Vacant SF Supervisor Seat Goes to Former Michael Bloomberg Staffer Stephen Sherrill

In one of her final acts as San Francisco mayor, London Breed on Wednesday appointed Stephen Sherrill, a staffer for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as the next District 2 supervisor.

Sherrill, who most recently served as director of the Mayor’s Office of Innovation, will replace Supervisor Catherine Stefani after she was elected to the California State Assembly in November.

In the innovation office, Sherrill oversaw efforts to address homelessness, including attempting to streamline the city’s often-long online shelter reservation waitlist and notoriously convoluted Coordinated Entry system, which attempts to prioritize people for housing and shelter opportunities based on need.

“We must build on the foundation that Mayor Breed has left and to continue to make housing more affordable, our streets safer and cleaner, and prioritize recovery and treatment to fight the scourge of overdose deaths,” Sherrill said in a statement. “Yet we also face looming budget deficits, and I look forward to working with leaders both inside of and outside City Hall to embrace bold, innovative solutions that will allow small businesses to thrive, our downtown to recover, and our incredible City workforce to continue to deliver the high-quality services we deserve.”

As supervisor, Sherrill will represent some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, including the Marina, Pacific Heights, the Presidio and North of Panhandle.

In New York, Sherrill worked as a policy adviser to Bloomberg on infrastructural issues, including street cleaning and recycling programs.

Bloomberg and Breed have long supported each other’s political ambitions — Breed endorsed Bloomberg’s presidential bid in 2020, and Bloomberg donated $1.45 million to a YIMBY-aligned PAC backing Breed’s reelection campaign this year.

Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie, a political newcomer who has pointed to Bloomberg as a role model for leadership he hopes to emulate in San Francisco, called Sherrill’s appointment a “great choice” in a social media post on Wednesday.

“Stephen embodies San Francisco’s innovative spirit and has a tireless work ethic,” Lurie said. “We have historic challenges, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to work closely with Stephen to make San Francisco safer and more affordable for all.”

Sherrill also counts himself among the city’s pro-housing cohort and is a member of Northern Neighbors, a YIMBY group based in District 2.

“Housing is the single most important issue facing our City today, and I’m proud to advocate alongside Stephen at Northern Neighbors,” said Jonathan Bünemann, a lead volunteer with the group. “I’m confident he will be a champion for housing and transit to increase affordability and connectivity.”