South San Francisco isn't your average suburb. People call it "The Industrial City," though nowadays it's basically the biotech capital of the world. Because of how the local government is set up, the role of the South San Francisco mayor isn't a permanent throne. It moves. It rotates. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the person holding the gavel is James Coleman. He’s not just another politician in a suit; he’s actually the youngest person to ever hold the office in the city’s history.
Local politics is weird.
In "South City," as the locals call it, you don't have a "strong mayor" system like you see in San Francisco or New York. The mayor doesn't have veto power. They don't unilaterally hire and fire department heads. Instead, the City Council—five people elected by districts—votes amongst themselves every December to decide who gets the title for the next twelve months. It’s a ceremonial role with a bit of extra homework, like running the meetings and representing the city at ribbon cuttings.
The Current State of the South San Francisco Mayor’s Seat
James Coleman’s rise was kind of a shock to the old guard. He grew up in South San Francisco, went off to Harvard, and then came back during the pandemic to run for office. He won his council seat at just 21 years old. Now, as mayor, he’s dealing with the massive pressure of housing costs that are, frankly, insane.
Most people moving to South San Francisco aren't doing it for the weather. It's foggy. It’s windy. They move here because companies like Genentech and Stripe have massive footprints here. This puts the mayor in a tough spot. You have to balance the needs of multibillion-dollar corporations with the needs of families who have lived in the Sunshine or Orange Park neighborhoods for forty years and can’t afford their property taxes anymore.
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Coleman has leaned heavily into "socialist" policies, which is a bit of a departure for a city that used to be a gritty, blue-collar steel town. He pushes for things like guaranteed basic income and massive public housing projects. It’s a gamble. Some residents love the energy; others think the city is moving too far away from its pragmatic roots.
How the Rotation Actually Works
Every December, the council meets. They look at each other. They nominate someone. Usually, it’s the Vice Mayor’s turn to step up. For 2024, Coleman took the lead, with Vice Mayor Eddie Flores likely being next in the queue.
Why do they do it this way?
It’s designed to prevent one person from becoming a local warlord. If you only have a year, you can't build a massive patronage network. The downside? It’s hard to get big, multi-year projects finished when the "leader" changes every 365 days. The real power usually stays with the City Manager, who handles the actual day-to-day operations of the city’s departments.
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Big Challenges Facing the Mayor Right Now
You can't talk about the South San Francisco mayor without talking about the "Biotech Bubble." For a decade, the city saw endless growth. Cranes were everywhere. Now, with interest rates being higher and venture capital being a bit more cautious, the city has to figure out what happens if the lab-space demand slows down.
- Housing and Displacement: The East of 101 area is booming with labs, but the residential areas are feeling the squeeze.
- Transit: The Caltrain station move was a big deal, but getting people from the hills down to the tracks is still a nightmare.
- Electrification: There is a huge push to make the city greener, but that costs money that small business owners on Grand Avenue don't always have.
The mayor has to navigate these waters while keeping four other council members happy. If you lose the support of your colleagues, your year as mayor is going to be a lot of sitting in silence while your motions die on the floor.
Is the Mayor’s Office Just Symbolic?
Kinda. But also no.
While the city manager does the heavy lifting, the mayor sets the "vibe." When James Coleman or previous mayors like Mark Nagales speak at the State of the City address, they are signaling to investors and the state government what South San Francisco’s priorities are. If the mayor says "we want more housing," developers start sniffing around. If the mayor says "we are focusing on public safety," the police budget usually reflects that the following year.
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Nagales, for example, made history as the city’s first Filipino-American mayor. In a city where the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is a huge demographic, that representation wasn't just "symbolic"—it changed how the city communicated with its residents. It brought people to the table who had felt ignored for decades.
What People Get Wrong About South San Francisco
A lot of people think South San Francisco is just the "suburbs of San Francisco." It’s not. It’s an entirely different county (San Mateo). It has its own tax base, its own school district, and a very different political temperament. The South San Francisco mayor doesn't answer to London Breed or whoever is in the hot seat in SF.
People also assume the mayor is a full-time job. It's not. These council members have day jobs. They are teachers, non-profit directors, or tech workers. They do this for a relatively small stipend and a lot of headaches. When you see them at the grocery store, they’re usually getting complained to about a pothole on Chestnut Avenue.
Real Actions for Residents and Interested Observers
If you actually want to influence what happens in the city, don't just tweet at the mayor. Local government is surprisingly accessible if you actually show up.
- Watch the Tuesday Meetings: The City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. You can watch them on YouTube or Zoom. It's the best way to see how the mayor actually handles conflict.
- Public Comment is King: You have two minutes to speak. If you have a specific gripe about a new development or a park that needs cleaning, this is where you do it.
- Check the District Maps: South San Francisco moved to district-based elections recently. Make sure you actually know which council member represents your specific street, because they are the ones who will eventually become mayor.
- Follow the General Plan: The "South San Francisco 2040" plan is the literal blueprint for the city. If you want to know what the mayor will be arguing about for the next ten years, read the executive summary of that document. It covers everything from sea-level rise to the "Lindenville" transformation.
The mayor's seat in South San Francisco is a revolving door of local leadership. Whether it's James Coleman today or someone else tomorrow, the goals remain the same: keeping the biotech money flowing while trying to make sure the people who work in those labs can actually afford to live within city limits. It’s a delicate balance, and honestly, it’s one of the hardest jobs in San Mateo County politics.
To stay updated on the latest council rotations and policy shifts, the official City of South San Francisco website maintains the current roster and term limits for all elected officials. Monitoring the "Meeting Agendas" section is the most direct way to see which way the political wind is blowing on any given week.