City Government

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Appoint Dave Brown to Vacant Seat

A staffer for Chan for 15 years, Brown has held the title of chief of staff since 2016. Prior to that, he served as senior policy advisor under Chan from 2013 to 2015. He has the distinction of being Chan’s first ever staffer 30 years ago and previously held the title of policy advisor/community liaison (1992-1998) during her first tenure on the Board of Supervisors.

Published

5 years ago

November 20, 2021

Oakland Post

Dave Brown (left) will be appointed District 3 supervisor following the tragic death of longtime Supervisor Wilma Chan.

Former chief of staff to Supervisor Wilma Chan to complete her term on the board

By Post Staff

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted this week to appoint Dave Brown as District 3 supervisor to replace longtime Supervisor Wilma Chan, who was killed in an accident two weeks ago.

Brown, who previously served as Chan’s chief of staff, will serve the remaining 14 months of her current term in office.

“As we continue to mourn the tragic loss of Supervisor Chan, I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to continue her inspirational work on behalf of District 3 and all County residents,” Brown said.

“Dave Brown is an excellent chief of staff, one of the best I’ve seen during my time on the Board of Supervisors,” Board President Keith Carson said during the hearing. “(Dave) will have the ability to continue to carry out the programs Supervisor Chan supported.”

A staffer for Chan for 15 years, Brown has held the title of chief of staff since 2016. Prior to that, he served as senior policy advisor under Chan from 2013 to 2015.

He has the distinction of being Chan’s first ever staffer 30 years ago and previously held the title of policy advisor/community liaison (1992-1998) during her first tenure on the Board of Supervisors.

In addition to his work with Chan, Brown also was chief of staff for former Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker in 2001. A graduate of Stanford, Brown served on the West Contra Costa Unified School Board from 2004-2008 and spent 10 years as a fundraising consultant from 2002-2012.

Brown has stated that he will not seek election to the Board in 2022 and by law is prohibited from running, as candidates are statutorily required to have lived in the district for a full year before an election.

Having served as chief of staff for two Asian-American women elected officials, Brown supports the need for more Asian American /Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation – especially AAPI women.

With no woman and no AAPI currently on the Board, Brown has pledged to endorse an Asian American woman for the District 3 seat in the upcoming June 2022 election.

The District 3 supervisorial seat had been vacant since Wednesday, Nov. 3, when Chan was killed when she was struck by a car while walking. By law, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors had 60 days to make an appointment to fill the vacancy.