SF Mayor Ed Lee changes mind, will seek full term

[RandySF]

Ed Lee will announce today that he is running for a full four-year term as San Francisco mayor, vaulting himself to the top of a crowded field of candidates while breaking a promise not to run that sealed his appointment as interim mayor seven months ago.

"I've changed my mind," Lee told The Chronicle in an interview Sunday. "I know it might be hard for people to understand that change ... but my change of mind in seeking this office has everything to do with wanting what's best for this city."

Lee, 59, said he will formally list himself as a candidate in the November election this morning at the city's Department of Elections, marking a dramatic shift for him during a seven-month stint at the pinnacle of city power.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/07/MNEV1KKJ1I.DTL#ixzz1UPQCoicG

[aquart]

1. Is this good?

[RandySF]

2. I have mixed feelings.

The departures of Gavin Newsom and Chris Daly and Lee's presence in the Mayor's Office have had a calming effect over City Hall. He seems to be a genuinely nice who can not only read a spreadsheet, but is not interested in being in front of the camera as much as his predecessor. That being said, I have not seen any improvement in the areas of public safety and other City services (the graffiti, for example, is worse than ever). Of course this could also be due to his limited mandate of Interim Mayor. As much as I like him, he is not getting a blank check. I want to hear what he plans to do with a full four-year term besides making City Hall a more civil place.

[bermudat]

3. Sounds like Bloomberg.

Mayor Bloomberg gave his word that he would not run again. He broke his word, but the electorate obviously did not mind being lied to. Mayor Lee will probably win. Having character, integrity and having one's word mean something is for chumps.