Leno First to Toss Hat Into Ring for S.F. Mayor

Former Democratic state Sen. Mark Leno made it official -- he’s running for mayor of San Francisco in 2019. Leno filed the papers at City Hall Thursday, surrounded by supporters and the press.

He's the first to toss his hat into the ring in what is expected to be a large field for the open seat -- replacing outgoing Mayor Ed Lee.

Leno’s candidacy was widely anticipated, and he offered a wry smile when asked, "Why now?"

"I could have played coy or equivocated. I know I want to do this. The time is now," Leno said.

Leno said he will run on a progressive platform -- addressing issues such as homelessness, affordability and traffic congestion.

Leno says he wants to be mayor to offer his "experience, expertise and energies, skills and passion."

A former city supervisor, Leno spent 14 years in Sacramento in the Assembly and Senate before being termed out. While at the state level, Leno authored legislation such as raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and regulating e-cigarettes.

He also tried unsuccessfully to amend the Ellis Act, which allows landlords to evict tenants if they go out of the rental business. Leno tried to restrict a landlord’s ability to evict, arguing that greedy speculators were gobbling up precious affordable housing in San Francisco.

Leno, who is 65 years old, came to San Francisco in 1977. He started a small business making Budget Signs, which he still owns today. During Thursday’s press conference, Leno said he realizes his success as a young man would be much harder to repeat today. He owned the sign company with his life-partner Douglas Jackson, who died in 1990 from complications relating to HIV/AIDS.

Leno was the first openly gay man to be elected to the state Senate. He says he would be "enormously proud" to be San Francisco’s first openly gay mayor.

Leno says to win, however, he will need to raise up to $2 million -- one reason he's getting into the race so early.