Councilman David Alvarez Will Run for Mayor

Councilman David Alvarez jumped into the San Diego mayor's race today, giving progressives a candidate in a field led by a Republican and former member of the GOP.

Alvarez made the announcement via his Twitter account.

"I'm in," Alvarez said. "Filed my intent to run. San Diego needs a mayor who cares about the future of working families and all of our neighborhoods."

Alvarez, who represents Logan Heights, San Ysidro and other South San Diego neighborhoods, is in his third year on the City Council.

Political activists disappointed with the events leading to the resignation of disgraced former Mayor Bob Filner had tried to draft either Alvarez or ex-Assemblywoman Lori Saldana.

Alvarez had the closest working relationship with Filner of any of the council members. He helped craft a deal that ended a crisis over funding the city's Tourism Marketing District.

He will face Republican council colleague Kevin Faulconer, former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who left the GOP last year to become an independent and later reregistered as a Democrat, and 18 other candidates in a crowded field for the Nov. 19 primary.

If anyone wins more than 50 percent in the initial vote, that person becomes mayor. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters will face each other in a runoff early next year.

—City News Service