Michela Alioto-Pier Enters San Francisco Mayor's Race

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Former Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier has announced her candidacy for Mayor of San Francisco. It's just another well-known name in what is becoming a very crowded race.

Alioto-Pier has been eyeing the mayor's race for sometime, but now she's decided she's going to run and will kickoff her campaign on March 3rd at Alioto's Restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf.

Her campaign is expected to highlight the need for job creation and improving the quality of life for "everyday" San Franciscans, said Alioto-Pier.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

"We have not spent enough time focusing on the middle class in San Francisco. We haven't spent enough time focusing on the needs of our children, on our parks, on their own safety, on our public schools," added the former supervisor who represented District 2 which includes the Marina and Pacific Heights neighborhoods.

The Alioto family has a long history in San Francisco politics. Her uncle, the late Joe Alioto was mayor and her aunt Angela Alioto is a former supervisor who unsuccessfully ran for mayor. Alioto-Pier is a political moderate and has said the city needs a mayor who wants to build consensus, not score points against political opponents.

"San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the United States. We've really started moving in a positive direction, but we have a lot more work to do," she said.

The former supervisor sought re-election in 2010 and disputed the legality of whether or not she was eligible to run based on the length of her term. She initially won a victory with the Superior Court, but this decision was appealed by City Attorney Dennis Herrera and her attempt to continue to sit and represent District 2 were ultimately thwarted.

Other names on the growing list of candidates for mayor include; City Attorney Dennis Herrera, former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, State Senator Leland Yee, and Assessor Phil Ting.

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