State Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins will not run for mayor

State Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins announced
on Sunday that she would not enter the race to replace Bob Filner as San Diego
mayor.

“In the past few weeks many people have contacted me encouraging me to
run,” said Atkins (D-San Diego). “I am deeply committed to helping the city
heal and move forward, but I also take very seriously my responsibility to the
people who elected me to represent the 78th Assembly District in Sacramento and
to my colleagues in the Assembly.

“The simple truth is I love the job I have now, being able to help
advance San Diego's interests and concerns in the Legislature and being able to
have a statewide impact on vital issues like increasing access to health care,
growing our economy and honoring the debt we owe to our veterans,” she said.

Now that Filner has resigned effective 5 p.m. Friday, a special election
will be scheduled within 90 days. If a candidate receives more than 50
percent of the votes, that person will become mayor. Otherwise, a runoff
election will be held between the top two vote-getters.

Atkins was rumored to be one of the area political leaders considering a
run to succeed Filner in the special election.

Among those thought to be among the potential front-runners in the
election is former City Councilman Carl DeMaio, who lost to Filner by about two
points in a runoff election last November.

A spokesman said DeMaio was conferring with supporters and community
leaders who have asked him to run for mayor.

DeMaio had been planning a campaign to oust Rep. Scott Peters, D-San
Diego, next year.

The City Clerk's Office has confirmed that ex-Assemblyman Nathan
Fletcher, now a Democrat, has filed a notice of intention to run in the race —
a necessary step before forming a campaign committee. Fletcher is an executive
with San Diego-based Qualcomm.

Fletcher gained nearly 24 percent of the vote in the June 2012 primary,
but fell short of qualifying for the runoff.

Tobiah Pettus, a website owner, also filed the intent notice, according
to the clerk's office.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who
finished a distant fourth in the primary election, said they will not run in
the special election.

Two current councilmembers, Council President Todd Gloria and Kevin
Faulconer, said Saturday they were considering a run but were not yet prepared
to announce their decision.