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Adena Ishii

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Adena Ishii
23rd Mayor of Berkeley
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 6, 2024
Preceded byJesse Arreguín
Personal details
Born1990 (age 33–34)
Los Angeles, California
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAndrew Kitirattragarn
RelativesErika Ishii (sibling)
Websitewww.adenaishii.com

Adena Ishii (c.1990[1]) is an American politician serving as the Mayor of Berkeley, California since 2024.[2][3] She is the first Asian American and woman of color to be elected to the position.[2][3][4]

Personal life

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Ishii was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Agoura Hills, where she graduated from graduated from Agoura High School.[2] She has two siblings, including voice actress Erika Ishii. Her parents, Christopher S. Ishii and Carolyn Abe-Ishii, worked in the film industry.[2] Her grandparents include Chris K. Ishii, a Walt Disney Company animator and member of the Military Intelligence Service in World War Two, and Harry F. Abe, a medic in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.[5] Some of Ishii’s Japanese American relatives were incarcerated during World War II in internment camps due to Executive Order 9066.[1]

Ishii married business advisor and former entrepreneur Andrew Kitirattragarn in 2020 and the couple adopted a daughter, they live in South Berkeley.[6][7]

Education and early career

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Ishii attended Berkeley City College in 2009.[2] She later transferred to and graduated from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.[2] She worked for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.[2] She later received a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University.[2] Ishii worked as a nonprofit education consultant[8][9] Ishii was the Voter Services Director for the Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville League of Women Voters chapter[10] and later became the president.[8][9] She held the president position from 2017-2019 and was the first woman of color to hold this position and was also the youngest person to hold this position.[1]

2024 campaign

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Ishii ran in the 2024 Berkeley mayoral race against Sophie Hahn and Katie Harrison, former District 4 City Council member.[11] Ishii's campaign manager was Cydney Chilimidos.[6]

Ishii's campaign utilized Berkeley's public financing program that limited individual contributions up to $60 but matched those individual contributions at a 6–1 ratio.[11]

During her 2024 campaign, Ishii ran on building more affordable housing and supporting mental health resources.[9] She received several organizational endorsements during her 2024 campaign, including from the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County (APADC),[12] Housing Action Coalition,[13] Berkley Democratic Club,[14] East Bay for Everyone,[15] Run for Something,[16] East Bay YIMBY,[17] and Gun Sense Voter.[18] Ishii was endorsed by State Senator Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. [19]She also received an endorsement from Barry Fike, the former president of Berkeley Federation of Teachers.[20][6]

On November 20, 2024, Ishii's primary opponent Sophie Hahn conceded the race.[6]

Ishii was sworn into office privately on December 6, 2024[4] and was sworn in again at her first City Council Meeting on December 10, 2024.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Veltman, Chloe (2020-08-20). "How Student Adena Ishii Made History With the League of Women Voters | KQED". www.kqed.org. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Savidge, Nico (2024-11-23). "How political outsider Adena Ishii upended the Berkeley mayor's race". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  3. ^ a b "Adena Ishii takes victory as first woman of color to be Berkeley's mayor | KTVU FOX 2". www.ktvu.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  4. ^ a b Savidge, Nico (2024-12-06). "New Mayor Adena Ishii pledges to make Berkeley a progressive beacon". Berkeleyside.
  5. ^ "Adena Ishii Elected Mayor of Berkeley". Rafu Shimpo. November 27, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Savidge, Nico (2024-11-21). "Adena Ishii wins Berkeley mayor's race". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  7. ^ "About". Adena Ishii for Berkeley Mayor 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  8. ^ a b Ravani, Sarah (2024-10-31). "Amid toxic turn in Berkeley politics, voters set to choose Arreguín's successor as mayor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  9. ^ a b c Ravani, Sarah (2024-11-21). "Berkeley's next mayor is a City Hall outsider who promises 'reset' and unity". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  10. ^ "Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Team LWV! | League of Women Voters". www.lwv.org. 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  11. ^ a b Staff, Ayah Ali-Ahmad | Senior (2024-11-20). "Adena Ishii declares victory in Berkeley mayoral race". www.dailycal.org. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  12. ^ "Endorsed Candidates for North Alameda County, November 2024 General Election".
  13. ^ Coalition, Housing Action (2024-07-31). "November 2024 Election Endorsements". Housing Action Coalition. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  14. ^ "Berkley Democratic Club 2024 Local Endorsements" (PDF).
  15. ^ Sagehorn, Derek. "EB4E Fall 2024 Endorsements | East Bay for Everyone". Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  16. ^ "Adena Ishii". Run For Something. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  17. ^ "November 2024 Voter Guide". East Bay YIMBY. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  18. ^ "Stories". Gun Sense Voter. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  19. ^ Brekke, Dan (2024-11-21). "Adena Ishii, a City Hall Outsider, Wins Berkeley Mayor's Race | KQED". www.kqed.org. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  20. ^ Fike, Barry (2024-10-17). "Opinion: Adena Ishii is the best choice for Berkeley mayor". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  21. ^ Staff, Emewodesh Eshete | Senior (2024-11-26). "Ishii sets her sights on collaboration and transparency as Berkeley's next mayor". www.dailycal.org. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
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