David Chiu (politician)
Encyclopedia
David Chiu is the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
. He represents District 3, encompassing the northeastern corner of the city, including Chinatown
, North Beach, the Financial District, and Fisherman's Wharf
.
, Chiu was born in Cleveland, Ohio
, and grew up in Boston
, Massachusetts
where he attended Boston College High School
. Chiu graduated from Harvard University
, where he received a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College
, a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Juris Doctor
degree from Harvard Law School
.
.
At the age of 25, Chiu became Democratic Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
’s Constitution Subcommittee and aide to Senator Paul Simon to the Senate Budget Committee
. As Democratic Counsel, he dealt with a wide range of constitutional, criminal and civil rights issues included drafting progressive legislation. As a budget aide, Chiu analyzed the economic and fiscal impact of numerous proposals, and was the lead staffer in 1995 for the first Democratic balanced budget proposal in several decades.
, as well as District Attorney (now California Attorney General) Kamala Harris
, Assemblyman Mark Leno
, State Senator Leland Yee
, and Supervisor (now Assemblyman) Tom Ammiano
.
On January 8, 2009, Chiu was elected President of the Board of Supervisors, the first Chinese-American to serve in this capacity.
after Gavin Newsom
was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of California
, prior to the swearing in of Edwin M. Lee
.
On February 28, 2011, Chiu announced his candidacy for Mayor of San Francisco at an 11am rally at San Francisco City Hall.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
. He represents District 3, encompassing the northeastern corner of the city, including Chinatown
Chinatown, San Francisco, California
San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside Asia. Since its establishment in 1848, it has been highly important and influential in the history and culture of ethnic Chinese immigrants to the United States and North America...
, North Beach, the Financial District, and Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California
Fisherman's Wharf is a neighborhood and popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, California. It roughly encompasses the northern waterfront area of San Francisco from Ghirardelli Square or Van Ness Avenue east to Pier 35 or Kearny Street...
.
Early Life
The eldest child of Taiwanese American parents from TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Chiu was born in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and grew up in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
where he attended Boston College High School
Boston College High School
Founded in 1863, Boston College High School is an all-male Jesuit Roman Catholic college preparatory secondary school with historical ties to Boston College. It has an enrollment in grades 7-12 of approximately 1,500 students and is located on a campus on Morrissey Boulevard in the Dorchester...
. Chiu graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he received a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
Early Political Career
Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, David was a founder and Chief Operating Officer of Grassroots Enterprise, an online communications technology company. Prior to Grassroots, he worked as a criminal prosecutor at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and as a civil rights attorney at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil RightsLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights under Law, often simply The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights or Lawyers' Committee, is a civil rights organization that was founded in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy.-Origins: 1963-1973:...
.
At the age of 25, Chiu became Democratic Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
’s Constitution Subcommittee and aide to Senator Paul Simon to the Senate Budget Committee
United States Senate Committee on the Budget
The United States Senate Committee on Budget was established by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. It is responsible for drafting Congress's annual budget plan and monitoring action on the budget for the Federal Government. The committee has jurisdiction over the...
. As Democratic Counsel, he dealt with a wide range of constitutional, criminal and civil rights issues included drafting progressive legislation. As a budget aide, Chiu analyzed the economic and fiscal impact of numerous proposals, and was the lead staffer in 1995 for the first Democratic balanced budget proposal in several decades.
Board of Supervisors
In his bid for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Chiu was backed by the incumbent, Supervisor Aaron PeskinAaron Peskin
Aaron Peskin is a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was first elected to the Board in 2000, and was re-elected in 2004. In January 2005, his colleagues elected him President of the Board.-Personal life:...
, as well as District Attorney (now California Attorney General) Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney. She is the 32nd and current Attorney General of California following the 2010 California state elections. Harris has worked as an author and a politician and has served as District Attorney of San Francisco since 2004...
, Assemblyman Mark Leno
Mark Leno
Mark Leno is an American politician, representing California's 3rd Senate district, which includes parts of San Francisco and Sonoma County, as well as the entirety of Marin County. He was elected in 2008 and is the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate...
, State Senator Leland Yee
Leland Yee
Leland Yee is a California State Senator in District 8 which represents the western half of San Francisco and most of San Mateo County. Prior to becoming state senator, Yee was a California State Assemblyman, Supervisor of San Francisco's Sunset District, and was a member and President of the San...
, and Supervisor (now Assemblyman) Tom Ammiano
Tom Ammiano
Tom Ammiano is an American politician and LGBT rights activist from San Francisco, California. Ammiano is a Democrat who has served as a member of the California State Assembly since 2008, representing the 13th district...
.
On January 8, 2009, Chiu was elected President of the Board of Supervisors, the first Chinese-American to serve in this capacity.
Mayor of San Francisco
On January 10, 2011, Chiu served as acting Mayor of San FranciscoMayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
after Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of California
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer elected separately from the Governor who serves as the "vice-executive" of California. The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected to serve a four year term and can serve a maximum of two terms...
, prior to the swearing in of Edwin M. Lee
Edwin M. Lee
Edwin Mah Lee is the 43rd Mayor of San Francisco, California. He was appointed by the Board of Supervisors on January 11, 2011 to serve out the remainder of former mayor Gavin Newsom's term, after Newsom resigned to take office as Lieutenant Governor of California. At the time of his appointment...
.
On February 28, 2011, Chiu announced his candidacy for Mayor of San Francisco at an 11am rally at San Francisco City Hall.