Lazarus Tosses Hat into Political Ring, Fights for City Attorney Post

By Paul Kozakiewicz

Jim Lazarus, a well-known operative in the city's political arena, announced his candidacy to run for the post of San Francisco city attorney.

Lazarus, a long-time Presidio Heights resident, chose Delancey Street in the South Beach neighborhood as the site to launch his campaign. The group helps addicts overcome their addictions by providing counseling, housing and a job. Delancey Street was located at Fulton Street and Eighth Avenue until the mid-nineties, when it moved to the South of Market area.

"Over the last 26 years I have tried to listen, to learn and to give back to our community," Lazarus told the 100 or so people in attendance.

If elected, Lazarus says he will refrain from politics and work to uphold high ethical standards in the city attorney's office. He says he will serve "as a referee, reminding our often warring factions that there remains in this City something called the common good."

Lazarus has the backing of his boss, fellow Presidio Heights resident Sen. Dianne Feinstein, along with former SF supervisors Barbara Kaufman and Jim Gonzalez, Planning Association for the Richmond President Ron Miguel, PUC member and former public defender Jeff Brown and GGNRA board member Amy Meyer.

Lazarus began his career at the city attorney's office and served there five years before starting a private law firm in 1980. After several years, Feinstein asked him to become the city's executive deputy mayor for finance and administration.

After a failed attempt to win a seat on the board of supervisors in 1990, Lazarus landed at City Hall from 1992 to 1996 when Mayor Frank Jordan tapped him to be his chief of staff. In 1999 he became Feinstein's California director.

Other candidates in the race to win the November election are Stephen Williams, Jim Morales, Annemarie Conroy and Neil Eisenberg. Sitting City Attorney Louise Renne is not running for re-election.