Sue Kempf

Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf was elected to the Laguna Beach City Council in 2018 and previously served as Mayor in 2022.  Her City Council initiatives include the 2021 "Neighborhood & Environmental Protection Plan,” created to mitigate visitor impacts to neighborhoods, enhance City services for residents, and add environmental protection programs; implementation of the 2019 Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Safety Plan which has been largely implemented along with the 2023 Parking Management Plan currently in process. During the pandemic, Kempf partnered with the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and City staff to introduce the Promenade on Forest, outdoor dining, and economic recovery programs for local businesses.

Kempf’s volunteer activities have included serving on the View Preservation Task Force as well as co-chairing the Disaster/Emergency Preparedness Committee after graduating from the first Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class.  Kempf has also served three terms on the City’s Planning Commission, to which she brought a wealth of knowledge about software development and systems infrastructure, gained as the Executive Director for Verizon’s four primary data center locations in the western United States. Kempf also spent three years as President of Mirion Technologies Dosimetry Services and served as Managing Director of Vodafone. She has served on various boards, but her favorite gig was spending several years as boys basketball coach at the Boys and Girls Club in Laguna Beach. When asked about her history as a volunteer in our community, Kempf said, “If you have the gift of time, you should volunteer."  She retired from her software career in 2017 and lives in Laguna Beach with her spouse, Cheryl.

Organizations & Committees

  • Festival of Arts Board of Directors
  • League of California Cities, OC Division
  • Orange County City Selection Committee
  • So. California Association of Governments (SCAG)
  • South Orange County Assoc. of Mayors (SOCAM)
  • HIV Advisory Committee
  • Irvine Bowl Policy Committee
  • Laguna Beach Seniors
  • Laguna Canyon Foundation
  • South Laguna Water/Sewer Committee
  • South Orange County Watershed Management Area Executive Committee
  • Arts Commission City Council Liaison
  • Audit Review & Investment Advisory City Council Liaison
  • Recreation Committee City Council Liaison