Candidate for
Mayor; City of San Francisco

For nearly a decade, I've used the power of the City Attorney's office to protect our unique quality of life by taking on those who threaten it + from polluters to corrupt public officials, from gangs to greedy insurance companies.

I've done the heavy lifting behind the scenes. I've pushed forward projects to create thousands of jobs, and resolved multi-million dollar disputes. I've negotiated tough agreements, and drove hard bargains to maximize the public benefits to San Franciscans.

I've defended our local government from fraud and corruption. I ended years of corrupt business practices by City Tow, and secured a corrupt Supervisor's ouster from the Board because of his fraudulent residency claims.

I've protected our neighborhoods from crime. I secured civil gang injunctions even amidst political controversy to make traditionally neglected neighborhoods safer. And I worked with nightlife industry leaders to keep club goers and neighbors safe from violent operators.

I've done more than anyone in the race for mayor to take on powerful interests -- and even other governments -- to protect San Franciscans. I filed the first government lawsuit in history for marriage equality, and won a landmark LGBT rights ruling. And I negotiated Mirant's shutdown of its filthy Potrero Power Plant.

Leading an award-winning law office for nine-and-a-half years has given me an opportunity unique in this race to prove my mettle for executive leadership. From negotiating the shutdown of the dirty Potrero power plant to creating hundreds of units of affordable housing in a groundbreaking deal with Trinity Place, I've demonstrated my ability to take on the toughest adversaries and still work cooperatively to solve problems.

I know local government -- run honestly, and well -- can win the trust of the people it serves. And I know San Francisco can aspire to solutions as big as its problems. That's the leadership I've demonstrated. And that's why I'm running for Mayor of San Francisco.

As Mayor of San Francisco, I'll focus on three priorities:

My first priority will be to create jobs. That's why I've offered the most aggressive jobs plan of any candidate for Mayor. I'll continue efforts to attract and retain large and midsize employers, but I'll do more than that. I'll dramatically enhance support for small businesses, too, expanding access to business credit and giving aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to succeed.

My second priority will be to lead a local government that truly earns the confidence of our residents. I'll bring the same professionalism and demand for excellence that made the San Francisco City Attorney's Office into one of the nation's most respected public law offices. And I'll implement zero-based budgeting, to justify our expenditures against our priorities, and to eliminate bureaucracies that can't be justified.

My third priority will be to lead an honest conversation with all San Franciscans about our City, because I don't think we're living up to our potential. Right now, we're at a turning point in American politics. As federal and state governments push more and more responsibilities off to localities, we can stumble--or it can shine. That's why I've said this election isn't simply about the next four years in San Francisco. It's about the next fifty.

While Sacramento and Washington sink into further dysfunction, the most progressive thing we San Franciscans can do is to prove government can work. That it can make a difference in people's lives, each and every day, here at the local level.

But it's going to take strong leadership with the vision to see our full potential, and the proven record to accomplish it. It's going to take a Mayor who'll challenge us to do our best. And who's experienced enough to lead it.