S.F. Mayor Ed Lee refuses to rule out running

John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer

San Francisco -- In a shift that could dramatically recast the race to replace him, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee refused Wednesday - for the first time - to rule out running for a full term.

Lee, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in January to serve the final year of former Mayor Gavin Newsom’s term, acknowledged he had been in "interesting discussions about the future of the city" and what role he should play, but he declined to provide specifics.

"That doesn’t necessarily translate into elections, but there are interesting discussions going on," Lee said after meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the St. Francis Yacht Club to talk about earthquake safety and the upcoming America’s Cup regatta. "I would just leave it at that."

Asked if he would categorically rule out running in November, Lee sidestepped the question, saying he is proud of his achievements so far, including unanimous votes at the board this week on his budget and his pension reform plan, and has more goals to accomplish, like increasing the city’s workforce and affordable housing stock.

When a reporter noted to the mayor that his answer didn’t rule out running, Lee smiled and hopped into his car.

Vowed not to run

Appointed by the board after Newsom was elected lieutenant governor, Lee has repeatedly said he wanted to return to his old job as city administrator and steadfastly insisted he was not going to run for a full four-year term in November.

But when asked Wednesday if he remained firm in his decision not to run, Lee replied: "I am firm in focusing on the job at hand. That’s what I’ve been firm about.

"There are so many people that want to talk to me about the future of the city," Lee said, "and I’ve been open to talking about making sure our government is performing at its best."

Lee’s entry into the race would transform a crowded field that already includes nine serious candidates among more than 30 contenders for San Francisco’s top job. Some polls show Lee would become the instant front-runner. The deadline to get his name on the ballot is Aug. 12.

’A subtle shift’

"This is a subtle shift as to what Mayor Lee has been saying over the past six months or so about his future," said Alex Clemens, a political consultant, lobbyist and veteran City Hall observer. "Of course, the other nine leading candidates declared for the race will certainly have many things to say, perhaps not all laudatory, should Mayor Lee decide to throw his hat into the ring."

Appeal as interim mayor

Entering the race would open Lee up to criticism that he went back on his word that he wouldn’t run.

Part of Lee’s appeal as interim mayor was his reluctance to take the job. Before the board appointed him, Lee pledged to individual supervisors that he would not run for a full term, those supervisors said. Lee has repeatedly said publicly he would not run.

"I do think that Ed is a person of his word," said former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who had been a candidate for mayor for more than a year when he cast the tie-breaking vote in a crucial early round of voting to appoint Lee as interim mayor. "He was direct with me that he would not be a candidate. I do believe that he is going to stand by his word."

Dufty shrugged off the idea that Lee’s possible entry into the race could be seen as a personal betrayal, pointing to a lesson he said came from Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress.

"Shirley Chisholm taught me that in politics, people have to do what people have to do," Dufty said. "I am staying in this race until Nov. 8."

Draft movement

Lee’s comments came less than two hours before one of the three groups trying to draft him into the race held a rally on the steps of City Hall that drew about 40 people, some carrying signs that read, "Ed Lee You Are Drafted. Report to Duty! Run!"

The rally, which included two men in helmets and faux military outfits ordering Lee to "report for redeployment," was organized by a group calling itself Progress for All, which has the active backing of Lee confidante and Chinatown power broker Rose Pak.

Its co-chairs include Planning Commission President Christina Olague and outgoing Chinatown Community Development Center head Gordon Chin.

But participants at the rally, including former Planning Commission President Shelley Bradford Bell, 56, said it was a true grassroots movement.

"This is a mayor that we must redeploy," Bell told the crowd. "This is not Ed changing his mind to run. This is the people of San Francisco saying, ’We want you to continue.’ "