Criminal defense attorney and former Police Commissioner John Hamasaki enters the race for District Attorney in November

(SAN FRANCISCO) On the last day for candidates to file papers to run for public offices in the November election, criminal defense attorney and former Police Commissioner John Hamasaki entered the race for District Attorney.

If Hamasaki wins in the November election, he would be the first Japanese District Attorney in the history of San Francisco. The first Asian District Attorney in the city was Kamala Harris who is the Vice President of the United States.

Hamasaki is a fourth-generation Japanese American and has lived with his family in North Beach for nearly three decades.

A total of four candidates who completed the filings before the August 12 deadline will compete for the 4-year term of District Attorney in the November election. Three other candidates in the race are newly-appointed District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Former Police and City Commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese and attorney Maurice Chenier.

Hamasaki has been endorsed by a number of political leaders, including former State Senator Mark Leno, former Supervisors Norman Yee and Sandra Lee Fewer.

Former District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who was recalled by voters in June, announced on August 4 not to run for the position in the upcoming November election.

“Our campaign just put it out in two days,” said Hamasaki of his decision at the Department of Elections. ”The DA (District Attorney Brooke Jenkins)’s position on open-air drug policy is not to address public safety in an effective way.”

“I think what we need to do is to create a criminal system fair to everyone,” said Hamasaki.