Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors

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The Board of Supervisors as of March 2023 (official group photo)
The Board of Supervisors meets in San Francisco City Hall.
Former United States Senator Dianne Feinstein served as supervisor from 1970 to 1978 and as president in 1978.
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected public official in California, served as supervisor in 1978.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body of San Francisco, California, United States. The body consists of eleven members elected from single-member districts through ranked choice voting.

From 1977 to 1979, and starting again in 2000, supervisors were elected from eleven single-member districts. Prior to 1977 and from 1980 to 1998, members were elected at-large, all running on one ballot, with the top vote-getters winning office. In 1980, elections shifted from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, and because of the shift from district to at-large elections, all seats were up for election, with some members winning four-year terms and some winning two-year terms. Similar cases of supervisors elected to truncated terms happened in 1977 and 2000, when elections shifted to district elections.

Several members were initially appointed by the mayor. San Francisco's city charter gives the mayor the power to fill any vacancies[1] and to suspend members in limited circumstances;[2] the latter case has happened only once, when Mayor Gavin Newsom suspended Ed Jew due to allegations of lying about his residency and extortion.[3] A few members were elected to the board, but appointed to their seat by the mayor during the weeks between the election and the beginning of their term. This has generally been done when supervisors were elected to the state legislature, since the terms of state legislators begin earlier than those of supervisors. The most recent example occurred in 2008, when David Campos was elected to the District 9 seat held by Tom Ammiano. In the same election, Ammiano was elected to the California State Assembly and resigned his seat a month early to take his new office. Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed Campos to the seat on December 4, 2008, a month before he would otherwise have taken office.[4]

Board presidents[edit]

The president of the Board of Supervisors presides over all board meetings and appoints members to board committees, among other duties. Board presidents are elected by their colleagues at the beginning of every odd-numbered year, or when a vacancy arises in the office.[5] From 1983 to 2001, the city charter specified that the president would be the highest vote-getter in the previous election, taking the power of electing the board president away from the supervisors themselves, except in the case of a vacancy in the post.[6][7]

Shamann WaltonNorman YeeMalia CohenLondon BreedKaty TangDavid Chiu (politician)Aaron PeskinMatt GonzalezTom AmmianoBarbara KaufmanAngela AliotoKevin ShelleyDoris M. WardHarry BrittNancy G. WalkerWendy NelderQuentin L. KoppJohn L. MolinariDianne Feinstein

Board members[edit]

No official list of supervisors in office prior to 1906 exists as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed all Board of Supervisors records. However, the names of San Francisco supervisors are recorded in many documents and newspapers from the time.

San Francisco Common Council[edit]

The San Francisco Common Council was the predecessor of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The Common Council was made up of the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Assistant Aldermen, each composed of one member elected from each of the city's eight wards. The first elections to these posts took place on May 1, 1850 (the same day as the vote on the city charter), and the Common Council took office on May 6, 1850.[8] The Common Council had authority only within the city limits, which stretched west to Divisadero and Castro streets and south to 20th Street.[9]

The seventh and last Common Council served until July 1856, when under the Consolidation Act that unified city and county government in San Francisco, the Common Council was replaced by the first Board of Supervisors.[8]

Four-member board (July–November 1856)[edit]

The first Board of Supervisors served only from July 8 to November 15, 1856, and consisted of one justice of the peace for each of the city's four districts. These four men chose George J. Whelan as the city's mayor and president of the board.

Year President District
1 2 3 4
July–November 1856 George J. Whelan Lawrence Ryan E.W. Smith C.M. Chamberlain David B. Castree

12 members elected by district (1856–1899)[edit]

Supervisors from the 19th century are listed in surviving copies of municipal reports, contemporary newspapers, and similar sources.[8][10]

Year Ward
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
November 1856 – 1857[8] Charles Wilson W.A. Darling W.K. Van Alen M.R. Roberts Samuel Merritt Charles W. Bond[A] H.A. George N.C. Lane W.L. Palmer R.G. Sneath J.J. Denny S.S. Tilton
1858[8] L.B. Benchley Thomas Tennent[B]
1859[8] Charles S. Biden H.S. Gates Thomas Young J.S. Paxson W. McKibbin J.C. Corbett
1860[8] Joseph Britton F.W. Brooks J.S. Davies W.B. Johnson James Otis[G] A.G. Randall[C]
John C. Ayres[D]
John Lynch[E]
1861[8] H. De La Montaya D. Gaven H.L. Dodge W.C. Hinckley Eugene Crowell Frank McCoppin
1862[8] Myles D. Sweeney H.L. King Gerritt W. Bell John C. Merrill J.H. Redington[H] James W. Cudworth[F]
1863[8] A.H. Titcomb Giles H. Gray
1864[8] John Fay E.C. Kennedy
A.S. Baldwin
E.N. Torrey A.H. Cummings Michael Cody
1865[8] Isaac Rowell Monroe Ashbury Charles Clayton A.J. Shrader
1866[8] R.P. Clement William S. Phelps Jacob Schreiber James H. Reynolds Charles H. Stanyan
1867[8] P.H. Daly W.B. Farman F.G.E. Tittell
1868[8] Henry Winkle John Harrold Edward Flaherty R. Beverly Cole D.D. Shattuck J.B.E. Cavallier Edward Nunan P.H. Canavan
1869[8] Richard Ring
1870[8] Timothy McCarthy Alexander Badlam Charles R. Story James Adams M.J. Kelly
1871[8] Stewart Menzies James J. Kenney Robert Goodwin A.B. Forbes Edward Commins
1872[8] H.F. Swain Henry L. King James Barrett Samuel Penfield Taylor
1873
1874[8] William C. Pease A.M. Ebbets John R. Sims James H. Deering James B. Roberts A.L. Wangenheim
Abram Block
A.W. Scott George Hewston M. Lynch D.A. Macdonald
1875[8] Abram Block
1876[8] August Drucker C.B. Edwards Thomas Bryan John H. Wise John P. Shine Frederick W. Eaton George W. Hayes Fleet F. Strother Thomas Boyce John C. Roberts Frederick A. Gibbs
1877
1878[8] John Foley Martin Mangels Horace L. Hill Edwin Danforth J. Henley Smith James O. Rountree John W. Farren Thomas S. Ackerson A.W. Scott Robert Haight Henry Brickwedel
1879[8] Thomas A. Talbert
1880[8] Antone Schottler John Mason J.M. Litchfield Samuel Drake James D. Whitney Frank Eastman Hugh Fraser Charles L. Taylor Micah Doane Charles A. Bayly Erastus N. Torrey James B. Stetson
1881
1882[8][10] William H. Bodfish John C. McKew John Shirley John H. Carmany Henry Molineaux George Torrens George B. Bradford Charles A. Fisher Oliver Merrill Henry B. Russ Nathan C. Parrish John F. Kennedy
1883[8][10] John T. Sullivan John J. Reichenbach Charles H. Burton J. Henley Smith Edward B. Pond John D. Griffin Fleet F. Strother John B. Lewis Herman Ranken Jefferson G. James Thomas Ashworth
1884
1885[8][10] Justin Gates Robert Roy John E. Kunkler John E. Abbott Willard B. Farwell James Williamson David L. Farnsworth Albert Heyer James Gilleran Daniel McMillan Samuel Valleau
1886
1887[8][10][11] Hugh Curran James M. McDonald Colin M. Boyd Joseph Pescia Charles S. Bush Aaron M. Burns William Hawkins Albert F. Knorp William P. Lambert Herman Joost Sargent S. Morton
1888
1889[8][10] Henry Bingham Levi R. Ellert Peter Wheelan Diedrich Becker Henry Pilster Vincent Kingwell David Barry Patrick Noble
1890[8] Selden S. Wright
1891[8][10] Henry Evans David B. Jackson James W. Burling John. B. Curtis Washington Ayer George A. Carnes Patrick J. Coffee Albert Heyer Denis D. Hunt Charles W. Taber William Wilkinson
1892[8] Joseph A. Artigues
1893[8] Michael Goodwin Daniel Rogers William Montgomery James I. Stanton C.W. Nevin Patrick J. Kennedy Sands W. Forman Christian Reis James Ryan Robert Day Patrick F. Dundon William M. Hinton Jefferson G. James James Denman
1894
1895[8] Joseph King Peter A. Scully Charles E. Benjamin Alphonse Hirsch Joseph I. Dimond Edward C. Hughes Christopher Dunker Charles L. Taylor Alfred W. Morgenstern Adolph B. Spreckels John K.C. Hobbs Edward L. Wagner
1896
1897[8] Lawrence Devany Thomas H. Haskins P.M. Delany John H. Sheehan Washington Dodge John Lackmann T.A. Rottanzi Thomas Morton James E. Britt Edward J. Smith Charles A. Clinton Thomas W. Rivers
1898
1899[12] Edward Holland Edward C. Kalben Howard Black Edward L. Perrault William H. Phelps John Lackmann Lewis F. Byington George W. Collins Albert Heyer Jeremiah Deasy Arthur Attridge Edward H. Algeltinger
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ward
  • A Charles W. Bond resigned April 7, 1858.
  • B Thomas Tennett took his seat May 21, 1858.
  • C A.G. Randall resigned February 13, 1860.
  • D John C. Ayres took his seat May 7, 1860.
  • E John Lynch resigned October 7, 1861.
  • F James W. Cudworth took his seat November 4, 1861.
  • G James Otis resigned November 25, 1861, "as he is under the necessity of absenting himself from the State for the next few months".
  • H J.H. Redington took his seat December 30, 1861.

18 members elected at-large, serving two-year terms (1900–1911)[edit]

Article II, Chapter I, Section 2 of the revised charter, ratified by voters on May 26, 1898, specified that "[t]he Board of Supervisors shall consist of eighteen members all of whom shall hold office for two years and be elected from the City and County at large." Former mayors of the city were allowed non-voting seats on the board.[13] In 1912, supervisors' terms were extended to four years.[14]

Year
1900[15][16] James P. Booth Charles Boxton[P] Henry U. Branden- stein A.B. Maguire[A] A. Comte, Jr. John Connor Peter J. Curtis A. Arnold D'Ancona L.J. Dwyer[G] M.J. Fontana Richard M. Hotaling Thomas Jennings William N. McCarthy Charles Wesley Reed George R. Sanderson John E.A. Helms[C] Joseph S. Tobin Victor D. Duboce[D]
1901 Samuel Braunhart[B] Henry J. Stafford[E] Horace Wilson[E]
1902[16][17] Robert J. Loughery[H] George Alpers Fred N. Bent Frederick Eggers John A. Lynch George B. McLellan Henry Payot William J. Wynn[I]
1903 Edward I. Walsh[J]
1904[18] Thomas F. Finn[K] Oscar Hocks Theodore Lunstedt L.A. Rea Edward R. Rock William W. Sanderson
1905 James L. Gallagher[L]
1906[19] Michael W. Coffey Daniel G. Coleman Sam Davis John J. Furey Cornelius J. Harrigan James F. Kelly Thomas F. Lonergan Max Mamlock Patrick M. McGushin Fred P. Nicholas Andrew M. Wilson[M] George F. Duffey[M] Jennings J. Phillips Edward I. Walsh
Jan–July 1907[19][O] J.J. O'Neill[N] Olaf A. Tveitmoe[N]
Aug–Dec 1907[20][Q] Henry U. Brandenstein James P. Booth[O] Gustave Brenner George L. Center A. Arnold D'Ancona Thomas Magee Bernard Faymonville Eusebius Joseph Molera Charles Albert Murdock Daniel C. Murphy A. Comte, Jr. Henry Payot Lippmann Sachs[R] Loring P. Rixford[U] Matt Sullivan William G. Stafford[R]
1908[20] Paul Bancroft William Broderick A.H. Giannini[T] Oscar Hocks Thomas Jennings James A. Johnston M. Hall McAllister Ralph McLeran A. Arnold D'Ancona[S] Allan Pollok George A. Connolly[S]
1909[20] William W. Sanderson[T] W.E. Balcom[U]
1910[21] Edward L. Cutten Cornelius Deasy Matt Harris, Sr. James Emmet Hayden Timothy B. Healy John L. Herget John A. Kelly John R. Knowles Robert J. Loughery John P. McLaughlin Timothy P. Minehan Charles A. Nelson Thomas P. O'Dowd William C. Pugh John O. Walsh
1911[22] John I. Nolan[V]
Year Board elections moved to staggered four-year terms from 1912
  • A A.B. Maguire resigned some time before June 27, 1900, and died shortly afterwards.
  • B Samuel Braunhart was appointed June 27, 1900 to replace A.B Maguire.
  • C John E.A. Helms died some time before July 26, 1900, while returning from a trip to investigate the possibility of using Lake Tahoe as a water supply for the city.
  • D Colonel Victor Donglain Duboce, a veteran of the Spanish–American War died some time before August 15, 1900.
  • E Henry J. Stafford was appointed November 1, 1900 to replace John E.A. Helms.
  • F Horace Wilson was appointed November 1, 1900 to replace Victor D. Duboce.
  • G L.J. Dwyer died some time before February 8, 1902.
  • H Robert J. Loughery was appointed February 8, 1902 to replace L.J. Dwyer.
  • I William J. Wynn resigned after his election as U.S. Representative for California's 5th congressional district for the term beginning March 4, 1903.
  • J Edward I. Walsh was appointed March 4, 1903 to replace W.J. Wynn.
  • K Thomas F. Finn resigned January 1, 1905.
  • L James L. Gallagher was appointed February 11, 1905 to replace Thomas F. Finn. On June 17, 1907, Gallagher was appointed acting mayor by the board of supervisors, to serve in place of Eugene E. Schmitz, who had been arrested on felony charges of extortion. Schmitz protested his removal, but Gallagher continued to serve until the board elected Charles Boxton to fill Schmitz's unexpired term on July 9, 1907.
  • M A.M. Wilson and G.F. Duffey resigned their positions prior to January 17, 1907; Wilson took up the position of state railroad commissioner; Duffey became director of the city's department of public works.[23]
  • N J.J. O'Neill and O.A. Tveitmoe were appointed by Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz on January 17, 1907, to succeed A.M. Wilson and G.F. Duffey, who had resigned.
  • O On March 18, 1907, as part of the San Francisco graft trials, 16 of the 18 supervisors confessed before a grand jury to receiving money from corrupt political boss Abe Ruef. In exchange for their testimony, "they were promised complete immunity and would not be forced to resign their offices."
  • P Following the conviction of Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz for extortion, the board declared the office of the mayor vacant on July 9, 1907. Charles Boxton resigned his position as supervisor the same day and was elected by the board to fill Schmitz's unexpired term. However, testimony in Schmitz's corruption trial soon revealed that Boxton had taken bribes, so he actually served only seven days as mayor, resigning on July 16, 1907, to be replaced by Edward R. Taylor, dean of Hastings College of the Law. On July 29, 1907, Taylor appointed James P. Booth, who had served as a supervisor from 1900 to 1905, to serve Boxton's unexpired term as supervisor.
  • Q On July 29, 1907, two weeks after Edward R. Taylor's appointment as mayor, he conducted a wholesale purge of supervisors connected with the graft scandal. Taylor obtained the resignations of 14 supervisors and appointed replacements for all their seats plus the open seat created by the resignation of Charles Boxton. These 15 appointments were protested by supervisors O.A. Tveitmoe and J.J. O'Neill, who had not resigned, on the grounds that Taylor's claim to the mayor's office had not been legally established. On August 26, 1907, P.M. McGushin resigned and Taylor replaced him with former supervisor A. Comte, Jr.
  • R Lippmann Sachs and W.G. Stafford were both elected in November 1907 to continue as supervisors. However, both resigned before May 28, 1908.
  • S George A. Connolly and A.A. D'Ancona were appointed as supervisors on May 28, 1908, to replace W.G. Stafford and Lippmann Sachs, respectively.
  • T William W. Sanderson was appointed June 1, 1909 to replace A.H. Giannini, who had resigned. Attilio Henry Giannini was the brother of A.P. Giannini, founder of the Bank of America. W.W. Sanderson was a grocery executive with Hooper & Jennings. He served as a supervisor during the period of Abe Ruef's corruption, and gave evidence about the graft schemes.
  • U W.E. Balcom was appointed June 7, 1909 to replace L.P. Rixford, who had resigned.
  • V John I. Nolan was appointed March 6, 1911 to replace John P. McLaughlin, who had resigned.

18 members elected at-large, serving staggered four-year terms (1912–1931)[edit]

From January 8, 1912, the term of office of San Francisco supervisors was extended to four years, with nine members elected every two years. The nine supervisors with the highest vote counts at the 1911 election received four-year terms, and the other nine received two-year initial terms putting them up for re-election in 1913.[14]

Year Initial term 1912–1915 Initial term 1912–1913
1912[24] Paul Bancroft[A] George E. Gallagher[C] James Emmet Hayden[A] Oscar Hocks[A] Thomas Jennings William H. McCarthy Charles Albert Murdock[A] Henry Payot Alexander T. Vogelsang Guido E. Caglieri Andrew J. Gallagher J.B. Bocarde, A.H. Giannini[B] Fred L. Hilmer Adolf Koshland Byron Mauzy Ralph McLeran Daniel C. Murphy Edward L. Nolan
1913[25]
1914[26] John C. Kortick[C] Cornelius J. Deasy Charles A. Nelson James E. Power Fred Suhr, Jr. John O. Walsh
1915[27]
1916[28] Edward J. Brandon John D. Hynes Joseph F. Lahaney Joseph Mulvihill Richard J. Welch Edward I. Wolfe[D]
1917[29]
1918[30][E] James B. McSheehy Eugene Schmitz
1919
1920[31] Edwin G. Bath Charles J. Powers William S. Scott Warren Shannon
1921
1922[32] Jesse C. Colman [D] Frank H. Harris John A. McGregor Margaret Mary Morgan[F] Frank Robb Angelo Joseph Rossi
1923
1924[33] John Badaracco William H. Harrelson Philip C. Katz Alfred Roncovieri
1925
1926[34] Franck R. Havenner Milo F. Kent Milton Marks, Sr.[G] Charles J. Powers Walter J. Schmidt William P. Stanton Charles F. Todd
1927
1928[35] Andrew J. Gallagher Fred Suhr, Jr. Joseph M. Toner[H] Frank J. McGovern
1929
1930[36] Victor J. Canepa Carl W. Miles Jefferson E. Peyser James E. Power Angelo Joseph Rossi[H] E.J. "Jack" Spaulding
1931 Samuel T. Breyer[H][I] Thomas P. Garrity[H]
Year Board reduced from 18 members to 15 for the period 1932–1933
  • A Four members elected to four-year seats in 1912 served on the previous board: Paul Bancroft, James Emmet Hayden, Oscar Hocks and Charles Albert Murdock.
  • B A.H. Giannini was appointed January 8, 1912 to replace J.B. Bocarde who was elected in November 1911 but died before his term started.
  • C John C. Kortick was appointed March 9, 1914 to replace George E. Gallagher who resigned January 8, 1914.
  • D Edward I. "Eddie" Wolfe collapsed and died while speaking at a luncheon on January 26, 1922. The next day Mayor James Rolph appointed Jesse C. Colman to the vacant seat.
  • E The November 6, 1917 election used a preferential system for the supervisor race, apparently using the Bucklin voting system. Voters cast ballots for first, second and third choices for nine supervisor positions, choosing among 49 candidates. The total votes cast were divided by the nine seats to calculate a majority threshold. Ralph McLeran got most votes and was elected based on first preference votes only; Charles Nelson was elected based on first and second preference votes; the other seven successful candidates required first, second and third preference votes.
  • F Mary Margaret Morgan was the first woman elected as a San Francisco supervisor. She placed seventh of 22 candidates for the nine seats at stake in the November 8, 1921 election.
  • G Milton Marks, Sr. was the father of Milton Marks, Jr. who became the state assembly member and later state senator representing San Francisco. Milton Marks, Sr. did not stand for re-election in November 1929.
  • H A.J. Rossi was sworn in as mayor of San Francisco on January 7, 1931, to fill the vacancy left by the swearing in of James Rolph as governor of California the previous day. Rossi had been chosen for the post on January 5 by a 14–2 vote of the Board of Supervisors. At the same time Dr. Joseph M. Toner took up a position as director of institutions for California. On January 20, Rossi's appointees Samuel T. Breyer and Thomas P. Garrity were sworn in to fill the two open supervisor seats.
  • I Samuel T. Breyer was the father of Irving Breyer, who later served as legal counsel for the San Francisco Board of Education, and the grandfather of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer.

15 members elected at-large (1932–1933)[edit]

The new city charter adopted by voters in November 1931 reduced the Board of Supervisors' membership in two stages from 18 members to 11. The first stage was that the nine members whose terms expired at the end of 1931 were replaced by six new members elected in November 1931. This reduced the board to 15 members for the period 1932–1933. Then, at the 1933 election, only five supervisors were elected, reducing the board to 11 members. The 1931 charter also removed administrative responsibility from the board and restricted it to a legislative role, and it created a new position of President of the Board of Supervisors. Previously, the mayor had served as president of the board.

Year
1932 Samuel T. Breyer Arthur M. Brown, Jr. Victor Canepa Jesse Colman Andrew J. Gallagher Franck R. Havenner J. Emmet Hayden James McSheehy Carl W. Miles Jefferson E. Peyser James E. Power Warren Shannon Alfred Roncovieri E. Jack Spaulding William P. Stanton
1933
Year

11 members elected at-large (1934–1977)[edit]

Year
1934 Jesse Colman Franck R. Havenner Andrew J. Gallagher James McSheehy John Ratto Samuel T. Breyer Arthur M. Brown, Jr. Adolph Schmidt Adolph Uhl Alfred Roncovieri Warren Shannon
1935 J. Emmet Hayden
1936 Dewey Mead Fred W. Meyer
1937 George R. Reilly
1938
1939 John F. McGowan
1940
1941
1942 Gerald O'Gara Chester MacPhee Robert M. Green Daniel Gallagher
1943 James Gartland
1944 Edward Mancuso John J. Sullivan
1945
1946 Marvin E. Lewis P. J. McMurray George Christopher
1947 J. Joseph Sullivan
1948 Chris J. Christensen Don Fazackerley
1949 James Halley
1950
1951
1952 Byron Arnold John J. Ferdon Harold Dobbs Francis McCarty
1953 James Halley
1954 J. Eugene McAteer Matthew Carberry Clarissa McMahon
1955 William C. Blake Charles Ertola James Halley
1956 Joseph M. Casey James J. Sullivan Henry Rolph
1957
1958 Alfonso Zirpoli
1959 J. Joseph Sullivan
1960
1961 Jesse Colman Joseph E. Tinney Peter Tamaras
1962 Jack Morrison Roger Boas
1963 J. Max Moore
1964 Leo T. McCarthy George Moscone
1965 John Ertola Terry Francois
1966 Kevin O'Shea
1967 Dorothy von Beroldingen Josiah H. "Joe" Beeman V
1968 Robert H. Mendelsohn James Mailliard Ron Pelosi
1969 Robert E. Gonzales
1970 Dianne Feinstein John Barbagelata
1971 Michael J. Driscoll
1972 John L. Molinari Quentin L. Kopp
1973 George Chinn
1974 Alfred Nelder
1975
1976
1977 Gordon Lau Jane Murphy
Year

11 members elected by district (1978–1980)[edit]

Year District
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1978 Gordon Lau Dianne Feinstein John L. Molinari Ella Hill Hutch Harvey Milk Carol Ruth Silver Robert E. Gonzales Dan White Lee S. Dolson Quentin L. Kopp Ron Pelosi
1979 Louise Renne Harry Britt Donald T. Horanzy
1980 Ed Lawson Doris M. Ward Nancy G. Walker John Bardis
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
District

11 members elected at-large (1981–2000)[edit]

Year Seat
1981 Carol Ruth Silver Richard Hongisto John L. Molinari Louise Renne Harry Britt Ella Hill Hutch Doris M. Ward Wendy Nelder Lee S. Dolson Quentin L. Kopp Nancy G. Walker
1982 Willie B. Kennedy
1983 Bill J. Maher
1984
1985
1986 Tom Hsieh Jim Gonzalez
1987
1988
1989 Terence Hallinan Angela Alioto
1990
1991 Kevin Shelley Roberta Achtenberg Carole Migden
1992 Annemarie Conroy
1993 Sue Bierman Barbara Kaufman
1994 Susan Leal
1995 Mabel Teng Tom Ammiano
1996 Leslie Katz
1997 Michael Yaki Gavin Newsom José Medina Leland Yee Amos C. Brown
1998
1999 Mark Leno
2000 Alicia Becerril
Year Seat

11 members elected by district (2001–present)[edit]

Year District
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
2001 Jake McGoldrick Gavin Newsom Aaron Peskin Leland Yee Matt Gonzalez Chris Daly Tony Hall Mark Leno Tom Ammiano Sophie Maxwell Gerardo Sandoval
2002
2003 Fiona Ma Bevan Dufty
2004 Michela Alioto-Pier
2005 Ross Mirkarimi Sean Elsbernd
2006
2007 Ed Jew
2008 Carmen Chu
2009 Eric Mar David Chiu David Campos John Avalos
2010
2011 Mark Farrell Jane Kim Scott Wiener Malia Cohen
2012 Christina Olague
2013 Katy Tang London Breed Norman Yee
2014
2015 Julie Christensen
2016 Aaron Peskin
2017 Sandra Lee Fewer Jeff Sheehy Hillary Ronen Ahsha Safaí
2018 Catherine Stefani Vallie Brown
2019 Gordon Mar Matt Haney Rafael Mandelman Shamann Walton
2020 Dean Preston
2021 Connie Chan Myrna Melgar
2022 Matt Dorsey
2023 Joel Engardio

Timeline of supervisors since 2000[edit]

This graphical timeline depicts the composition of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors since district elections were resumed in November 2000, along with the mayor in office at each point. Each color corresponds to one of the city's 11 districts, with a paler shade indicating periods when the officeholder was appointed rather than elected.

London BreedMark Farrell (politician)Ed Lee (politician)Gavin NewsomWillie Brown (politician)Joel EngardioMyrna MelgarConnie Chan (politician)Dean PrestonShamann WaltonMatt HaneyGordon MarVallie BrownRafael MandelmanCatherine StefaniAhsha SafaíHillary RonenJeff SheehySandra Lee FewerJulie Christensen (politician)Norman YeeLondon BreedKaty TangChristina OlagueMalia CohenScott WienerJane KimMark Farrell (politician)John AvalosDavid CamposDavid Chiu (politician)Eric MarCarmen ChuEd JewRoss MirkarimiSean ElsberndMichela Alioto-PierBevan DuftyFiona MaGerardo SandovalSophie MaxwellTom AmmianoMark LenoTony Hall (supervisor)Chris DalyMatt GonzalezLeland YeeAaron PeskinAaron PeskinGavin NewsomJake McGoldrick

Board members and transitions since 1980[edit]

Name Dates Comments
Terry A. Francois 1964–1978 Appointed 1964 by Mayor John F. Shelley to succeed Supervisor John J. Ferdon. Elected 1967, 1971, and 1975. Resigned 1978.
Robert H. Mendelsohn 1968–1977 Elected 1967, 1971, and 1975. Resigned 1977 to accept appointment by President Jimmy Carter as Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
Ronald Pelosi 1968–1980 Elected 1967, 1971, 1975, and 1977. Defeated for re-election 1979.[37]
Robert E. Gonzales 1969–1980 Appointed 1969 by Mayor Joseph Alioto to succeed Supervisor Leo T. McCarthy. Elected 1971, 1975, and 1977.
Dianne Feinstein* 1970–1978 Elected 1969, 1973, and 1977. Served as acting mayor upon the assassination of Mayor George Moscone in 1978. Elected mayor by the Board of Supervisors one week later.
Quentin L. Kopp* 1972–1986 Elected 1971, 1975, 1977, 1980, and 1984. Resigned 1986 after election to the California State Senate.
John L. Molinari* 1972–1989 Elected 1971, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, and 1984. Did not seek re-election in 1988.
Gordon J. Lau 1977–1980 Appointed 1977 by Mayor George Moscone to succeed Supervisor Robert H. Mendelsohn. Elected 1977. Defeated for re-election 1979.
Jane McKaskle Murphy 1977–1978 Appointed 1977 by Mayor George Moscone to succeed Supervisor Dorothy von Beroldingen.
Lee S. Dolson 1978–1980, 1981–1983 Elected 1977. Defeated for re-election 1979. Elected 1980. Defeated for re-election 1982.
Ella Hill Hutch 1978–1981 Elected 1977 and 1980. Died in office in 1981.
Harvey Milk 1978 Elected 1977. Assassinated 1978.
Carol Ruth Silver 1978–1988 Elected 1977, 1980, and 1984. Defeated for re-election 1988.
Dan White 1978 Elected 1977. Resigned 1978. Assassinated Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
Donald T. Horanzy 1978–1981 Appointed 1978 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to succeed Supervisor Dan White. Defeated for first election in 1980.
Louise Renne 1978–1986 Appointed 1978 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to succeed Feinstein on the Board of Supervisors. Elected 1980 and 1984. Resigned 1986 to accept appointment by Feinstein as city attorney.
Harry Britt* 1979–1993 Appointed 1979 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to succeed Supervisor Harvey Milk. Elected 1980, 1984, and 1988. Did not seek re-election in 1992.
John Bardis 1980–1981 Elected 1979. Defeated for re-election 1980.
Ed Lawson 1980–1981 Elected 1979. Defeated for re-election 1980.
Nancy G. Walker* 1980–1991 Elected 1979, 1980, 1982, and 1986. Did not seek re-election in 1990.
Doris M. Ward* 1980–1992 Elected 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, and 1990. Resigned 1992 to accept appointment by Mayor Frank Jordan as assessor.
Richard D. Hongisto 1981–1991 Elected 1980, 1982, and 1986. Did not seek re-election in 1990, running successfully for assessor.
Wendy Nelder* 1981–1991 Elected 1980, 1982, and 1986. Did not seek re-election in 1990, running unsuccessfully for assessor.
Willie B. Kennedy 1981–1996 Appointed 1981 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to succeed Supervisor Ella Hill Hutch. Elected 1984, 1988, and 1992. Resigned 1996 to become administrative officer of the Public Transition Development Corporation.
Bill Maher 1983–1995 Elected 1982, 1986, and 1990. Ineligible to seek re-election in 1994.
Tom Hsieh 1986–1997 Appointed 1986 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to succeed Supervisor Louise Renne. Elected 1988 and 1992. Ineligible to seek re-election in 1996.
Jim Gonzalez 1986–1993 Appointed 1986 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to succeed Supervisor Quentin L. Kopp. Elected 1988. Defeated for re-election 1992.
Angela Alioto* 1989–1997 Elected 1988 and 1992. Ineligible to seek re-election in 1996.
Terence Hallinan 1989–1996 Elected 1988 and 1992. Resigned 1996 after election as district attorney.
Carole Migden 1991–1996 Elected 1990 and 1994. Resigned 1996 after election to the California State Assembly.
Roberta Achtenberg 1991–1993 Elected 1990. Resigned 1993 to accept appointment by President Bill Clinton as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Kevin Shelley* 1991–1996 Elected 1990 and 1994. Resigned 1996 after election to the California State Assembly.
Annemarie Conroy 1992–1995 Appointed 1992 by Mayor Frank Jordan to succeed Supervisor Doris M. Ward. Defeated for first election in 1994.
Sue Bierman 1993–2001 Elected 1992 and 1996. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2000.
Barbara Kaufman* 1993–2001 Elected 1992 and 1996. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2000.
Susan Leal 1993–1998 Appointed 1993 by Mayor Frank Jordan to succeed Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg. Elected 1994. Resigned 1998 after election as city treasurer.
Tom Ammiano* 1995–2008 Elected 1994, 1998, 2000, and 2004. Resigned 2008 after election to the California State Assembly.
Mabel Teng 1995–2001 Elected 1994 and 1998. Defeated for re-election 2000.
Michael Yaki 1996–2001 Appointed 1996 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor Terence Hallinan. Elected 1996. Defeated for re-election 2000.
Amos C. Brown 1996–2001 Appointed 1996 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor Carole Migden. Elected 1998. Defeated for re-election 2000.
Leslie R. Katz 1996–2001 Appointed 1996 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor Willie B. Kennedy. Elected 1996. Did not seek re-election in 2000.
Leland Yee 1997–2002 Elected 1996 and 2000. Resigned 2002 after election to the California State Assembly.
José Medina 1997–1999 Elected 1996. Resigned 1999 to accept appointment by Governor Gray Davis as Director of the California Department of Transportation.
Gavin Newsom 1997–2004 Appointed 1997 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor Kevin Shelley. Elected 1998, 2000, and 2002. Resigned 2004 after election as mayor.
Mark Leno 1998–2002 Appointed 1998 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor Susan Leal. Elected 1998 and 2000. Resigned 2002 after election to the California State Assembly.
Alicia Becerril 1999–2001 Appointed 1999 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor José Medina. Defeated for first election in 2000.
Matt Gonzalez* 2001–2005 Elected 2000. Did not seek re-election in 2004.
Tony Hall 2001–2004 Elected 2000. Resigned 2004 to accept appointment as executive director of the Treasure Island Development Authority.
Sophie Maxwell 2001–2011 Elected 2000, 2002, and 2006. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2010.
Jake McGoldrick 2001–2009 Elected 2000 and 2004. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2008.
Aaron Peskin* 2001–2009, 2015–present Elected 2000 and 2004. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2008. Elected 2015, 2016,[38] and 2020. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2024.
Chris Daly 2001–2011 Elected 2000, 2002, and 2006. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2010.
Gerardo Sandoval 2001–2009 Elected 2000 and 2004. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2008.
Bevan Dufty 2002–2011 Elected 2002 and 2006. Appointed post-election 2002 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor Mark Leno. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2010.
Fiona Ma 2002–2006 Elected 2002. Appointed post-election 2002 by Mayor Willie Brown to succeed Supervisor Leland Yee. Resigned 2006 after election to the California State Assembly.
Michela Alioto-Pier 2004–2011 Appointed 2004 by Mayor Gavin Newsom to succeed Newsom on the Board of Supervisors. Elected 2004 and 2006. Ruled ineligible by the San Francisco Department of Elections, citing an opinion by City Attorney Dennis Herrera, to seek re-election in 2010. Alioto-Pier filed lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court asserting that, under the term limits law, she was eligible to seek re-election in 2010, and if re-elected, would be termed out as of the 2014 election instead. A Superior Court judge ruled in her favor,[39] but the California Court of Appeal overturned that ruling, thereby removing her from the 2010 ballot for District 2 supervisor. Alioto-Pier appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court of California[40] which declined to hear the case.[41]
Sean Elsbernd 2004–2013 Appointed 2004 by Mayor Gavin Newsom to succeed Supervisor Tony Hall. Elected 2004 and 2008. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2012.
Ross Mirkarimi 2005–2012 Elected 2004 and 2008. Resigned 2012 after election as sheriff.
Ed Jew 2006–2007 Elected 2006. Appointed post-election 2006 by Mayor Gavin Newsom to succeed Supervisor Fiona Ma. Suspended by Mayor Newsom on September 25, 2007, pending the outcome of a formal process to remove him from the board. A separate civil suit was initiated by the city to remove him as well. Resigned on January 11, 2008, prior to the completion of the removal process and the civil lawsuit, and agreed not to seek public office for five years.[42]
Carmen Chu 2007–2008, 2008–2013 Appointed 2007 by Mayor Gavin Newsom to succeed Supervisor Ed Jew, after his suspension, pending final action by the Board of Supervisors on the question of whether to remove Jew from office. Jew resigned from office 2008, prior to the completion of the removal process, ending Chu's interim term. Under the charter, the seat became vacant[43] upon Jew's resignation and remained vacant for about five and a half hours until a new appointment was made.[43] Appointed 2008 by Mayor Newsom to succeed Supervisor Ed Jew, after his resignation. Elected 2008 to serve out the remainder of Jew's term, which expired January 2011.[43][44][45] Elected 2010. Resigned 2013 to accept appointment by Mayor Ed Lee as assessor-recorder.
David Campos 2008–2017 Elected 2008 and 2012. Appointed post-election 2008 by Mayor Gavin Newsom to succeed Supervisor Tom Ammiano. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2016.
Eric Mar 2009–2017 Elected 2008 and 2012. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2016.
John Avalos 2009–2017 Elected 2008 and 2012. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2016.
David Chiu* 2009–2014 Elected 2008 and 2012. Resigned 2014 after election to the California State Assembly.
Mark Farrell 2011–2018 Elected 2010 and 2014. Elected mayor by the Board of Supervisors in 2018, following the death of Mayor Ed Lee.
Malia Cohen* 2011–2019 Elected 2010 and 2014. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2018. Resigned 2019 after election to the State Board of Equalization.[46]
Scott Wiener 2011–2016 Elected 2010 and 2014. Resigned 2016 after election to the California State Senate
Jane Kim 2011–2019 Elected 2010 and 2014. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2018.
Christina Olague 2012–2013 Appointed 2012 by Mayor Ed Lee to succeed Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. Defeated for first election in 2012.
Norman Yee* 2013–2021 Elected 2012 and 2016. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2020.
London Breed* 2013–2018 Elected 2012 and 2016. As board president, served as acting mayor from the death of Mayor Ed Lee in December 2017 until the board's appointment of Mark Farrell as mayor in January 2018. Resigned 2018 after election as mayor.
Katy Tang* 2013–2019 Appointed 2013 by Mayor Ed Lee to succeed Supervisor Carmen Chu. Elected 2013 and 2014. Did not seek re-election in 2018.
Julie Christensen 2015 Appointed 2015 by Mayor Ed Lee to succeed Supervisor David Chiu. Defeated for first election in 2015.
Hillary Ronen 2017–present Elected 2016 and 2020. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2024.
Jeff Sheehy 2017–2018 Appointed 2017 by Mayor Ed Lee to succeed Supervisor Scott Wiener. Defeated for first election in June 2018.
Sandra Lee Fewer 2017–2021 Elected 2016. Did not seek re-election in 2020.
Ahsha Safaí 2017–present Elected 2016 and 2020. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2024.
Catherine Stefani 2018–present Appointed 2018 by Mayor Mark Farrell to succeed Farrell on the Board of Supervisors. Elected 2018 and 2022. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2026.
Rafael Mandelman 2018–present Elected June 2018, November 2018, and 2022. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2026.
Vallie Brown 2018–2019 Appointed 2018 by Mayor London Breed to succeed Breed on the Board of Supervisors. Defeated for first election in 2019.
Gordon Mar 2019–2023 Elected 2018. Defeated for re-election 2022.
Matt Haney 2019–2022 Elected 2018. Resigned 2022 after election to the California State Assembly.
Shamann Walton* 2019–present Elected 2018 and 2022. Ineligible to seek re-election in 2026.
Dean Preston 2019–present Elected 2019 and 2020.
Connie Chan 2021–present Elected 2020.
Myrna Melgar 2021–present Elected 2020.
Matt Dorsey 2022–present Appointed 2022 to succeed Supervisor Matt Haney. Elected 2022.
Joel Engardio 2023–present Elected 2022.

Current members shaded in yellow. Members who served as president of the Board of Supervisors during part of their tenure on the board are denoted with an asterisk (*).

Nonpartisanship[edit]

Supervisors are elected on non-partisan ballots, but all current members of the Board of Supervisors are registered Democrats. Supervisor Jane Kim was previously a member of the Green Party, but switched her registration to Democratic before running for supervisor.[47]

References[edit]

  1. ^ SF Charter 1996 §3.100.
  2. ^ SF Charter 1996 §15.105.
  3. ^ Vega, Cecilia M. (September 26, 2007). "Mayor suspends Ed Jew from board, opening doors to political fight". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco: Hearst Communications, Inc. p. A-1. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  4. ^ Lagos, Marisa (December 5, 2008). "Crowd cheers swearing in of Supervisor Campos". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco: Hearst Communications, Inc. p. B-1. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  5. ^ "Section 2.116. President of the Board of Supervisors". 1996 Charter of the City and County of San Francisco. Municipal Code Corporation. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  6. ^ "Proposition L" (PDF). San Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet: Primary Election, June 8, 1982. San Francisco: San Francisco Registrar of Voters Office. pp. 50–52. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
  7. ^ "Proposition G" (PDF). San Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet: Consolidated Presidential General Election, November 5, 1996. San Francisco: San Francisco Department of Elections. pp. 153–164. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "List of Public Officers of the City and County of San Francisco", San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1898-99, Ending June 30, 1899, San Francisco: The Hinton Printing Co., 1899, p. Ap1-640–Ap1-717
  9. ^ Scott, Mel (1985), The San Francisco Bay Area: A Metropolis in Perspective (2 ed.), Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 43–45, ISBN 9780520055124
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Transactions of the California State Agricultural Society During the Year 1892, Sacramento, 1893, p. 142–143{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1886-7, Ending June 30, 1887, San Francisco: William M. Hinton & Co., 1887, p. 436–437
  12. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1898-99, Ending June 30, 1899, San Francisco: The Hinton Printing Co., 1899, p. 75–76
  13. ^ Charter of the city and county of San Francisco... ratified... 1898. ...in full force and effect, January 8, 1900. With amendments adopted... [to] November 5, 1918, in effect January 17, 1919, 1919, p. 4
  14. ^ a b Charter of the city and county of San Francisco... ratified... 1898. ...in full force and effect, January 8, 1900. With amendments adopted... [to] November 5, 1918, in effect January 17, 1919, 1919, p. 225
  15. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1899–1900, 1901
  16. ^ a b Blake, Evarts I. (1902), San Francisco: A Brief Biographical Sketch of Some of the Most Prominent Men who Will Preside Over Her Destiny for at Least Two Years, Pacific Publishing Company
  17. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1902–1903, 1903, p. 898
  18. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1904–1905, 1905, p. 426
  19. ^ a b San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1905–6... and the Fiscal Year 1906–7., 1908, p. 798
  20. ^ a b c San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1907–08., 1909, pp. 903–921
  21. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1909–10., 1911, p. 1121
  22. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1910–11., 1912, p. 1259
  23. ^ Hichborn 1915, p. 154.
  24. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1911–12., 1913, p. 1100
  25. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1912–13., 1914, p. 861
  26. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1913–14., 1915, p. 826
  27. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1914–15., 1916, p. 937
  28. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1915–16., 1918, p. 971
  29. ^ San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1916–17., 1919, p. 1023
  30. ^ "Unofficial Count of Vote for Supervisor, Complete". San Francisco Chronicle: 3. November 8, 1917.
  31. ^ "Ballot Totals Polled in S.F. City Election". San Francisco Chronicle: 3. November 6, 1919.
  32. ^ "Complete Returns". San Francisco Chronicle: 1. November 10, 1921.
  33. ^ "Complete Vote Registered at Polls Tuesday". San Francisco Chronicle: 1. November 8, 1923.
  34. ^ "Complete Returns". San Francisco Chronicle: 1. November 10, 1925.
  35. ^ "Complete Election Returns". San Francisco Chronicle: 2. November 10, 1927.
  36. ^ "Supervisors Vote by Districts". San Francisco Chronicle: 2. November 7, 1929.
  37. ^ Hartman, Chester W. and Carnochan, Sarah, "City for Sale: The Transformation of San Francisco" University of California Press (2002), p. 239, ISBN 0-520-08605-8
  38. ^ Sabatini, Joshua. "Peskin begins term on Board of Supervisors". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  39. ^ Gordon, Rachel (July 28, 2010). "Herrera will appeal Alioto-Pier decision". San Francisco Chronicle.
  40. ^ Gordon, Rachel (August 25, 2010). "Appeals court rules against Alioto-Pier". San Francisco Chronicle.
  41. ^ Joe Eskenazi (September 1, 2010). "Supreme Court Kills Michela Alioto-Pier's Campaign to Run for Supe Again". SF Weekly Politics blog. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012.
  42. ^ Wyatt Buchanan; Cecilia M. Vega (January 11, 2008). "Ed Jew tenders resignation from S.F. Board of Supervisors". San Francisco Chronicle.
  43. ^ a b c Cecilia M. Vega (January 12, 2008). "Interim supervisor becomes permanent replacement for Ed Jew". San Francisco Chronicle.
  44. ^ ARTICLE XIII: ELECTIONS Archived 2006-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ Heather Knight (September 25, 2007). "S.F. mayor's finance office aide named interim replacement for Ed Jew". San Francisco Chronicle.
  46. ^ "Board of Equalization Announces New Members" (PDF) (Press release). State Board of Equalization. January 7, 2019.
  47. ^ Steven T. Jones (March 11, 2010). "The Green Party's nadir". San Francisco Bay Guardian – via 48hills.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]