Willie Brown (politician)

Willie Brown
Brown in 2019
41st Mayor of San Francisco
In office January 8, 1996 – January 8, 2004
Preceded by	Frank Jordan
Succeeded by	Gavin Newsom
Minority Leader of the California Assembly
In office June 5, 1995 – September 14, 1995
Preceded by	Jim Brulte
Succeeded by	Richard Katz
58th Speaker of the California State Assembly
In office December 2, 1980 – June 5, 1995
Preceded by	Leo McCarthy
Succeeded by	Doris Allen
Member of the California State Assembly from the 13th district
In office December 7, 1992 – December 14, 1995
Preceded by	Barbara Lee
Succeeded by	Carole Migden
Member of the California State Assembly from the 17th district
In office December 2, 1974 – November 30, 1992
Preceded by	John Miller
Succeeded by	Dean Andal
Member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district
In office January 4, 1965 – November 30, 1974
Preceded by	Edward M. Gaffney
Succeeded by	Leo T. McCarthy
Personal details
Born	Willie Lewis Brown Jr. (1934-03-20) March 20, 1934 (age 90) Mineola, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Blanche Vitero ​ ​ (m. 1958; sep. 1982)​
Children	4
Education	San Francisco State University (BA) University of California, Hastings (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army California Army National Guard
Years of service	1955–1958
Unit	126th Medical Battalion

Willie Lewis Brown Jr. (born March 20, 1934) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as mayor of San Francisco from 1996 to 2004 as the first African American to hold the office.^[1]

Born in Mineola, Texas, where he graduated from high school, Brown moved to San Francisco in 1951. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 1955 and earned a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1958, after which he worked as an attorney and was involved in the civil rights movement. He was elected to the California Assembly in 1964, during which he became popular in San Francisco and became known as one of the country's most powerful state legislators.^[2] As a legislator, Brown earned a reputation as a supporter of civil rights of gays and lesbians and was able to manage colleagues and maintain party discipline. He served as the speaker of the California State Assembly from 1980 to 1995. His long tenure and powerful position were used as a focal point of the California ballot proposition limiting the terms of state legislators that passed in 1990. During the last of his three allowed post-initiative terms, Brown maintained control of the Assembly despite a slim Republican majority. Near the end of his final term, he decided to run for mayor of San Francisco.

During Brown's tenure as mayor of San Francisco, the city's budget was expanded, and real estate development, public works, city beautification, and other city projects saw a significant increase. Brown presided over the "dot-com" era at a time when San Francisco's economy was rapidly expanding. His administration included more Asian-Americans, women, Latinos, gays and African Americans than the administrations of his predecessors.^[3] Brown was reelected in 1999, but term limits prevented him from running for a third term, and he was succeeded by his political protégé Gavin Newsom. San Francisco Chronicle called Brown "one of San Francisco's most notable mayors", adding that he had "celebrity beyond the city's boundaries."^[3] He retired from politics after leaving the office in 2004, published an autobiography, and continued to fundraise and advise politicians.