |
Sophie Maxwell (born April 9, 1950) is an American politician. She used to be a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, representing District 10. This board helps run the city of San Francisco.
Contents
Early Life and Work
Sophie Maxwell has lived in the Bayview area of San Francisco, California for many years.
Before she was elected, Maxwell worked as an electrician. She worked for Amtrak, a large train company in the United States.
Political Career
Becoming a Supervisor
In the 2000 San Francisco Board of Supervisors election, Sophie Maxwell won a seat on the Board of Supervisors. She beat Linda Fadeke Richardson, who was supported by the mayor at the time, Willie Brown.
Because of a change in how elections worked, she served a special two-year term first. After that, she ran for re-election in 2002 San Francisco Board of Supervisors election and won without anyone running against her. She won again in 2006 San Francisco Board of Supervisors election against six other people.
Key Issues and Work
During her time as a supervisor, Sophie Maxwell focused on important topics. These included making sure everyone had fair access to a healthy environment, which is called environmental justice. She also worked on clean energy and making sure public resources were shared fairly.
Maxwell supported building new homes and businesses at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. She believed this project would create many jobs, possibly around 10,000, for people in the area.
Community Challenges
While she was in office, some people tried to remove Sophie Maxwell from her position through special elections called recall campaigns. These attempts did not succeed.
One recall effort in 2004 failed because many of the signatures collected were not valid. Another attempt in 2010 was partly because of her vote about a group called the Restoration Advisory Board. This board was created to keep the community informed about cleaning up the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.
Maxwell said she offered the Navy a choice: either bring back the board or find new ways to talk with the community. However, some people felt this was not a strong enough action.
After Her Term
Sophie Maxwell's time as a supervisor ended in January 2011. Malia Cohen took her place on the Board of Supervisors.
In the 2010 San Francisco Board of Supervisors election, Maxwell supported Lynette Sweet, who was a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit board.
In April 2019, Mayor London Breed appointed Sophie Maxwell to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. This commission manages water, power, and sewer services for San Francisco.
Personal Life
Sophie Maxwell's mother was Enola D. Maxwell. Her mother was a well-known community activist in Potrero Hill. She also led the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, a community center.
In 2001, a middle school in Potrero Hill was renamed the Enola D. Maxwell Middle School of the Arts in her mother's honor.
Sophie Maxwell has been divorced. Her son, Rama, passed away at the age of 30 from Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer.
