San Francisco D.A. enters race for California attorney general
Kamala D. Harris' candidacy hinges on Jerry Brown's plan for 2010. If he seeks reelection instead of running for governor, as expected, she will bow out.
Reporting from Sacramento — San Francisco Dist. Atty. Kamala D. Harris filed papers Wednesday to run for California attorney general in 2010 but said she would withdraw if incumbent Jerry Brown, a fellow Democrat, decides to run for reelection rather than for governor as widely expected.
"I'm a career prosecutor, and the work we've done in the San Francisco district attorney's office I want to bring statewide," Harris said.
She said she plans to propose "new ideas" for strengthening the state's criminal justice system. They include an expanded version of a San Francisco program, Back on Track, that partners with businesses to provide job training and other help to those released from prison.
Harris is viewed as left-leaning, which could alienate centrist voters who may prefer a more conservative top law enforcement officer, said Tom Hogen-Esch, a political science professor at Cal State Northridge.
One controversy sure to come up: In 2004, Harris refused to seek the death penalty for a gang member accused of murdering San Francisco Police Officer Isaac Espinoza. The gang member was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but law enforcement groups roundly criticized her decision.
"She has some baggage," Hogen-Esch said.
Asked about the controversy, Harris said: "I intend to follow the law and not play politics."
Harris was an early supporter of President-elect Barack Obama and had been mentioned by pundits as someone who might be tapped to serve in his administration. Repeatedly declining to say whether she would rule out a job in the new administration, she said, "I am 100% committed to running for attorney general for the state of California."Harris was elected in 2003, becoming the first female district attorney in San Francisco and the first black woman in California to be chosen as district attorney. She was reelected in November 2007.
In a statement announcing her candidacy, Harris said her office has more than doubled its trial conviction rate for gun felonies to 90%.
Brown was elected California attorney general in 2006 after defeating Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo in the primary.Delgadillo is considering another run, a political aide said Wednesday, although the city attorney and his wife are under investigation by federal authorities who are trying to determine whether she paid taxes on income earned from her consulting business.
Former state Sen. Chuck Poochigian, a Republican from Fresno who ran unsuccessfully against Brown, said he is not ruling out another campaign.
McGreevy is a Times staff writer.
patrick.mcgreevy@
latimes.com
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