City Councilman Scott Sherman is mulling a late entry into the race for San Diego mayor, which would give the campaign its first significant Republican candidate.
Sherman, who has represented Council District 7 since 2012 and is termed out next year, pulled papers for a mayoral run last week. He has until Thursday to submit the forms necessary to appear on the ballot. Those include at least 200 voter signatures, a form listing his financial holdings and a $500 filing fee.
Jason Roe, Sherman's campaign consultant, said the councilman pulled nomination papers simply "to preserve the option" of a mayoral bid.
"He has not made a decision to run," Roe said.
The primary election is only three months away and the two leading candidates, Assemblyman Todd Gloria and City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, have already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and built up robust campaign operations. Both are Democrats, as is the third candidate with a notable campaign presence, community activist Tasha Williamson.
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, which has historically supported Republican candidates for mayor, has already endorsed Gloria. Gloria has also received the endorsements of the San Diego County Democratic Party and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council.
Sherman's entry into the race was not entirely unexpected, but it is still an about-face from earlier suggestions that he could not wait to leave office. He has frequently vented frustration with city politics and kept a chalkboard in his office counting down the days until his term expired.
Sherman's spokesman, Jeff Powell, said the councilman still has the countdown clock "to keep track of the end of his City Council term."
The top two winners in the March 3 primary will compete in a runoff election on Nov. 3, 2020.
