{{short description|San Francisco supervisor from 1986 to 1997}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Thomas K. S. Hsieh | image = Thomas Hsieh, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Tear sheets from San Francisco newspaper 1970's (cropped).jpg | office = Member of the [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors]] from the at-large district | term_end = January 8, 1997 | term_start = September 5, 1986 | occupation = {{flatlist| *[[Architect]] *Politician }} | alma_mater = [[San Francisco City College]],<br>[[UC Berkeley]] ([[M.Arch]]) | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|11|17}} | birth_place = [[Beijing]], [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]] | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|03|05|1931|11|17}} | death_place = [[San Francisco, California]], U.S. | children = 3 }}
'''Thomas Kuo Shyang Hsieh'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ege |first=Mike |date=2023-03-07 |title=Chinese American Political Pioneer Tom Hsieh Passes at 91 |url=https://sfstandard.com/politics/chinese-american-political-pioneer-tom-hsieh-passes-at-91/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en-US}}</ref> (November 17, 1931 – March 5, 2023) was a Chinese-born American politician, architect, and vineyard owner. He was San Francisco's third supervisor of Asian ancestry when he was appointed to the [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors]] in 1986. He was the first [[Chinese Americans|Chinese American]] to be elected to a citywide office in [[San Francisco]]. He was re-elected twice and termed out of office in 1997.
Hsieh was previously also the first Chinese American [[San Francisco Arts Commission]]er and San Francisco Police Commissioner. He also served as a [[San Francisco Public Utilities Commission]]er.
== Early life and education == Hsieh was born in [[Beijing]] on November 17, 1931, and immigrated to the United States aged 19 in 1951.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Mathews|first=Jay|date=1991-06-11|title=SAN FRANCISCO CAMPAIGN MAY ACCENT ASIAN CLOUT|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/06/11/san-francisco-campaign-may-accent-asian-clout/fa6c9fa2-e4dd-49c7-a584-82b800a40b88/|access-date=2021-07-02|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
Hsieh attended [[City College of San Francisco]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Nakao|first=Annie|date=1995-05-29|title=PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/PERSISTENCE-PAYS-OFF-3144608.php|access-date=2021-07-02|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref> He received his [[Master of Architecture]] from [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Mungan|first=Christina|date=June 6, 1991|title=Tom Hsieh Kicks Off Mayoral Campaign With Lions and Attack on Rival|url=https://apnews.com/article/1b5f064a309c85339a2cc4bd0be3ff31|access-date=2021-07-02|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref>
As an architect Hsieh designed and built over 1,600 low to moderate income units of housing for the elderly.<ref name=":3" />
== Political career == Hsieh was appointed and elected to various San Francisco, California State and Federal civic commissions as the first Chinese American in the 1970s and 80's and was active in raising money for the State and National Democratic Party.<ref name=":1" /> He created the Asian Pacific Caucus of the [[Democratic National Committee]] and served there from 1978 to 1986.<ref name=":3" /> He was previously appointed the first Chinese American to the [[San Francisco Arts Commission]] by Mayor [[Joseph Alioto]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=Rachel|date=1997-01-07|title=Master of budget Hsieh departs|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Master-of-budget-Hsieh-departs-3141387.php|access-date=2021-07-02|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref> He served as the first Chinese American commissioner on the San Francisco Police Commission and was a commissioner on the [[San Francisco Public Utilities Commission]] from 1980 to 1984 appointed by Mayor [[Dianne Feinstein]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 1984 |title=Police Commissioner Elected S.F. Community Hospital Chairman |url=https://sfpoa.org/journal_archives/Vol_16_No_12_December_1984.pdf |journal=The San Francisco Policeman |publisher=[[San Francisco Police Officers Association]] |volume=16}}</ref>
Hsieh filed papers and campaigned to run for San Francisco Supervisor in 1985, using the slogan "Say Shay" Tom Hsieh for Supervisor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
Hsieh was appointed to fill a vacancy to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1986 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein.<ref name=":1" /> He was the first Chinese American supervisor to be elected in a citywide election in 1986.<ref name=":2" /> Hsieh was a member of the Budget and Economic Vitality and Social Policy committees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Rachel |date=1995-01-17 |title=Board's committee slots OK'd |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Board-s-committee-slots-OK-d-3153261.php |access-date=2021-07-02 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref>
Hsieh was a member of the [[Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area)|Metropolitan Transportation Commission]] and was in support of creating a commuter rail line on the [[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Epstein|first=Edward|date=1998-10-22|title=Bay Bridge Rail Could Double Car Toll / Mayors criticize transit agency's $3 billion cost estimate|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bay-Bridge-Rail-Could-Double-Car-Toll-Mayors-2983653.php|access-date=2021-07-02|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref>
Hsieh ran for [[Mayor of San Francisco]] in the [[1991 San Francisco mayoral election|1991 election]] as a pro-business [[Fiscal conservatism|fiscal conservative]] against Mayor [[Art Agnos]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Hua|first1=Vanessa|author-link=Vanessa Hua|last2=Stannard|first2=Matthew B.|date=2007-12-02|title=Asian Americans flex political muscle in wider Bay Area|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Asian-Americans-flex-political-muscle-in-wider-3233857.php|access-date=2021-07-01|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref> He placed fourth with around 10% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=Rachel|date=2011-01-11|title=SF Asian Americans ascending in halls of power|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/SF-Asian-Americans-ascending-in-halls-of-power-2462231.php|access-date=2021-07-01|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref>
Hsieh termed out in 1996, exiting the office in January 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|last=King|first=John|date=1996-10-08|title=27 Chasing 6 Spots on S.F. Board of Supervisors|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/27-Chasing-6-Spots-on-S-F-Board-of-Supervisors-2963708.php|access-date=2021-07-01|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref> He was seen as a potential candidate for City Treasurer in the 1997 election but declined to run.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1997-04-18|title=BAY AREA REPORT -- SAN FRANCISCO / Supervisor Leal to Run For City Treasurer|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/BAY-AREA-REPORT-SAN-FRANCISCO-Supervisor-2844106.php|access-date=2021-07-02|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Hsieh married Jeannette Fay in 1959.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} Hsieh resided in [[Nob Hill, San Francisco]].<ref name=":1" /> He received a [[heart bypass]] in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=Rachel|date=1995-02-28|title=SAN FRANCISCO / S.F. Supervisor Hsieh Gets Heart Bypass|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-S-F-Supervisor-Hsieh-Gets-Heart-3043471.php|access-date=2021-07-02|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref> Hsieh has three sons.<ref name=":3" />
Hsieh and his wife purchased a partnership in a Napa Valley vineyard in 1972.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
Hsieh and philanthropist [[Rosalyn Koo]] were family friends. Koo has served as treasurer for his election campaigns.<ref name=":0" />
Hsieh died at [[University of California, San Francisco|UCSF Hospital]] in San Francisco, on March 5, 2023, at the age of 91.<ref name=":3" />
== References == <references />
== External links == * [https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8x355bc/ Tom Hsieh papers] are housed in the Department of Special Collections and University Archives at [http://library.stanford.edu/ Stanford University Libraries].
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hsieh, Tom}} [[Category:1931 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:San Francisco Board of Supervisors members]] [[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]] [[Category:Architects from San Francisco]] [[Category:California politicians of Chinese descent]] [[Category:People from Beijing]] [[Category:Chinese emigrants to the United States]]