Young people typically do not get involved in politics. Feeling apathetic and disenchanted, they often do not vote — let alone run for or hold a political position. It is generally even more rare for young people who are minorities to be involved in politics.
But this is not the case with Leah Pimentel. The 30-year-old African American who is a third-generation resident of Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco has participated in politics since she was 18.
This past February, Pimentel was appointed to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee — DCCC. She received the appointment for years of volunteer service to the DCCC, including serving as a delegate to the California Assembly, District 17 and launching the Harvey Matthews Bayview Hunters Point Democratic Club.
Pimentel launched the Harvey Matthews Bayview Hunters Point Democratic Club in 2010, in an effort to encourage, select, and elect qualified candidates for public office who represent and uphold the core values of the club and the Democratic Party. She received the Sue Bierman Award from the San Francisco Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for her efforts in launching the club.
Pimentel is a member of many Democratic clubs throughout San Francisco, including the African American Democratic Club, the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club and the Harvey Milk LGTB Democratic Club. Additionally, she serves on the California Young Democrats Community Services Committee and holds leadership positions in the San Francisco Young Democrats and the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee. She is a State Delegate to Assemblymember Tom Ammiano and national delegate to President Obama.
Last year, Pimentel participated in Emerge California, a 7-month political training program preparing her to run for office.
Program participants meet one weekend each month over the course of seven months and receive training on such things as public speaking and communication, fundraising, media and messaging, networking, campaign strategy, field operations, labor and endorsements, technology and new media, diversity and cultural competency and ethical leadership.
Pimentel completed the program while pregnant with her now 1-year-old son, Lawrence Taylor Pimentel. “I was in labor at the [Emerge] graduation,” she laughed. “If you look at photos of the graduation, it’s clear that I’m not okay.”
Gladys Soto, who wrote a letter for Pimentel to participate in the Emerge program, said: “I admire her energy, her passion. She is determined. When she wants something, she goes after it. She does it or she gets it. When I think about Leah, she started her political life very young. She is very strategic. She knows what to do in order to get what she wants. She knows exactly what she needs to know to accomplish her goal. She’s also a very caring person. She has a heart. She wants to help people.”
Soto further added, “Her determination is very obvious. She can be an inspiration for any culture, any age, or any group. … She can do a lot for the San Francisco Democratic party.”
Pimentel helped Rafael Mandelman — who ran for the Board of Supervisors — with his campaign. “She’s great,” he said. “She’s energetic. She’s an amazing bundle of energy.” Mandelman added, “Having young, African American people like Leah getting engaged in the political process is important. I hope she’ll run for something. She has a bright future. She’s super hardworking, super energetic.”
Kim-Shree Maufas, a commissioner on the San Francisco School Board, noted: “She does a variety of things. As young people are these days, she’s multi-talented, multi-skilled — I think she is an incredible advocate for the underserved. She’s one of those young Democratic people like me who are staunch progressives like me. She is my hope, my hope for the future.”
Maufas further added, “She is one of those young people who follows through. She’s a little more mature than other people her age. She is one of those people who has been mentored into political leader[ship]. We see an upward and strong trajectory for her. She has been able to consciously mingle with all types of Democrats. That’s a very rare quality. She does it with finesse.”
Maufas described Pimentel as her “political aunt.” Pimentel sometimes comes to her for advice, and she sometimes gives Pimentel advice even if she hasn’t necessarily asked for it, Maufas said.
Maufas added that Pimentel admires Gerry Crowley, who introduced her to Democratic Party Chair Aaron Peskin.
What sparked Pimentel’s interest in politics? According to Pimentel, when she was about age 12, she was walking with her mom and someone was trying to pass out a political flyer to someone who was bothered by it. She has been passionate about politics ever since. “One person can make a difference,” she said. “One person has the power to make many important decisions and bring about positive change.”
Where does Pimentel see herself in the future? In four years she would like to run for District Supervisor in her district — District 17. Her ultimate goal is to be Speaker of the House. “It’s a visible position,” she said. “You’re fighting for things for working-class people.”
Pimentel — who also serves on the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation Board of Directors and the Sierra Club Energy Committee — is indeed passionate about helping people.
Known as the “Solar Girl,” she helped local low-income senior citizens obtain solar panels for their homes to lower their electric bills through the Grid Alternatives program.
“I know so many facts about sustainability and energy,” Pimentel said.
Espanola Jackson’s electric bill was reduced to just $4 after having a solar panel installed by Grid Alternatives. “She was so helpful to us seniors, letting us all know about the solar,” Jackson said. “She has been beautiful for the senior citizens and a lovely personality. She’s very respectful. She is just a beautiful person. She’s just like one of my children. She may one day become a Senator for San Francisco. That’s how bright she is. She’s well read and she is sincere.”
Jackson was Pimentel’s first client. Her house had burned down and Pimentel said she got to know Jackson well. Jackson nominated Pimentel for the CBS Bay Area Jefferson Award for her efforts — which Pimentel received in 2010.
Pimentel launched Communities of Dreams — a nonprofit organization to help the ill, the underserved and homeless in the community — with her mother, Lorraine Taylor, in 2010. Her goal now is to grow the organization. “I like to do the little things to help people,” she explained.
In June, Pimentel was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Quesada Gardens Initiative, whose goal is to create “positive change through community-defined public art and gathering spaces, gardens, events and organizing,” according to the organization’s website.
What’s one thing most people do not know about Pimentel? A synchronized swimmer, she was in the Junior Olympics with synchronized swimming when she was in elementary school.
Pimentel attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Sonoma State University and a Master of Business Administration in sustainable enterprise from the Dominican University of California. “Education is crucial,” she said. “I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without my education.”
Married to Victor Pimentel, a police officer for the city of San Leandro, she stated that her husband gave up a career in the military so she could have a career in politics.
In addition to her political work, community involvement, and being a parent, Pimentel takes care of her mother, who suffered a brain aneurysm. Her mother, her husband and her son are her chief inspirations. “They are the people who motivate me in life,” Pimentel said.
More information about Pimentel can be found on her website, www.pimentelsf.com/.
