San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said he expects to make a decision today on who will step in as interim district attorney to replace Kamala Harris – but it won’t be Board of Supervisors president David Chiu.
Chiu announced this afternoon that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the post, saying he can better serve San Francisco residents at City Hall.
“As a former prosecutor, I certainly considered it,” Chiu said.
Right now, though, he said he would rather tackle the myriad challenges facing the city from board chambers.
“I have considered the possibility that I will be serving as a rank-and-file supervisor,” Chiu said. “And, at the end of the day, I feel I belong in City Hall.”
Harris was sworn in as the state’s attorney general on Monday, and Newsom said today that he is still considering a number of candidates to fill her spot.
“It’s a big decision,” he told reporters today.
Newsom said that Chiu’s withdrawal won’t affect his pick.
“It doesn’t change any of the dynamics of my decision,” Newsom said. “He was on the radar, but it doesn’t really change where we are going.”
He added that he has someone in particular in mind.
“I have a strong sense of my pick right now,” Newsom said.
He also said many people have been trying to influence his decision.
“The lobbying is getting absurd,” he said. “Everyone’s trying to persuade me.”
He said, “I have to figure this out today,” but added that he might not necessarily announce his choice today.
Newsom is expected to be sworn in as the state’s new lieutenant governor sometime before Monday.
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