Gene Mullin

Gene Mullin
Mullin in 2006
Gene Mullin
Born	Eugene Mullin April 21, 1937
Died	April 5, 2021 South San Francisco, California, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, teacher
Known for	Mayor of South San Francisco, Member of the California State Assembly (19th district)
Children	2

Eugene "Gene" Mullin (April 21, 1937 – April 5, 2021) was an American politician and educator who represented the 19th district of the California State Assembly from 2002 to 2008 and served two terms as mayor of South San Francisco. A native of San Francisco and a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Peninsula, Mullin spent decades as a public school teacher before entering elected office, bringing an educator's perspective to local and state government. As a member of the Democratic Party, he became a fixture in San Mateo County politics, serving on the South San Francisco City Council before ascending to the State Assembly, where he succeeded fellow Democrat Lou Papan. Mullin's career in public service spanned education policy, local governance, and state legislation, and his family's involvement in politics continued after his tenure, with his son Kevin Mullin later serving in the California State Assembly and then winning election to the United States House of Representatives representing California's 15th congressional district. Gene Mullin died on April 5, 2021, at his home in South San Francisco, sixteen days before his 84th birthday, surrounded by his immediate family.

Early Life

Eugene Mullin was born on April 21, 1937, in San Francisco, California, to Eugene A. Mullin and his wife. He grew up in the San Francisco area and would later settle in South San Francisco, the city with which he became most closely associated throughout his career in education and public service. Mullin was a native San Franciscan who maintained deep roots in the communities of the San Francisco Peninsula throughout his life.

Details about Mullin's childhood and upbringing remain limited in publicly available records, though his obituary noted his parents predeceased him. His eventual career path as a public school teacher and later as a politician reflected a commitment to community engagement that characterized his adult life in South San Francisco.

Career

Teaching Career

Before entering politics, Gene Mullin built a career as a public school teacher. His background in education informed much of his later work in elected office, where he frequently focused on issues related to schools, students, and educational policy. His dual identity as both an educator and a public servant became a defining characteristic of his political profile, and he was frequently identified as a teacher-turned-politician throughout his years in office.

South San Francisco City Council and Mayorship

Mullin entered local politics through the South San Francisco City Council, where he served as a representative for the community he had long called home. His work on the city council provided a foundation for higher office and established his reputation as a dedicated local public servant in San Mateo County.

During his time on the city council, Mullin served two terms as mayor of South San Francisco. His first mayoral term ran from 1997 to 1998, and his second term ran from 2001 to 2002. In the South San Francisco city government structure, the mayor is selected from among sitting city council members, and Mullin's selection for the role on two separate occasions reflected the esteem in which he was held by his council colleagues. His tenure as mayor allowed him to shape local policy and community development in South San Francisco during a period of growth and change on the San Francisco Peninsula.

California State Assembly

On November 5, 2002, Gene Mullin was elected to represent the 19th district of the California State Assembly, succeeding Lou Papan, a longtime Democratic assemblyman from the same region of San Mateo County. The 19th Assembly district encompassed portions of San Mateo County, including South San Francisco, and Mullin's deep ties to the community and his record in local government helped propel his successful campaign.

Mullin served three terms in the State Assembly, from his initial election in November 2002 through November 7, 2008, when he was term-limited out of office. During his time in Sacramento, he drew on his decades of experience as a teacher to focus on education-related legislation and other issues affecting his constituents on the San Francisco Peninsula.

As a member of the Assembly's Democratic caucus, Mullin participated in the legislative process during a period of significant political activity in California. His district included a mix of residential communities and the growing biotechnology corridor along the peninsula, and he worked to represent the interests of this diverse constituency.

Mullin was succeeded in the 19th Assembly district by Jerry Hill, who won the seat in the November 2008 election and continued the district's tradition of Democratic representation.

2006 Re-election

In the November 7, 2006, general election, Mullin ran for re-election to the 19th Assembly district seat. His candidacy was documented by the Smart Voter project of the League of Women Voters, which provided information on his platform and background to voters in the district. Mullin won re-election, securing his final term in the Assembly before reaching the term limit imposed by California law.

Legislative Work and Focus Areas

Throughout his time in the California State Assembly, Mullin maintained a focus on education policy, reflecting his long career as a classroom teacher. His profile as an assemblymember consistently highlighted his background in education and his commitment to improving public schools in California.

One notable area of legislative interest connected to Mullin's legacy was the expansion of youth civic participation. Though enacted after his tenure, California's Proposition 18, which appeared on the November 2020 ballot, proposed allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they would turn 18 by the subsequent general election. The measure reflected a broader movement toward expanding civic engagement among young people that Mullin and other education-focused legislators had championed during their careers in Sacramento. Proposition 18 was ultimately rejected by approximately 55% of California voters.

Post-Assembly Career

After leaving the State Assembly in 2008, Mullin returned to life in South San Francisco, where he remained engaged in his community. The city recognized his contributions to public service over the course of his career. He continued to be a respected figure in San Mateo County Democratic politics and local affairs throughout his retirement years.

Personal Life

Gene Mullin was married to Theresa "Terri" Mullin, who predeceased him. Terri Mullin died in April 2017, and her passing was mourned by the South San Francisco community, where she had been an active and beloved figure alongside her husband.

The Mullins had two children, including Kevin Mullin, who followed his father into politics. Kevin Mullin served in the California State Assembly before being elected in 2022 to represent California's 15th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. In a Father's Day 2024 message, Kevin Mullin reflected on the impact of fatherhood and the influence his own father had on his life and career, describing parenthood as "the most rewarding experience I'll ever have."

Gene Mullin died on April 5, 2021, at his home in South San Francisco, surrounded by his immediate family. He was 83 years old.

Legacy

Gene Mullin's career in public service left a lasting imprint on South San Francisco and San Mateo County. His trajectory from classroom teacher to city council member, mayor, and state legislator exemplified a model of civic engagement rooted in community service and education. The Mercury News, in its reporting on his death, identified him as a significant figure in the political life of the San Francisco Peninsula.

The San Mateo Daily Journal also memorialized Mullin as a notable former assemblyman and South San Francisco mayor, reflecting the dual nature of his service at both the local and state levels. The City of South San Francisco acknowledged his years of service to the community.

Perhaps the most visible element of Mullin's legacy is the continued involvement of his family in public service. His son Kevin Mullin's election to the United States House of Representatives in 2022 represented a continuation of the family's commitment to political service in San Mateo County and the broader San Francisco Peninsula region. During an official visit to South San Francisco in April 2023, Congressman Kevin Mullin highlighted his hometown roots and the connection between his service and his family's history in the community. A 2023 profile of Kevin Mullin described him as a "problem solving freethinker" and noted the family's deep roots in Peninsula politics, a tradition established in significant part by Gene Mullin's decades of public service.

Mullin's career also reflected the broader role of educators in California politics. As a teacher who transitioned to elected office, he brought firsthand knowledge of the public education system to the legislative process, advocating for schools and students during his time in both local government and the State Assembly. His candidacy records, maintained by organizations such as Smart Voter and Our Campaigns, document the arc of a political career built on community engagement and educational advocacy.