San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today conducted the swearing-in ceremony to confirm Carmen Chu as San Francisco’s City Administrator. Mayor Breed nominated Chu to serve as City Administrator last month, and her nomination was confirmed by the Board of Supervisors last week. The City Administrator serves a 5-year term and is responsible for overseeing more than 25 departments and programs that provide a range of services to the public and other City departments.

“Leading the City Administrator’s office is a major responsibility, and I am confident that Carmen Chu is up to the task. I’m excited and grateful that Carmen was willing to take on this new role and help lead our City departments during our ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery,” said Mayor Breed. “Her years of service in government and as Assessor-Recorder, along with her experience co-chairing the Economic Recovery Task Force, have prepared her well to serve as our City Administrator. I’m looking forward to working with Carmen to advance our recovery from COVID and make our government more accessible and equitable for all San Franciscans.”

Chu served as the elected Assessor for the City and County of San Francisco since 2013. She was the only Asian American woman elected as Assessor in the State of California. Under her leadership, the Assessor’s Office successfully reversed a decades-old backlog of assessment cases, while generating over $3.6 billion in property tax revenue annually to support public services, such as health, education, and neighborhood services. Such achievements earned her office the prestigious 2020 Good Government Award, an honor recognizing excellence in public sector management and stewardship.

“With oversight over 25 core functions and citywide policies touching all governmental operations, I am honored by the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors for their trust and confidence. Public service is a privilege and with the public health and economic challenges we now face, there is no more important work. Every day we have the opportunity to help one more person and every day we have the ability to deliver better services that saves lives, creates opportunity and fosters strong neighborhoods,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “I am excited to join the talented team at the City Administrator - General Services Agency. You’ve played a central role in the City’s COVID-19 response and have helped to keep the lights on - thank you. I also want to thank the team at the Assessor’s Office for their partnership over the last eight years. I am proud of our shared accomplishments and your continued impact on San Francisco’s ability to deliver needed services.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic crisis began, Chu has led the Economic Recovery Task Force, which Mayor Breed convened to develop strategies to support local businesses and mitigate economic hardships, while setting long-term goals to help San Francisco rebound stronger. Working with over 100 business, labor union, non-profit, academia, faith-based and other community leaders, the Task Force functioned as a bridge between industries and public health officials, advocated for operational flexibility and cutting red tapes. Collectively, the Task Force developed 41 recommendations and policy ideas to make the City’s economy stronger, more resilient, and more equitable. The final report was released on October 8, 2020.

In addition, Chu served on the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System Board, where she oversaw the investments and policies of a $26 billion public pension system. She also provides direction on the Executive Board of SPUR, a non-profit research and policy organization focused on developing regional solutions to cross-county challenges like housing affordability, climate resilience, economic equity, and public transportation.

Prior to her tenure as Assessor, Chu was an elected representative on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Deputy Director of Public Policy and Finance for then Gavin Newsom’s mayoral administration. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in public policy from Occidental College and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley.

The City Administrator’s Office comprises more than 25 departments and programs that provide a broad range of services to other city departments and the public. Examples of the Agency’s functions include public safety, internal services, civic engagement, capital planning, asset management, code enforcement, disaster mitigation, tourism promotion, and economic development.

The City Administrator’s Office provides services through the following divisions: 311, Animal Care and Control, Office of Cannabis, Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, Community Challenge Grant Program, Committee on Information Technology, Contract Monitoring Division, Convention Facilities, County Clerk’s Office, Digital Services Program, Entertainment Commission, Fleet Management, Grants for the Arts, Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, Mayor’s Office on Disability, Medical Examiner, Purchasing, Real Estate Division, Repromail, Risk Management, Office of Resilience and Capital Planning, and the Treasure Island Development Authority.

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