SF Mayor Lee Likely To Ask Sheriff Mirkarimi To Step Down

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has expressed concern that Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi may not be able to handle his new post, now that he's facing a criminal case, and is considering asking him to step aside.

Mayor Lee hopes to meet with Mirkarimi this weekend and is putting pressure on him to step down, despite the sheriff saying he won't. Mayor Lee said on Friday he wants Mirkarimi to consider it and to "do the right thing."

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

The embattled sheriff was arraigned Thursday in which he pled not guilty to three misdemeanor charges including; domestic violence-battery, child endangerment an dissuading a witness, stemming from an alleged New Year's Eve dispute with his wife, Eliana Lopez.

Lopez' arm was bruised due to the incident according to a video taken by a neighbor that was turned over to police custody.

"I think these are serious charges and serious court proceedings that have to happen. I question how it is that one can do both full time as serious as they are," Lee said.

Although Mayor Lee could suspend Mirkarimi for misconduct, that's not the current plan.

The mayor's adviser, Tony Winnicker, said if the sheriff doesn't sideline himself, Mayor Lee will likely ask him to take a leave of absence as early as next week, pending the outcome of the criminal case.

"Every elected official in particular, has to serve the people first. That's the number one important thing," said Lee.

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