City Administrator Ed Lee, who is suddenly at the very center of a classic San Francisco food fight despite being 7,000 miles away, said in a statement today that he would accept the position of Interim Mayor should the Board of Supervisors vote him into office tomorrow.
Lee issued his statement through the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which held a press conference in support of his candidacy:
"I am honored to be considered for the position of Interim Mayor. The Mayor, various supervisors and members of the public have approached me about serving in this position. I love this city, and will agree to serve as Mayor, if that is the will of the Board of Supervisors. And I agree to do this on behalf of the people of San Francisco that I have served for over 30 years.
Our collective challenge clear (sic). We must balance the City's budget without jeopardizing the social services our people depend on. Fundamentally, it is our responsibility to address the budget shortfall and set a path for reviving the local economy. If appointed, I pledge to spend my energies to balance the budget, create jobs, and make our City more financially secure. And, I will do my best to accomplish these goals without disrupting basic city services."
In addition to publicizing Lee's willingness to become mayor, about 10 people spoke in support of Lee, now traveling in the Far East. The speakers included people from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Chinatown Community Development Center, as well as other prominent players in the Chinese-American community.