City attorney announces run for SF mayor

City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Friday officially announced his candidacy for San Francisco mayor in 2011 on his Facebook page and website.

The San Francisco Examiner reported that Herrera filed his intent to run next year on Thursday with the Department of Elections. Supervisor Bevan Dufty, among other officials, has expressed interest in running.

This week, Herrera won an appeal against Supervisor Michela Alito-Pier, who is trying to run for re-election next year. Herrera said that Alito-Pier, who was appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, is termed out this year and cannot run because she has already served one elected term and most of another.

Newsom will leave the mayor’s office in January if he is elected California’s lieutenant governor. The Board of Supervisors would then choose an interim mayor. If Newsom does not win, the mayor’s office would be up grabs in November 2011 when Newsom is termed out.