san francisco board of supervisors elects first chinese american president

Yesterday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors made history by electing David Chiu, its first Chinese American president: Chinese American picked to lead S.F. supes. Chiu, elected to his first term in November to represent Chinatown, North Beach and Russian Hill, will lead the 11-member body, which is now a tremendously diverse group.

The Board includes three Chinese Americans, including a woman; two gay men, including a Latino who arrived in the United States as an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala; another Latino; an African American woman; a disabled woman; a Persian man, and just two straight, white men. That's San Francisco, baby.

And now it has its first Chinese American president. After six rounds of voting, Chiu edged out eight-year board veteran Sophie Maxwell. For a city who's population is 20% Chinese American, it's about time, isn't it?

UPDATE: Valerie Soe has a blog post about the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting and swearing-in that took place this week, with details about some of the political intrigue, alliances and sub-alliance that took place behind the vote to elect Chiu: Eric Mar sworn in as San Francisco Supervisor.