Ed Lee

Here is an SEO-optimized, detailed biography of Ed Lee (Edwin Mah Lee), American politician:

Ed Lee – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life of Ed Lee (May 5, 1952 – December 12, 2017), San Francisco’s first Asian-American mayor. Learn about his early life, public service, mayoral policies, memorable statements, and legacy.

Introduction

Edwin “Ed” Mah Lee was an American attorney, public administrator, and politician who served as the the 43rd Mayor of San Francisco from 2011 until his death in 2017. He holds the distinction of being the city’s first Asian-American mayor. His tenure was marked by efforts to manage rapid growth, address housing affordability, promote equity, and steer the city through waves of economic and technological change.

Early Life and Family

Ed Lee was born on May 5, 1952 in Seattle, Washington. His parents immigrated from Taishan, Guangdong, China in the 1930s. His father, Gok Suey Lee, served in the Korean War, worked as a cook, and ran a restaurant; he passed away when Ed was about 15 years old. His mother worked as a seamstress and waitress. Lee had five siblings.

He grew up in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle. He attended Franklin High School in Seattle.

Education and Early Career

After high school, Ed Lee attended Bowdoin College in Maine, graduating summa cum laude in 1974. He then studied law at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, earning his J.D. in 1978.

Early in his career, Lee worked as managing attorney for the San Francisco Asian Law Caucus, advocating for affordable housing, immigrants, and tenant/renter rights.

In 1989, San Francisco’s Mayor Art Agnos appointed Lee to be the city’s first investigator under its whistleblower ordinance. He later became deputy director of the city’s Human Relations department. In 1991, Lee was appointed executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, serving under multiple mayors.

Under Mayor Willie Brown, Lee was appointed director of city purchasing, where he ran the first Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program in the city.

In 2000, he became head of the city’s public works department. Then in 2005, Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed him City Administrator, a post he held through 2011.

As city administrator, Lee oversaw implementation of the city’s first ten-year capital plan and reductions in government inefficiencies.

Political Rise & Mayoralty

Appointment and Elections

In late 2010, Gavin Newsom was elected as California’s Lieutenant Governor, leaving the San Francisco mayoralty vacant. Under the city charter, the Board of Supervisors votes to appoint an interim mayor. On January 11, 2011, the Board unanimously confirmed Ed Lee as mayor.

Although initially Lee pledged not to run, public pressure and support led him to become a candidate in the November 2011 election, which he won. He was re-elected in 2015.

Major Initiatives & Challenges as Mayor

Economic & Tech Growth, Mid-Market Revitalization

During Lee’s administration, San Francisco was undergoing a tech boom. To attract and retain tech firms, Lee championed tax incentives in the Mid-Market district, including exemptions from the 1.5% city payroll tax for some firms. Twitter, Square, Uber, and Dolby were among companies relocating or expanding in response.

This strategy was controversial: critics argued it exacerbated inequality, displacement, and gentrification in nearby neighborhoods like the Tenderloin.

Housing and Affordability

Lee placed significant emphasis on housing. In 2012, he proposed creation of a Housing Trust Fund to generate $20–50 million annually for affordable and middle-income housing. In 2014, under Lee and Board Supervisors, the Ellis Act Housing Preference Program was created to assist tenants displaced by landlord evictions under the Ellis Act. Lee also pledged the construction or rehabilitation of 30,000 homes by 2020, targeting half for low to middle income residents. In 2015, Lee backed a $310 million bond measure to raise funds for housing, which passed. In 2017, he approved a $44 million project to build affordable housing for teachers.

Minimum Wage & Labor Policies

In December 2013, Lee proposed raising the city’s minimum wage, working alongside Oakland Mayor and labor unions. By late 2014, San Francisco’s minimum wage was raised from $10.74 to $11.05/hour (effective January 1, 2015). Lee co-chaired efforts to push for a $15 minimum wage statewide, which later materialized as California Senate Bill 3.

Governance & Oversight

In 2012, Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi was charged with domestic violence; Lee demanded his resignation. When Mirkarimi refused, Lee suspended him and appointed a temporary replacement. The city’s Ethics Commission and Board of Supervisors eventually weighed in; Mirkarimi was not fully removed but faced discipline.

Personal Life & Death

Ed Lee married Anita Lee in 1980. They had two daughters, Tania and Brianna.

On December 11, 2017, Lee collapsed while shopping at a Safeway near his home. He was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and died at 1:11 a.m. on December 12, 2017, aged 65. His death was attributed to coronary artery disease, with hypertensive heart disease as a contributing factor.

Lee is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.

Personality, Style & Public Perception

Ed Lee was known for being pragmatic, consensus-oriented, and low-key rather than flamboyant. He cultivated a style of governance that prioritized incremental improvements, equity, and responsiveness to community stakeholders.
Lee often emphasized bridging divides—between tech and longtime neighborhoods, between growth and inclusion.

Though not especially known for quotable lines, he made remarks reflecting his ethos of service and inclusivity.

Selected Quotes & Remarks

While Ed Lee did not leave behind a large trove of well-known quotes, a few public statements stand out as representative of his style and priorities:

• Upon being appointed interim mayor, Lee said he would not run initially, emphasizing public trust: “I’m not a politician who wants to run for office just for office’s sake.”

• On San Francisco’s changing skyline and growth, Lee spoke of balancing vitality and character—preserving neighborhoods while welcoming innovation. (Paraphrase based on his public commentary)

• In advocating for housing, he often invoked equity—arguing that the city’s prosperity should not leave behind vulnerable populations.

Lessons from Ed Lee’s Life & Career

1. Leadership through Service & Humility
   Lee demonstrated that impactful leadership does not require dramatic flair, but earnest commitment and competence.

2. Bridging Technology and Community
   In a city transformed by tech, Lee sought to manage growth in ways that included longtime residents—not leaving equity behind.

3. Incremental Change Matters
   Complex urban issues (housing, inequality, labor) can’t be solved overnight. Lee’s incremental but sustained efforts show the value of persistence.

4. Representation Matters
   As San Francisco’s first Asian-American mayor, Lee’s ascent symbolized growing diversity in U.S. city leadership.

5. The Toll of Public Service
   His sudden death underscores that public life is stressful; Lee had a family history of heart disease. His life reminds us of the human behind the office.

Conclusion

Ed Lee’s journey—from the son of Chinese immigrants in Seattle to San Francisco’s first Asian-American mayor—embodies both the promise and challenges of public service. His tenure spanned booming growth, rising inequality, and fierce debates over housing and tax policy. He approached governance with resolve, pragmatism, and a desire to unite rather than divide. Though his time was cut short, his legacy lives on in San Francisco’s evolving skyline, shifting demographics, and ongoing conversations about inclusion.

Recent news about Ed Lee