About Our Supervisor

Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg represents a diverse population of more than 400,000 residents in District 4. This district includes the unincorporated communities of Burbank and Cambrian as well as the cities of Campbell and Santa Clara, and much of west San José.

Susan was sworn into office in January 2019. She serves as the Chair of the County’s Public Safety and Justice Committee and the Vice Chair of Children, Seniors and Families Committee.

She currently serves as chair of FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, and sits on the boards of Joint Venture Silicon Valley and Silicon Valley Clean Energy.

Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, Susan served on the San Jose Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2014 to 2018, and as the Board President in 2018. She has worked as a leadership development director, social justice educator, and real estate & land use attorney.

Susan was born in Pittsburgh, PA and is a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia University School of Law. She fell in love with Santa Clara County’s culture of opportunity and inclusion and moved to San José in 1991 with her (then) new husband, Steve, who grew up in Willow Glen (attended Booksin, Markham and Willow Glen High School), and currently practices law with the local firm Hopkins & Carley. 

Susan and Steve live in San José with their two dogs, Lacey and Peaches. They have three young adult children: Zach (married to Ruth Ferguson), Molly and Naava. In her limited free time, Susan enjoys hiking, reading and crossword puzzles.