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Board nominates City Administrator Edwin Lee as successor mayor; vote 10-1
Summary
On Jan. 7, 2011 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 to nominate City Administrator Edwin Lee as successor mayor in the event of a vacancy. The board earlier rejected a motion to reopen nominations and failed to confirm Sheriff Michael Hennessy. The ratification of the appointment was continued to the next full board meeting.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7, 2011 nominated City Administrator Edwin Lee to serve as successor mayor in the event of a vacancy, voting 10-1 on the nomination after rejecting a motion to reopen nominations and failing to advance Sheriff Michael Hennessy.
The nomination came after the clerk summarized the board's recessed proceedings from Jan. 4 and reported that Aaron Peskin had declined a nomination, Sheriff Michael Hennessy had accepted, and that reports indicated Edwin Lee had publicly accepted. "Public comment legally required under the California Government Code section 54954.3 and Administrative Code section 67.15(a) was provided and completed on 01/04/2011," the clerk said during the report.
The vote on a motion by Supervisor Daley to reopen nominations failed, with the clerk announcing there were five ayes and six noes. After additional debate the board proceeded to roll-call votes on the two remaining nominees. The nomination of Sheriff Michael Hennessy did not pass (2 ayes, 9 noes). The nomination of City Administrator Edwin Lee passed by a 10-1 margin.
Several supervisors discussed concerns about the process and civility surrounding the selection. "I was deeply troubled by our last board meeting with the breakdown of civility," Supervisor Campos said, urging an open and transparent process. Supervisor Daly raised legal questions and asked county counsel about conflicts of interest after citing a memo by the city attorney; county counsel answered that the city attorney, Dennis Herrera, had different ethical obligations and had withdrawn from advising the board on the matter because of those duties, while a supervisor who is running for mayor would only be conflicted if nominated.
Supporters said Lee's citywide management experience and background made him a suitable caretaker. "Ed Lee is the right choice because he's simply the right candidate," Supervisor Chu said, noting Lee's oversight of capital plans and department heads. Several supervisors described the nomination as historically significant for the Chinese American community in San Francisco.
Supervisor Daley said he remained concerned about the process and said he intended to seek additional legal clarity, including potentially asking the Attorney General for an opinion on questions raised about dual roles and related conflicts of interest. County counsel explained to the board that the city attorney's ethical rules differ from those that would apply to a supervisor.
After the nomination vote the board took procedural steps: the board ended the committee-of-the-whole session, returned to the full board, and moved to continue the separate item to ratify the successor-mayor appointment (to act only in the event an actual vacancy occurs) to the next full meeting. The clerk advised that the board must leave committee before sending the nomination to the full board for later ratification.
Votes at a glance: Motion to reopen nominations: failed (5 ayes, 6 noes). Nomination vote ' Sheriff Michael Hennessy: failed (2 ayes, 9 noes). Nomination vote ' City Administrator Edwin Lee: passed (10 ayes, 1 no). Motion to continue ratification of the successor-mayor item to the next full board meeting: moved and seconded; the board proceeded with the continuance (per clerk guidance).
The meeting closed with the board noting this was the final meeting for several long-serving supervisors and adjourning in memory of Claire Marie Brandon.
