San Francisco, CA —Mayor London N. Breed today announced the appointment of Christina Varner to serve as the next Executive Director of the San Francisco Rent Board. Varner, who has worked with the Rent Board for over eight years, is a San Francisco native, who has worked in nonprofit legal services in the areas of landlord-tenant law, immigration law, and family and domestic violence law. Varner currently serves as Acting Executive Director for the Rent Board.
“I am proud to name Christina Varner as the new Executive Director of the San Francisco Rent Board,” said Mayor Breed. “Christina’s long history of serving her community and fighting for the rights of residents will bring a valuable perspective to the Board. She understands the importance of racial equity and upholding the mission of this department, and I know that she will work tirelessly to ensure the balance between landlords and tenants is maintained.”
"I am humbled, honored, and thrilled to be selected as Executive Director of the San Francisco Rent Board and to serve the people of the city where I was born and raised,” said Christina Varner. “My work will stay consistent with the Rent Board's mission where I will strive daily to maintain equal and fair relationships between tenants and landlords, with a focus on racial equity. The deepest gratitude goes to Mayor Breed and the Rent Board Commissioners for affording me this extraordinary opportunity."
Varner previously served as Deputy Director of the San Francisco Rent Board for six years, where she coordinated appeals and worked closely with the Rent Board Commission. In this role, Varner led the department’s Racial Equity team and oversaw operations, personnel matters, and pandemic-related policy implementation.
“On behalf of the San Francisco Rent Board, it is our pleasure to announce the unanimous decision recommending Christina Varner as our Executive Director, said Board President David Gruber. “The Board looks forward to continuing our commitment with the Executive Director to the tenants and owners of San Francisco.”
Christina Varner was born and raised in San Francisco. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Studies and Women’s Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and later graduated from the New College of California School of Law.
The San Francisco Rent Board regulates rents and evictions for certain residential units in San Francisco. One of its primary functions is to conduct arbitration hearings and mediations of tenant and landlord petitions regarding the adjustments of rents under the City’s rent control laws. The Rent Board is committed to an equitable workplace for its Black, Indigenous, and People of Color staff. The department’s diverse and multilingual staff strive to make the Rent Board accessible to all residents of the City while meeting the needs of each member of the public in their preferred language.