JConr B. Ortega, a political candidate for the role of District 3 Supervisor in the city election this November, is stepping back from the race amid accusations of domestic violence from a former partner.
Ortega is an outspoken activist who has become known for his many critical public comments at city meetings and his uniquely dandy-inspired aesthetic (namely, three-piece suits and a waxed mustache). He is formerly homeless and describes himself on social media as a “leatherman” and “boxer,” and recently worked in retail at downtown’s San Francisco Centre while building his candidacy for District 3.
Last week, however, his former partner Angelina Emilia Ortega Ramirez filed a temporary restraining order against Ortega, citing domestic violence as the cause. The June 7 order will be discussed in a hearing set for June 26, according to the Superior Court of San Francisco. Other details were not available at press time.
In a message to Gazetteer, Ortega confirmed the restraining order and said that he will be stepping out of the race to focus on his personal situation.
“While I preferred for our relationship to end amicably, it’s unfortunate she has decided to do that. I’m told she has an unfounded fear of me,” Ortega said. “While the court date is upcoming, I look forward to explaining my side of the story.”
(Gazetteer could not reach Ramirez for comment before publication of this story.)
Ortega was one of seven candidates for supervisor in District 3, which represents a huge swath of downtown, the Embarcadero, Chinatown, and North Beach. His departure from the race leaves six candidates: ex-transit official Sharon Lai, deputy city attorney Moe Jamil, nonprofit director Danny Sauter, businessman Matthew Susk, financial entrepreneur Eduard Navarro, and lawyer Wendy Chau, according to the most recent city records.
Ortega was running on a platform of creating a “sustainable” economy and environment for San Francisco, namely by expanding law-and-order efforts to quell crime and homelessness and addressing the loss of shops and businesses in the district. He also spoke about “defunding the nonprofits” contracted by the city for services and slashing red tape and fees for small businesses.
He also has a habit of showing up at major city functions and taking part in political rallies, including protests against the city’s court-ordered injunction on “sweeping” homeless encampments. He is such a frequent speaker during public comment at city hearings that he once inspired current District 3 Supervisor and mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin to mutter that Ortega is “a horse’s ass” into a hot mic.
He also has a history of making provocative statements on social media. Ortega resigned from the San Francisco Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District board last July over several tweets about affirmative action and trans identity that received criticism online. (In a statement, he was not contrite and suggested he would be “forced out” by activists if he did not resign.) He’s also used Twitter to call for the expulsion of the Democratic Socialists of America from the Democratic Party and claim, without elaboration, that state Senator Scott Wiener supports sexual trafficking.
Most recently, Ortega revealed on Twitter that he has been laid off from his job at the menswear shop Psycho Bunny in the San Francisco Centre, which he said was impacted by multiple robberies and thefts.
