San Francisco

What's Next for San Francisco? London Breed Takes Over as Acting Mayor

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee died unexpectedly early Tuesday, leaving the office of the mayor to be filled by Board of Supervisors President and native San Franciscan London Breed.

Breed will serve as the city's acting mayor, according to the city's charter, but the board has the opportunity to meet and select an interim mayor if they decide to. 

"[Breed] has all the powers and responsibilities that come with the office," San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said. "She will have all of those duties until such time as the board of supervisors votes on a successor should they chose to do so, although they are not required to do so." 

Regardless, an election will take place on June 5, 2018, according to Herrera. The elected mayor will finish out Lee's unexpired term and serve until Jan. 8, 2020. 

Breed, who was first elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2012, had been representing District 5, which includes the Western Addition, Hayes Valley, Japantown, Cole Valley and Inner Sunset neighborhoods. Nearly three years ago, Breed was elected to serve as president of the board.

During the November 2016 election, Breed was re-elected to be District 5's supervisor, and she was unanimously re-elected to be board president two months later.

Much of her attention since becoming board president has been focused on housing, clean energy and transportation, to name a few.

Breed grew up in the Western Addition neighborhood before enrolling at the University of California, Davis where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science-public service and minored in African American studies, according to the city. Breed then earned her master's degree in public administration at the University of San Francisco.

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