The San Francisco Bay Area just got its second Asian American mayor. Last week, Jean Quan took the helm as mayor of Oakland. Now, Ed Lee is now the interim San Francisco mayor. He becomes the first Asian American mayor to lead the City by the Bay and the 43rd mayor of San Francisco.

By unanimous decision, the Board of Supervisors appointed Edwin M. Lee to serve out as Mayor the final year of newly sworn-in Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom. Ed Lee has served as City Administrator of the City and County of San Francisco since 2005. Mr. Lee comes to this position with a long, established reputation in City government, having served in various capacities under four mayors. Specifically Mr. Lee previously served the City as Director of the Human Rights Commission, Purchasing, the Department of Public Works and has led a number of high profile initiatives.

With his new role, Lee faces multiple challenges including a massive $400 million budget deficit, the search for a new chief of police, and the redevelopment of Treasure Island. “I am profoundly humbled by the confidence placed in me today and energized by this historic opportunity to serve the people of our great City as mayor,” said Mayor Lee. “Today, on behalf of all San Franciscans, let us come together as a City to bridge that which may divide us and meet the challenges of governing in these difficult times.” In his inaugural speech, mayor Ed Lee is positioning himself as a mayor for the people. “I present myself to you as a mayor for everyone. A mayor for the neighborhoods, for downtown, for business, for labor, for the powerless, and the powerful, for the left, the right, and everyone in between, for everyone. I will be a mayor that tackles things head on and moves the bar forward. I will be your mayor. Thank you very much,” said Lee.

Ed Lee becomes first Asian American mayor of San Francisco

More about Mayor Ed Lee

Mayor Ed Lee first began working for the City and County of San Francisco in 1989 as the Investigator for the City’s first Whistle Blower Ordinance and has since served as the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission, Director of City Purchasing, and Director of the Department of Public Works before he was first appointed as City Administrator in 2005.

Prior to his employment with the City and County of San Francisco, Mayor Lee was the Managing Attorney for the San Francisco Asian Law Caucus, for which he worked from 1979 to 1989. Mayor Lee was born in Seattle, Washington. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bowdoin College in 1974 and from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, in 1978. Mayor Lee is married to his wife Anita and is the father of two daughters Brianna and Tania.

Working with the Department of Emergency Management, Mayor Lee has overseen the City’s disaster recovery and response planning efforts, bringing every department together to coordinate response and recovery for the next major earthquake or emergency. With the Fire Chief, Mayor Lee led efforts to work with PG&E to assess the City’s gas and electric infrastructure and ensure its safety and reliability. For the 2010 U.S. Census, Lee organized the outreach efforts to ensure our City continues to make progress on inclusion and cultural competency.

As City Administrator, Mayor Lee spearheaded government efficiency measures and reforms that reduced the size and cost of government, from reducing the vehicle fleet to consolidating departments and back office functions to save tax dollars. He implemented the City’s move to cleaner vehicles and an infrastructure to support electric vehicles and green City government. Mayor Lee also developed and oversaw implementation of the City’s first ever Ten Year Capital Plan to guide our capital priorities and infrastructure investment.

Public Service History
July 2005 – 2010 – Chief Administrative Officer for City and County of San Francisco,
2000 – 2005 – Director, Department of Public Works
1989 – 1991 – Whistleblower Ordinance Investigator & Deputy Director of Employment Relations.
1991 – 1996 – Director, Human Rights Commission
1996 – 2000 – Director, City Purchasing Department