Politics

San Francisco supervisors choose Mark Farrell as interim mayor

By by Katie Utehs
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
There was a surprising political upset and a new mayor of San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There was a surprising political upset and a new mayor of San Francisco. Former Supervisor Mark Farrell was elected by the board and sworn in, unseating London Breed as acting mayor since the death of Ed Lee.

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The new mayor held a press conference at 9 p.m. following a dramatic turn of events. The political theater inside San Francisco City Hall felt like improv at times.

City Hall erupted as Farrell unseated Breed in a 8 - 2 vote. Farrell abstained. He was sworn in quick fashion and will hold the office until June.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin had called for a vote by the board because Breed was acting as both Mayor and board president following the Death of Ed Lee in December. It raised concerns regarding separation of power.

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President Barack Obama walks with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee after arriving at San Francisco International airport in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011.none
Mayor Ed Lee, center, speaks at a news conference next to his wife Anita, right, and his daughter Brianna outside of his office at City Hall, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011.none
This undated image shows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee during his time with the Asian Law Caucus.none
This image from the early 1980s shows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee during his time with the Asian Law Caucus.none
This undated image shows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee during his time with the Asian Law Caucus.none
This image shows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee during his time with the Asian Law Caucus in 1988.none
This undated image shows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee during his time with the Asian Law Caucus.none
This undated image shows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee during his time with the Asian Law Caucus.none
This undated image shows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee during his time with the Asian Law Caucus.none
Mayor Ed Lee applauds after presenting a key to the city to Giants pitcher Matt Cain in honor of Cain's perfect game against the Houston Astros, during a ceremony, June 26, 2012.none
''Batkid',' 5-year-old leukemia patient Miles Scott, stands next to Batman as he receives the key to the city from Mayor Ed Lee, at a rally outside of City Hall Nov. 15, 2013.none
Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, waves next to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee after visiting Red Blossom Tea Company in Chinatown in San Francisco, Wednesday, May 6, 2015.none
Torch runners Andrea Vincent, left, and Ed Lee hold the torch Wednesday, April 9, 2008 during the Torch Relay in San Francisco.none
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, left, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and SF Mayor Ed Lee, right, laugh at the 8th Annual CEO Summit at IBM offices in San Jose, Calif., Friday, April 22, 2011.none
San Francisco interim mayor Ed Lee smiles as his daughter, Brianna, right, looks on at his campaign headquarters for mayor in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011.none
Mayor Ed Lee speaks at a panel at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group's 9th Annual CEO Business Climate Summit in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, April 24, 2012.none
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee waves during the 44th annual Gay Pride parade Sunday, June 29, 2014, in San Francisco.none
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee waves during a parade for the Golden State Warriors winning the NBA championship in Oakland, Calif., Friday, June 19, 2015.none
Mayor Ed Lee speaks during a meeting at City Hall by city leaders and community activists to reaffirm the city's commitment to being a sanctuary city, Nov. 14, 2016.none
Mayor Ed Lee laughs as he talks with Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers during an NCAA college basketball game between San Francisco and Gonzaga, Jan. 5, 2017.none
Warriors president & COO Rick Welts, listens to speakers next to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and owner & CEO Joe Lacob during a ceremony for the Chase Center, Jan. 17, 2017.none
Mayor Ed Lee listens to questions during a news conference at City Hall Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, in San Francisco.none


Breed has already declared her candidacy for Mayor in the upcoming election.
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Tonights vote shocked Breed supporters.



Mayor Farrell will now pick his replacement for the seat he just vacated and the person's term will last until January 2019 at which time a candidate who was voted in will take over the district seat.

Farrell missed the cut off to run for Mayor so his Mayoral term will end in June.

Click here for more stories on Ed Lee.

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