County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors Supervisor Otto Lee

In November 2020, Otto Lee was elected to serve as supervisor for District 3, which includes north Sunnyvale, Milpitas, and the Alviso, Berryessa, East Foothills, Evergreen and Rosemary Gardens neighborhoods of San Jose. The son of immigrants from Hong Kong, Otto Lee was 15 when his family moved to California. Lee’s father, an attorney, supported the family as a restaurant owner; Lee went on to earn a law degree.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served during World War II, Lee joined the U.S. Navy, serving in active duty during the Gulf War. He then served for two decades in the Navy Reserves, until 2008, when he was recalled for active duty in Iraq. He is now retired and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his 28 years of honorable service. Lee is the co-founder of an intellectual property law firm in San José, where he has served as lead attorney for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Sally, reside in Sunnyvale with their three daughters.

Notable quote: “Systemic racial inequity still exists in 2020. For example, Latinos account for less than 25% of the student population in the UC/CSU system, while the Latino population in California is reaching close to 40%. This imbalance is shocking and a clear reminder that the status quo is not working.” —Otto Lee, in an op-ed for the Mercury News on Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 5

Alma maters: University of California, Berkeley (bachelor’s of science in chemical and nuclear engineering), University of California, Hastings College of the Law (doctor of law)

Other offices held: Sunnyvale Planning Commission, Sunnyvale City Council (2003- 2011)