Otto O. Lee (born in Hong Kong) has been a Sunnyvale, California city council member since 2003, before which he was on the Planning Commission, which he chaired from 2000 to 2001. From 2005 to 2006 he was Vice Mayor and from 2006 to 2007 the 57th Mayor. He is a patent attorney, and a co-founder and partner of the Intellectual Property Law Group LLP.[1]
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Lee served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Corps Officer. He is a Commander in the United States Naval Reserve and the Executive Officer of a Naval Aircraft Carriers Reserve Unit based in San Diego.[1][2]
He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and also an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University, The Netherlands.[2]
In 2008 he qualified in the June primary to compete to represent District 3 on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, but lost to David Cortese in the November general election, receiving 45.2% of votes cast to Cortese's 55.8%.[3]
On December 10, 2008 Lee announced that he had been called up for a one-year tour of duty in Iraq beginning January, 2009.[4] Lee asked that his council seat be held by an interim appointment during his absence.[4]