Term-Limit Victim Seeks New Post

California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, forced to leave the Legislature after 31 years because of term limits, announced Saturday that he wants to be mayor of San Francisco.

“San Francisco has gone from being occupied by people with vision to being led by caretakers,” the Democrat told a crowd of supporters. “Vision and risk-taking are missing.”

“This town needs a resurrection.”

Brown has represented a San Francisco district in the state Assembly for 31 years, 14 of them as Speaker.

Brown, 61, will continue to serve as speaker in Sacramento during at least part of the campaign, said his chief of staff, Michael Galizio. It was unclear exactly when Brown planned to step down; his term ends Jan. 1, 1996.

Brown said he plans to debate Mayor Frank Jordan, former Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg and Supervisor Angela Alioto, who have announced their candidacy.