Kevin Johnson Makes Pitch For Strong Mayor Campaign At Sacramento State

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Mayor Kevin Johnson pushed for his strong-mayor initiative on the November ballot in front of a packed audience at Sacramento State on Monday.

Kevin Johnson wouldn't show his hand when asked if he'd leave office if voters reject Measure L.

"I don't think I'll be in a situation to have to make that decision," he said. "I'm strongly considering running for a third term, I love my job, I haven't made the final decision yet."

The mayor spoke on a wide range of topics to the group at Sacramento State, but he closed by campaigning for more power.

"Right now, as the mayor, I don't propose the budget, I don't pick the chief of police," he said.

In just over a month, Sacramento voters will decide whether to give the mayor control of the city's budget and the power to hire and fire. Currently, the mayor simply has one of nine votes on the City Council.

"If it passes it will change, determine how the city is governed for decades if not generations moving forward," said political analyst Steve Swatt.

Opponents of the measure call it a power grab, and point to the current government structure they say isn't broken

Sacramento State professor Ron Coleman attended the speech.

"He is clearly a very passionate person," Coleman said. "He has great vision. My concern is that not everyone might agree with his passion and his vision, and I'm very concerned about checks and balances."