Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D.
Assistant Speaker pro Tempore
California State Assembly

Assemblymember Leland Yee emigrated at the age of three to San Francisco from China. He was educated in San Francisco's public schools and received his degree from UC Berkeley. He also attended San Francisco State University where he earned his master's degree and decided his life's work would revolve around helping children. Dr. Yee met and married his wife Maxine during his studies and together they raised four children and educated them in San Francisco's public schools.

Assemblymember Yee worked hard to earn his doctorate in Child Psychology. He helped children as a therapist in the City's Children's Division of the Mental Health Department and in the Oakland School District as a psychologist. Dr. Yee also worked for a nonprofit agency called Asian Americans for Community Involvement, which served low-income people in the community.

After many years dedicating his career to the children, Dr. Yee decided to take his vision and run for the San Francisco School Board. He was successful in 1988 and began his work in public life. Dr. Yee fought for two terms to help direct more of the tax dollars to the people who needed it the most: the children. He improved services, updated educational materials and reduced class sizes in the schools.

In eight years on the school board, including a term as Board President, Dr. Yee gained a reputation as a reformer. While on the School Board, he ordered performance and financial audits of all schools, departments and programs in the San Francisco Unified School District. Dr. Yee also established a Budget Committee to monitor the School District's finances and caused the district to establish performance standards and  financial disclosures when awarding instructional and facilities contracts.

After his tenure on the School Board, Dr. Yee decided to take his campaign for children to the Board of Supervisors and successfully ran in 1996. He quickly became a voice at City Hall for the most needy in the City: seniors, families and children. He also became an avid watchdog who fought hard for fiscal responsibility as Chair of the Finance Committee and passed the largest "Rainy Day" budget reserve fund in San Francisco's history. Dr. Yee never wavered from his commitment to bringing government to the people. He became the first Supervisor to hold budget hearings in San Francisco neighborhoods, making it easier for communities to participate in the budget process.

Dr. Yee's pledge to the kids is evident in the many initiatives and programs he sponsored in his capacity as Supervisor. He considered his highlight in office to be the development of the pioneering "Integrated Service Model." This innovative program opened schools during the day and evening to provide tutoring, adult education, childcare, sports programs, counseling and health services for the families. He co-sponsored and passed a law limiting tobacco advertising in schools while ensuring that at least $1 million in annual funding from the tobacco lawsuit settlement was earmarked for youth tobacco education, prevention and control programs. As Supervisor, Assemblyman Yee authored and passed a resolution to oppose the issuance of liquor licenses to businesses within 600 feet of schools.

Assemblyman Leland Yee understands that our kids not only need to be protected from alcohol and tobacco, but also need youth oriented programs to keep them involved in healthy activities. That's why he won funding for youth recreation, opened gyms for basketball and secured new computers with Internet access for his District's libraries.

Described as a "Fiscal Pit Bull" by one local reporter, Assemblyman Yee has earned the reputation as a fiscally responsible member of the Board of Supervisors. He has not shied away from his duty to taxpayers. He has established himself as a voice for reform and ardent opponent of sweetheart deals and government waste.

As Chair of the Finance Committee, Assemblyman Yee led the battle against overtime and workmen's compensation abuse in city government by implementing holdbacks to force greater accountability. He helped pass the Sunshine Ordinance, allowing the public real access to what goes on at City Hall. Assemblyman Yee discovered lack of oversight and numerous delays on many city funded projects. He introduced and passed the General Obligation Bond Accountability Act that compels each government entity to report fiscal expenditures and the status of projects.

Through 13 years of public service, including eight years on the San Francisco School Board and two terms as a San Francisco Supervisor, Assemblyman Yee has shown the difference one person can make.

When it comes to advocating for our children, standing up for our neighborhoods and fighting for fiscally responsible government, nobody has been stronger and more effective than Assemblyman Leland Yee.

As a leader in the California Assembly, Assemblyman Yee will use his experience to make schools, families and seniors a priority again. He will fight for San Francisco's fair share of state resources and will protect taxpayers and ratepayers from high energy costs.