Kevin Johnson's Campaign War Chest Could Help Him Influence 2016 Sacramento Mayor Race

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson stepped in front of cameras on Wednesday and formally he will not run for re-election at the end of the term.

National media outlets are shining a spotlight on renewed sex claims against Johnson, and a disturbing video that recently surfaced showing a young teenage girl telling a police detective she was molested by Johnson in 1996.

But Johnson says his decision not to run for a third term had nothing to do with that.

"I've never made a life's decision based on the facts of those allegations, what have been made or could be made," he said. "I've always been very confident that the good that could come from being in this position as mayor, and being a public elected official, would far outway the mud that could be slung my way."

Johnson, whose wide reach as a national figure allows him to raise big money fast, did not fundraise for 2016. Still, his campaign committee war chests hold a combined $100,000 in cash on hand. That's enough for two city-wide mailers if he chooses to exert influence in the upcoming election.

Sacramento City Councilman Rick Jennings, a longtime friend of Johnson who has worked on his staff, says more focus should be placed on the resurgence Sacramento has seen under the mayor.

"He's the one that got that thing started. I'd rather talk about that, then 20 year old allegations, that have nothing to do with Sacramento," he said.

Sacramento City Councilman has been a frequent adversary of the mayor.

"I respect his timing, and only he knows truly what drove it, but it's been pretty clear for a while that he probably wasn't going to run again," he said.