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Replacement For San Francisco DA Harris Still Up In The Air

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said he will defer to Kamala Harris to name her own replacement as city district attorney.

The focus on who will replace Harris as San Francisco's top prosecutor has heated up since she declared victory in the state attorney general's race on Tuesday.

KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:

Ultimately, it will be up to the mayor to name a new San Francisco district attorney.

"I have strong opinions and I imagine she has even stronger opinions," Newsom said. "And I'm going to be very deferential to her point of view out of respect to her."

Mayor Newsom said it's extremely likely that he'll go along with whoever Harris thinks is a good choice.

"Don't get me wrong. If she says my Aunt Josephine and she has no experience, has not even passed the bar, I most likely won't agree with her on that," he said.

Newsom refused to name any potential candidates.

A spokesman for Harris also declined to comment on any succession plans. She is scheduled to be sworn in as state attorney general on January 3.

Whoever is appointed will serve as DA until San Francisco voters elect a new top prosecutor next November.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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