Mayor Lurie Reappoints Carmen Chu as City Administrator

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced the reappointment of Carmen Chu as City Administrator of the City and County of San Francisco. Chu has served in San Francisco government for more than two decades and as city administrator for nearly five years. With her reappointment, Chu will continue working alongside Mayor Lurie to ensure city government is efficient, accountable, and focused on results for San Franciscans. 

“Our administration is working every day to deliver results for San Franciscans, and there are few better partners in City Hall to help get that work done than Carmen Chu,” said Mayor Lurie. “Throughout her decades of service, Carmen has made San Francisco stronger and I look forward to continuing our work together to reform our city charter and deliver a more accountable and effective city government for San Franciscans.” 

“I am deeply honored by the mayor’s nomination and am excited to continue building on the forward momentum in the city,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work alongside talented and dedicated public servants who share a vision for a City Administrator’s Office that is relentless in pursuing good government reforms that help the city that we love succeed. As one of the core central agencies supporting city operations, we occupy a unique space that enables us to identify and tackle complex challenges that cut across all departments. I also want to thank the members of the Board of Supervisors, past and present, who have trusted and partnered with us on so many of these reforms. I look forward to the board process to come and thank the board for their consideration.” 

“Carmen Chu is a gem. She is one of the most capable and effective people I have met in city government, and we are lucky to have her,” said Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman. “Reappointing Carmen as city administrator is absolutely the right call for San Francisco, and I commend Mayor Lurie for recognizing the value of her continued service.” 

The city administrator is appointed by the mayor for five-year terms with confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on Chu’s confirmation in January. 

Carmen Chu was sworn in as city administrator in February 2021. Since taking office, she has focused on advancing good-government reforms that deliver stronger, more effective services for San Franciscans. She launched the Government Operations Contracting Reform initiative to streamline and accelerate the City’s contracting processes. Most recently, legislation championed by her office enabled the city to swiftly distribute emergency grocery cards to residents affected by federal delays in food assistance benefits. Chu has also been a leading voice in broader operational reform, guiding this year’s review of commissions and advisory bodies and advising on charter provisions that affect government responsiveness. 

As city administrator, Chu oversees 25 departments, divisions, and programs, and leads a workforce of 1,000 employees. Under her leadership, the office remains focused on delivering better results for residents. This includes creating a one-stop-shop experience at the County Clerk’s Office, improving performance at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, strengthening the city’s resilience and infrastructure, expanding contracting opportunities for local businesses, supporting development at Treasure Island and the city’s convention facilities, and assisting immigrant communities and staff on immigration-related matters. 

Chu is the first Asian American woman to serve as city administrator and brings more than two decades of experience in government management and public finance in the City and County of San Francisco. Prior to her appointment, she served as Assessor-Recorder from 2014 to 2021, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2007 to 2013, and as Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Policy and Finance. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree from Occidental College, and has served on numerous civic and policy boards focused on regional planning, economic equity, and public finance.