SSF Announces James Coleman the Youngest LGBTQ+ Mayor

“I am honored to be sworn in as the youngest and first openly LGBTQ+ Mayor for South San Francisco,” said South San Francisco Mayor James Coleman. “My priorities are clear—I will work hard to foster a city where all our children and growing families can thrive.”

James Coleman was elected to the City Council in November 2020. Of Taiwanese descent, Coleman was born and raised in South San Francisco and attended Ponderosa Elementary, Alta Loma Middle School, and South San Francisco High School. After graduating, Coleman went on to Harvard University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Government. In the middle of his junior year of college, the COVID pandemic brought him back to South San Francisco where he successfully ran for council and became the youngest ever and first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve on the City Council at the age of 21. Now 24, Coleman is among the youngest in California and the country serving as Mayor.

The reorganization ceremony drew a crowd of over 400 people from in and around South San Francisco to the city’s brand new Library and Parks and Rec building. Elected officials from around the Bay Area including State Senator Josh Becker, State Assemblymember Alex Lee, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, and San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo attended this historic event.

Vice Mayor Eddie Flores was first appointed to the Council in 2021 to serve in an at-large seat and was subsequently elected by a supportive majority of voters to represent District 5 in November 2022. He is the first Salvadoran to serve on a City Council in San Mateo County and only the second Latino to serve on the City Council.

Prior to joining council, Vice Mayor Flores was elected to the South San Francisco Unified School District Board of Trustees at-large in 2018. He served as Board President in 2020-2021. During his tenure, he graduated from the California School Board Association’s Masters in Governance in 2019 and served as an elected delegate at-large for the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and the California Latino School Boards Association (CLSBA).

Eddie Flores was born in El Salvador and immigrated as a young child with his family due to the civil war. He was raised by a single mother who often worked three jobs to make ends meet for the family. Eddie was the first in his family to graduate from a four-year university. He earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in public policy and public health from UC Berkeley and an MBA from San Francisco State University. Vice Mayor Flores is also an adjunct member of the faculty at San Francisco State University and Skyline College.

“I’m proud to continue to serve our residents as the Vice Mayor, not only in District 5, but citywide,” said Vice Mayor Eddie Flores. “It is only benefitting that we move forward united with a resolve to continue to put the needs of our residents first. I remain committed to helping our beloved communities succeed and look forward to working with Mayor Coleman and my council colleagues on ensuring South San Francisco’s future remains bright.”

The City of South San Francisco proudly remains The Industrial City, a reflection of its steel mill and ship building past, redefined to reflect the innovative, entrepreneurial, and industrious spirit which has made South San Francisco the Biotech Capital of the World, with 217 active biotech companies and growing. A vibrant community of 66,185 residents, South San Francisco enjoys a high quality of life with an extensive public parks system, active library and learning programming, and a dynamic, engaged community making South San Francisco a great place to live, learn, work, and play.