Google District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and you’ll get the standard biographical information.  Wikipedia lists her terms in office:  elected to a transitional two-year term in 2000, re-elected to two four-year terms in 2002 and 2006.  The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ website provides a description of her work related to environmental justice, clean energy and equitable distribution of public resources.  But, if you continue down the list of entries you’ll find links to blogs and articles calling for her ouster.  In fact, a recall petition failed as recently as February, just 10 months before Maxwell’s final term will come to a close. It seems that even as she prepares to leave office, some believe that exit can’t come soon enough.

According to Maxwell, it’s all part of the political package. “I knew coming in, years ago, that there was no way to make everyone happy,” she said during a 40-minute interview with the View. “I don’t take any of it personally. Those people don’t know me and I don’t know them.”

Now 60 – her birthday was April 9 – Maxwell’s spent most of her life in District 10.  She’s daughter of the late activist and Potrero Hill Neighborhood House executive director Enola Maxwell.  Within the district she’s suffered great loss:  Maxwell blames local power plants for the Hodgkin’s lymphoma that killed her son, Rama, at age 30.  And she’s experienced great triumphs:  the Hunters Point Power Plant closed in 2006; the Potrero Power Plant may shut down by the end of this year.  “I love these communities,” Maxwell said. “We might not all get along all the time, but when something really important comes up, for the most part, everyone here thinks of the greater good. Because of that, I really haven’t experienced that many disappointments. So much more has happened than I ever believed could. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

View: How thick was your skin when you started in this office, and how many layers have been added since?

Maxwell: Well, I’ve never felt alone or by myself, and that’s been a big thing for me. When I came into office, I realized there was going to be a lot of thought about politics. I was old enough to know that everybody is not always going to be happy with you.  But, you have to have a direction, someplace that you’re going, and most importantly, you have to have people with you. I believe in consensus leadership, collective leadership, in people making decisions together. So, when I ran, it was always “We,” and  “Us.”  “We can make a difference.” So, therefore, I didn’t come into this by myself; I came here with people and we made the decisions. People have come after me at recall. But, when that happens, there have been people out in the parking lot arguing and fussing with them on my behalf. People saying, “Hey, wait a minute. We’ve done this together.”  So, when they attack me, they’re also attacking them and what they’ve done.  So, I’ve never really felt alone and by myself in all of this…because it’s not about me.  I try to keep it on issues and not take this job personally. People don’t know me and I don’t know them. It’s not personal for me. And, I had a mother who was smart and terrific. And she told me that you don’t let just anybody make you angry, because you don’t know these people and they can control you that way.  

View: You mentioned your mother, Enola Maxwell, who was a very prominent community figure. What was it like growing up with someone who was so active? How did that shape you?

Maxwell: I really didn’t know until now what it was like and what she gave me so much of. Because, you know, at the time I was growing up and it was more about, “Why aren’t you home?” and, “No, I do not want to go with you to this meeting.” But, as I got older, I started understanding that she was making changes. She was being a participant in her life and in democracy. So that really helped me tremendously and allowed me to never feel victimized by anything . When my son (Rama) contracted cancer, I started thinking, “You messed with the wrong mother’s son.” And, I got really active and started working on power plants and sewage plants and decided I was not going to let this happen to anybody else’s child. So my mother really empowered me to realize that I can change my circumstances. And, you know, she was just this little lady. I mean my mother was 90 pounds wet. But, she was really, really something.  Just over the weekend I had an opportunity to go to the opening of the Potrero Library and there was a picture of her in the hallway, and then the kids from Enola D. Maxwell International Studies Academy sang, and I just thought, “Wow, Mom, you were really something.” I am in this position because of my mother. People did not know me in Potrero Hill. They knew her. They listened to me because of her. So, really, she gave me the opportunity to be in this position. And, then, there were other things. She had this quietness of the spirit and this willingness to try to think things out to a logical conclusion…realizing that some things are emotional, but thinking about them in a logical manner.  I’d like to think she passed some of those traits down, as well.