Featured Profile by Steven Rissotto
Robby Bancroft couldn’t stop refreshing the web browser on his laptop — click, click, click. The constant clanking of fingers filled the hollow space of Pedro Point Brewing in Pacifica.
“As soon as I hit refresh that first time and I was down, I was like ‘ah,’” Bancroft reflected.
It was Nov. 8, 2022 — election night in America. Following an entire summer of non-stop campaigning, utterly grueling door-knocking sessions and unparalleled hours in the public spotlight, Bancroft’s candidacy for Pacifica City Council was finally coming to a screeching halt.
“It's weird,” Bancroft said. “You're like, ‘I’m definitely gonna win. I'm not gonna win. There's no way we're gonna win. Do I even have a chance?’ And so you don't think about that throughout the whole campaign because there's nothing you can do about it. But once the votes are in, that’s the decision.”
In a cloud of suspense, Bancroft’s first refresh of the evening on the local elections website displayed some tough news — the path to victory in the hard-fought race was virtually impossible. The marathon, which Bancroft compared to an Olympic distance runner’s shaky final few laps, had ended without triumph.
Nearly two years removed from his improbable council bid, the 38-year-old doesn’t look in the rearview mirror and see piles and piles of regret from his defeat. Instead, Bancroft’s priorities — while still very much focused on serving his community — have shifted from politics back to his roots in the hospitality industry.
March 8 marks the tenth anniversary of Breakers Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch — the popular Pacifica food joint that Bancroft owns with his father and business partner, Steve Bancroft. The restaurant, located no more than one hundred yards from the rough waves of Rockaway Beach, has routinely been ranked toward the top of every TripAdvisor or Yelp recommendation list.
“It's almost like your whole life,” Bancroft said. “It’s almost like having a kid or a wife. It’s another entity, another living organism inside of the family. It’s easy to put it first and not yourself. It really is a part of you and you can't neglect the other parts.”
For the milestone celebration of 10 years, the father-son duo plans to release limited edition merchandise and schedule giveaways for customers throughout the calendar year.
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as an arsonist, setting logistical fires that engulfed local businesses and Breakers couldn’t escape the vortex. Once the blaze was put out, Bancroft — a growing presence in the community as an organizer — saw an opportunity to further his value.
He sought a run for public office — a city council seat in the district he was raised in.
“I kind of had to take a deep breath because I know what it's like serving and I know how hard it is to run,” said Mary Bier, former Mayor and current Pacifica City Councilmember. “I knew that he would be great but I was concerned about him and about the process and just how excruciating — it just really tires you out. I didn't want to see his light dimmed because that's what serving on the city council can do.”
Despite working on Bier’s campaign in 2018, Bancroft was rather green from a political standpoint. He attended city council meetings, but didn’t fully comprehend the issues and policies fully yet. However, his passion for public service, especially as an important member of the Pacifica Resource Center, paved a clear path for potential as he embarked on a campaign of learning — “four years of college in three months,” he joked.
“I was delighted that Robby wanted to bring a young person's perspective to the council,” said Tygarjas Twyrls Bigstyck, former Mayor and current Pacifica city councilmember. “He’s somebody who wants to collaborate to find the best possible solutions for Pacifica and I certainly welcome the approach of helping Pacifica to find its best face and most optimistic outlook.”
After filing paperwork to appear on the ballot, a lot of his education on public policy was driven by previously established connections. On the periphery, he compiled a roster of 50 individuals whom he perceived as the most influential in the city. Eventually, he convened meetings with approximately 25 to 30 of these "trusted messengers."
“It’s very compassionate as well because there's never just one side of things,” said Rachel Lee, a member of Bancroft’s campaign team. “There's always another point of view that you haven't heard. And he's also always willing to learn and try to expand his knowledge of what's going on because there's always new things that are coming up.”
Bancroft ended up losing the election, but he campaigned with style and his trademark enthusiasm.
In addition to his bleached, long blonde hair, Bancroft’s campaigning attire oftentimes featured dark khaki pants, a vest to compliment a #Robby2022 shirt, limited edition Donald Glover shoes or Crocs — especially the Crocs.
“I love the Crocs,” Lee said. “They sometimes get a lot of hate from people online, but that's just him. I mean, he's unapologetically Robby.”
Simply put, Bancroft displayed little interest in abiding by any pre-packaged version of what a local political candidate should be. In a lot of ways, the election loss didn’t signify the same amount of dismay as a generic candidate, either.
“I knew no matter what would happen, I would be OK with the outcome — and that I had learned so much that it would only benefit all the other things I was involved in,” Bancroft said. “So when the time came, and the deadline hit, no one else stepped up. So I did.”
While co-managing Breakers has reemerged as a priority, Bancroft’s crocs are still dipped in different levels of politics. He’s pivoted to serving as an elected delegate for the California Democratic Party, working to elect as many blue candidates as possible in the region.
“As a younger person in politics, our voices are not always heard,” said Vanessa Tapia, a field coordinator for the San Mateo County Democratic Party. “And I felt that Robby listened to me and what was important to his campaign and we were just able to really work together.”
Bancroft also kept busy as a media consultant for Be The Change Youth Coalition by helping high school students find their podcasting voice. A true swift army knife, Bancroft’s future could resort to several different avenues. For now, he's focusing on himself.
“I had a weird meditation vision on a night where I couldn't sleep,” Bancroft recalled. “I just kept seeing, ‘2024 equals the year I take care of myself,’ and then that will make me a better asset to the rest of my world.”
By Steven Rissotto for JOUR 595 | February 9, 2024
Photos by Kevin Burleigh
