Board of Supervisors unanimously elects Shamann Walton as president at inaugural meeting

Supervisor Shamann Walton was elected president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors by unanimous roll call at the board's Jan. 8 inaugural meeting, following nominations and public comment.

The board opened the meeting with certificates of election and a ceremonial investiture. Presiding Judge Samuel K. Fang conducted the oath of office for newly elected and reelected supervisors and then the board moved to nominations for president. Supervisor Myrna Melgar placed Walton's name into nomination and Supervisor Hilary Ronen seconded it. Walton accepted the nomination, saying, "I 100% graciously and humbly accept the nomination." The roll call vote that followed recorded 11 ayes and no dissent, and the clerk declared Walton elected. "It's unanimous, the gavel is yours, President Walton, Congratulations," the clerk said after the vote.

The meeting included remarks from Mayor London Breed, who reflected on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and called for unity and focused work on pandemic recovery and the city’s economic and public‑health challenges. In brief remarks after the vote, Walton said he was honored to lead the board and pledged to work with colleagues and the mayor on recovery and other priorities.

The clerk announced the board had received certificates of election and the Comptroller's certification of surety bonds for newly elected and returning members, and the roll call at the start of the meeting showed all members present. The board also swore in two newly elected supervisors, Connie Chan (District 1) and Myrna Melgar (District 7), during the investiture portion administered by Judge Fang.

The board set out procedural rules for nominations at the start of the item, and after nominations closed and public comment concluded, the board proceeded directly to the roll call vote. The clerk ran the roll call in alphabetical order and recorded each member’s vote on the question, "Shall Supervisor Shamann Walton be elected as president of the Board of Supervisors?" The tally recorded 11 ayes, and the clerk announced Walton the president.

Walton thanked colleagues and staff and said he looked forward to leading the board as the city moves through the pandemic and recovery. Mayor Breed urged the board and city departments to work together on vaccine distribution, housing and economic recovery.

The meeting adjourned after the election and brief remarks; no additional formal legislative actions were taken at that time.