The City Council also elected Huff to serve as Second Deputy Chair of the City Board during Vanhanen’s family leave.
"We are delighted to be able to focus on the much-wanted child in our family while Shawn continues the work for children, young people and education. Shawn, if anyone, can get the children of Helsinki away from the screens and start studying and exercising," says Deputy Mayor Vanhanen.
"I am very pleased to get to continue the work that Reetta began in support of education as outlined in the new strategy. I got involved in municipal politics to work for the good of children and young people, so the position of Deputy Mayor is one I accept with gratitude and excitement. It is particularly gratifying that I was elected during the very same council meeting that we approved the budget which promises major improvements to the funding of education, including printed study materials," says Huff.
Shawn Huff has served as a Helsinki city councillor since 2021. Huff has also served as a City Board member and member of the Economic Development Sub-committee in 2023–2025, member of the Culture and Leisure Committee in 2021–2023 and member of the Education Committee since June 2025.
Huff is a former professional basketball player and the captain of the Finland men's national basketball team. Huff has a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree from Valparaiso University, majoring in Criminology and minoring in Psychology.
