San Francisco Planning Commission elects Lydia Soh president after contested midterm vote

The San Francisco Planning Commission elected Commissioner Lydia Soh as its president on Sept. 19, 2024, following a contentious exchange about whether the body should hold an election midterm.

The five-member panel and public speakers opened the item with appeals to experience and continuity. Several public commenters urged retaining longtime Commissioner Catherine Moore in leadership to guide the commission through upcoming housing-element and upzoning work; others backed Soh for what they said was her cross-commission experience and community connections. Bruce Bowen told commissioners the vote was unnecessary and based on “the flimsiest tissue of a pretext,” while Jan Chong urged support for Soh’s leadership and inclusive approach.

Commission debate centered on procedural interpretation of the commission’s rules. Deputy City Attorney Austin Yang advised that the commission has authority to interpret its rules and to consider an election when officers’ seats are vacant midterm. Commissioners differed over whether the election should wait until the statutory January cycle or proceed to promptly fill a vacancy left when the prior president stepped down.

When the commission moved to votes on nominations, Commissioner Campbell, Commissioner McGarry, Commissioner Soh and Commissioner Braun voted to elect Soh; Commissioners Williams, Imperial and Moore voted no. That tally produced a 4–3 result in favor of Soh. Immediately afterward, the commission held a separate nomination for vice president and affirmed Commissioner Moore’s continuation as vice president by a unanimous vote.

Commissioners framed the decision as balancing continuity and democratic process. Commissioner Campbell said the outcome would preserve experienced leadership through an intense period of housing deliberations. Commissioner Williams, who voted against Soh, said the dispute was a matter of process and that she felt the public had insufficient notice of a midterm election.

The commission adjourned the election segment and resumed other business after a short recess. The chair and other officers said they would continue routine officer meetings and briefings to support the incoming leadership.

Next steps: Commissioner Soh assumes the president’s role immediately for commission duties; the commission returns to its regular calendar and staff briefings for upcoming zoning and general-plan items.