15 Facts About Susan Leal

Susan Leal was born on October 11,1949 and is an American water utility consultant and the co-author of the book Running Out of Water.

Susan Leal graduated from Presentation High School in 1967; the Catholic prep school was founded in 1915 by the Sisters of the Presentation, and it closed in 1991.

Susan Leal attended University of California, Berkeley, where she received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1971 and a Juris Doctor in 1975.

From 1976 to 1982, Susan Leal was a staff attorney for the United States House Committee Interstate and Foreign Commerce subcommittee.

In 1985, Susan Leal became vice-president of a health care management company.

Susan Leal was appointed to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in June 1993 by Mayor Frank Jordan.

Susan Leal was re-elected the following year to a four-year term.

From 1997 to 2004, Susan Leal served as Treasurer of San Francisco, the City and County's banker and chief investment officer, winning re-election in 2001.

Susan Leal introduced the first socially responsible investment portfolio among California's 58 counties.

Susan Leal spearheaded the city's e-commerce initiative, which was named one of the top e-government projects nationwide and helped launched the nation's first audio ATM for the visually impaired.

Susan Leal was a candidate in the 2003 San Francisco mayoral election.

Susan Leal lost in the general election and endorsed Gavin Newsom, who later won in the runoff election.

In 2004, Susan Leal was appointed General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the county's utilities agency, by Mayor Newsom, though she had no experience in the utilities field prior to this appointment.

Susan Leal upgraded the Bay Area's seismically unsafe water system and initiated a program to update San Francisco's wastewater system.

Susan Leal joined Harvard University as a senior fellow of the Advanced Leadership Initiative, where she researched the delivery of potable water and treatment of wastewater in communities worldwide.