One of San Francisco's two California State Assembly representatives will soon return to City Hall to serve as City Attorney.
Mayor London Breed announced on Wednesday that David Chiu, who currently represents California’s 17th Assembly District, will succeed Dennis Herrera as City Attorney on Nov. 1. On that day, Herrera will head the Public Utilities Commision after two decades in the City Attorney's Office.
"David has spent his career working to improve the lives of San Franciscans, from his time at the Board of Supervisors through his work as an Assemblymember," Breed said in a statement. "He has the vision, integrity and experience, and I know he will continue to fight for the people in our community who are most in need. I know that he will bring that same approach to this new role and I am confident that the City Attorney's Office will be in good hands for years to come."
Chiu had represented the 17th District since 2014, serving as the District 3 Supervisor in San Francisco over the preceding five years. He also served three consecutive two-year terms as the board's president, becoming the first Asian American to fill the role and the first supervisor in the city's history to be elected by their fellow supervisors three straight times.
Chiu would become the first Asian American to serve as San Francisco City Attorney, serving as legal counsel for the City and County of San Francisco, its elected officials and its boards, commissions, departments and offices.
"It will be an honor to be able to use the power of the law to fight for justice on behalf of the people of San Francisco in this new capacity," Chiu said in a statement. "The San Francisco City Attorney's Office has been on the forefront of some of the most important legal battles in the country, and I look forward to continuing that legacy."
Gov. Gavin Newsom must call a special election to serve Chiu's old seat within two weeks after he leaves office, and the election would be held on a Tuesday within 126 and 140 days after that. If Chiu resigns on, say, Oct. 31, then a special election could be held on March 22, 2022 or a week later.
San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin's chief of staff, David Campos, announced last month he formed an exploratory committee to run for Chiu's seat in the event he vacated. District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney also confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday that he will run for Chiu's seat.
The special election winner would serve the remainder of Chiu's term, running for re-election next November.
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