Fix Pacifica: Yee running for San Francisco mayor; speculation begins over his Peninsula Senate seat

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Yee running for San Francisco mayor; speculation begins over his Peninsula Senate seat

By Mike Rosenberg

Posted: 11/10/2010 09:15:06 PM PST

Updated: 11/10/2010 09:15:22 PM PST

State Sen. Leland Yee, who represents most of San Mateo County in Sacramento, said Wednesday he will run for mayor of San Francisco, setting up a rush of local politicians angling to take his seat if it becomes available.

Already, pundits are pointing to potential replacements for his Senate seat and think the favorites are Democratic Assembly members Jerry Hill, of San Mateo, and Fiona Ma, of San Francisco. Yee's Senate term runs through 2014 and would need to be filled through a special election.

A San Francisco native, Yee announced the formation of an exploratory committee for the position, which will become vacant in January when current Mayor Gavin Newsom leaves to become lieutenant governor.

"We need experienced leadership that can bring us together as one community," Yee said, citing encouragement from his family and supporters.

Yee is gunning for the November 2011 election, and if he wins, would begin his mayoral term in January 2012. San Francisco supervisors could appoint a mayor to fill the remainder of Newsom's term and, though Yee won't be lobbying for the job that soon, he is open to taking it if offered, his spokesman said.