San Francisco interim Mayor Ed Lee announced this morning that he will run for the job in November, upending a crowded mayoral field and reneging on a promise to fill out only the remainder of the term to which he was appointed.
Surrounded by a crush of media cameras, the mild-mannered Lee filed papers at the city's election department and emerged to answer questions about trust and broken promises that will likely shadow him for the remainder of the campaign.
The former tenants rights activist turned long-term city administrator said he had changed his mind only recently, persuaded by elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), and many city residents that he owed it to San Francisco to press ahead in his trademark cooperative style.
"We've changed the tone of government," said Lee, flanked by his family. "I really feel good about it and I don't want to let it go."
Lee said he never intended to run when the Board of Supervisors named him to the seat vacated by now-Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in January. His pledge to be a caretaker and not enter the political fray was a key condition of the votes in his favor.
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