Edwin M. Lee sworn in as San Francisco's first Asian-American mayor

[News_Editor]

Edwin M. Lee sworn in as San Francisco's first Asian-American mayor

2011-01-12 12:14:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) -- Edwin M. Lee was sworn in as the 43rd Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco on Tuesday, becoming the city's first Asian-American mayor.

Lee, 58, of Seattle, Washington and former City Administrator, was appointed unanimously as successor mayor by the Board of Supervisors to fill the remaining year of former Mayor Gavin Newsom's term, who was sworn in as California's Lieutenant Governor on Monday.

"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 2010, Lee was appointed to a second term as City Administrator by Mayor Newsom and his appointment was confirmed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors.

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. Since then, he has 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.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-12

[phaethon]

An hour later they'll want another one...

[Jingthing]

Demographically, this makes sense. However, historically in San Francisco Asians have been very slow to get involved in local politics. So this is actually a big deal. In San Francisco, Asians comprise over 30 percent of the population, while contrary to popular myths that most people are gay there, gays comprise only 15 percent.

Edited January 12, 2011 by Jingthing

[LaoPo]

Ed Lee becomes the city's first Chinese American mayor

Today, it was Lee's turn to get the applause when he was sworn in as mayor.

A new era in San Francisco politics began today when Edwin M. Lee was appointed and sworn in as mayor, the first Chinese American to hold the post.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Lee, the city administrator, to serve out the remaining year of newly-sworn-in Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom's term as mayor.

He then strolled down the grand staircase under City Hall's ornate dome, as people lined three-stories of balconies around the rotunda. San Francisco Superior Court Presiding Judge Katherine Feinstein administered the oath of office as his wife, two daughters and his two predecessors in City Hall's Room 200 looked on. Lee becomes the city's 43rd mayor.

Lee, a civil rights attorney who went on to a 21-year career as a city bureaucrat, vowed to be a mayor for all San Franciscans, including the city's most disenfranchised groups.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.co...5#ixzz1ArPMUOVE

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