Otto Lee

Otto O. Lee (Chinese: 李洲曉; pinyin: Li Zhōuxiǎo;^[1] 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 of Sunnyvale. He is a patent attorney, and a co-founder and partner of the Intellectual Property Law Group LLP.^[2]

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.^[2][3]

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 an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University, The Netherlands.^[3]

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%.^[4]

Military career

Lee has been in the US Navy Reserve since attending college. Upon graduating from UC Berkeley, Lee served as an ensign during the first Gulf War. After this initial active duty he continued to serve in the Navy Reserve, recalled to active duty for Operation Noble Eagle in 2003 and again in 2009 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.^[5][5] Commander Lee was stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad as the Chief of Drawdown Material Disposition & Policy at the Combined Joint Logistics Headquarters. During his tour, Lee survived many close calls - including a mortar attack 90 feet away - earning several medals including the Bronze Star for his service. His work in Iraq resulted in the closing of more than 200 bases and accounted for the disposition of hundreds of millions of dollars in materiel. Lee also supported the defense of the Republic of Korea under the Commander Naval Forces Korea. Lee currently holds the rank of commander.

2012 congressional campaign

On March 27, 2012, Lee announced his candidacy for California's 22nd Congressional District seat.^[6] This district, formerly California's 21st,^[7] covers areas of Fresno and Tulare counties, both located in California's San Joaquin Valley. Lee placed second in the June 6 primary election, garnering 18,048, or 30.3%, of total votes;^[8] this finish qualified him for the November 6 general election. Lee's opponent was Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare); Nunes won the general election, 61.9%-38.1%.

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