Mayor Bob Foster is a widely-respected business and community leader who was elected as the 27th mayor of Long Beach in June 2006.  He was re-elected for a second term in June 2010.

Mayor Foster served as president of Southern California Edison before his retirement in 2006 after more than 20 years with the company.  As an Edison executive, Mayor Foster led California’s largest electric company through the 1999 energy crisis.  During Mayor Foster’s tenure, Edison developed the largest renewable, clean energy programs (solar, geothermal, biomass and wind) in the United States.

Mayor Foster began his career in public service as a staffer in the California State Senate and California Energy Commission where he established statewide energy efficiency standards that are still enforced today. 

Mayor Foster is active in the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  He was appointed as the Environment Committee chair in 2008 and elected to the Advisory Board in 2009.  He currently serves as chair of the Mayors Business Council and elected in 2010 as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Mayor Foster to the Board of Governors for the California Independent Systems Operators (ISO) in 2010.  Governor Brown reappointed him in 2013.

Mayor Foster is a graduate of San Jose State University in public administration. Prior to his election as mayor, Mayor Foster served as a trustee to the California State University system and remains active in a number of community and public policy organizations.

Mayor Foster and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 45 years and have two grown sons and three grandchildren.  The Mayor and Mrs. Foster work to support a variety of community organizations.