Lurie Names 29-Year-Old Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz as San Francisco Supervisor

In a much-anticipated decision, Mayor Daniel Lurie announced Thursday that he has appointed Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz as the next District 4 supervisor to represent the Sunset District.

The selection of a relatively unknown 29-year-old comes after a decisive recall election in September, when District 4 residents voted to remove Supervisor Joel Engardio, leaving a seat open on the powerful Board of Supervisors.

The recall election stemmed from local residents’ frustration over Engardio’s support for closing the Upper Great Highway to open a park, but ultimately touched on everything from housing policy to racial dynamics on the westside.

“The people of the Sunset deserve to have a say on the issues that impact our lives today and will for years to come. Too many decisions have been made without us, and that changes now,” Alcaraz said in a statement. “I am proud to serve this neighborhood and look forward to working with each and every member of our community.”

Alcaraz, a lifelong Sunset resident, is the first Filipina-American to serve on the Board of Supervisors and one of the youngest. (Former Sunset supervisors Carmen Chiu and Katy Tang were also 29 when they joined the board. In 2000, Chris Daly was the youngest person elected to the Board of Supervisors, at age 28.)

Prior to her appointment, Alcaraz owned and operated a pet supply store called the Animal Connection in her neighborhood. She sold the business in 2025, and more recently taught art and music lessons for children. She was not a major public voice in the recall election.

Following the successful recall, many speculated over who the mayor might pick to steer the Sunset forward. Lurie could use another vote on the Board of Supervisors to help pass his Family Zoning Plan, which would increase height and density regulations to make way for thousands of new homes on the westside. Some recall supporters and Sunset residents have challenged the plan, saying it poses threats to the community, and were eager to see someone appointed who would oppose it.

A source familiar with Alcaraz said she supports bringing more housing to the Sunset, but could introduce amendments to the current plan that’s under deliberation.

While Alcaraz comes to the position with relatively little experience in governance or campaigning, she also brings little political baggage. Some recall supporters, such as local business owner Albert Chow, had also put their names out for Lurie’s consideration but could have been controversial due to their direct ties to the campaign.

Alcaraz has not shared how she voted in the recall election. But at a night market shortly after, she directly approached the mayor and said she wanted to be his pick.

“As I’ve spent time listening to families, small business owners, and seniors in the Sunset, I’ve heard the same thing: They want a City Hall that does things with them, not to them— and I couldn’t agree more,” Lurie said in a statement. “Beya Alcaraz is a bridge builder and problem solver who cares deeply about this neighborhood. She will bring a fresh perspective to City Hall, and I am honored to appoint her as the next supervisor for District 4.”

Alcaraz will serve as supervisor until the next local election in June 2026, when voters will decide if she or someone else will permanently hold the District 4 seat.

The new supervisor will have to guide the divided community through an ongoing battle over the Great Highway, which led to Engardio’s fallout.

In 2024, voters across the city approved a ballot measure that closed off the Upper Great Highway to make way for a beachside park now known as Sunset Dunes. But the majority of voters in the Sunset, who live closest to the park, voted against it. Many who supported the recall said that the change has affected their commute times—even though a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency study shows traffic has not significantly changed since the road closure—and that they felt their voices were not represented by their supervisor.

A source familiar with Alcaraz said she believed the city’s former compromise to allow cars on the Great Highway on weekdays, but close it off for recreation on the weekends, worked well and would be open to revisiting the issue to bring cars back to the thoroughfare.

One of her top priorities, and toughest tests, will be uniting the Sunset after the tense election season.

“As your supervisor, I will work to bring all of the District 4 residents together to secure the future of the Sunset,” she said. I am humbled and honored by Mayor Lurie’s appointment and the opportunity to serve the residents of this great district.”