While making his grand exit en route to Sacramento, where he assumed the post of Lieutenant Governor, the ex-mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, designated the ex-Chief of Police, George Gascón, to the post of District Attorney.
This replaces Kamala Harris, who won the November race for Attorney General by a close margin. Governor Jerry Brown had previously occupied this post. While on his way out, Newsom also influenced the Board of Supervisors to name Ed Lee the interim mayor.
These rearrangements occurred over the course of seven days. From Monday, January 3, when Brown took office to Sunday, January 9, when Newsom made the surprise announcement of Gascón as District Attorney. A day later, Newsom took office as the Lieutenant Governor of California.
Of the changes mentioned, the elevation of Lee to Mayor was the most complicated and definitely not free of dramatic overtures. The former City Administrator overcame the Supervisors’ preferences for Sheriff Mike Hennessey. It is the worst kept secret that Newsom was behind this taking place.
Four new members of the Board of Supervisors, elected in November, took office on Saturday, January 8. Lee had to wait for their installation before taking the oath of interim Mayor on January 11.