Burton in Assembly Race Because of ‘Higher Calling’

Former Rep. John Burton, who quit politics because it “wasn’t fun anymore,” Thursday officially announced that he is running for the state Assembly because of a “higher calling” to help solve people’s problems.

Burton, 55, a lawyer, lobbyist and member of a powerful San Francisco political machine established by his late brother, Rep. Phillip Burton (D-Calif.), on Thursday officially kicked off his campaign for the 16th Assembly District seat vacated last week when Art Agnos was sworn in as mayor.

He told a rally of supporters that when he quit Congress in 1982, amid a personal battle against drugs, “I said it wasn’t fun anymore. I wasn’t enjoying myself.”

Now, Burton said, he is re-entering politics because people are dying of AIDS, suffering from homelessness, and threatened by offshore oil drilling and an “undeclared war in Central America.”

“I feel my luxury of not finding it fun anymore has to give way to . . . a higher calling . . . my ability to help solve problems for people who need the help of their government,” Burton said.

He held the seat once before, from 1965 to 1974, when he was elected to Congress, where he served four terms. The district covers the east and southeastern side of San Francisco, from Fisherman’s Wharf to San Mateo County.

If he wins an election this spring, he will have to start running for a full two-year term almost immediately because Agnos’ term would have expired at the end of the year.

Gov. George Deukmejian is expected to announce next week the date of a primary election, probably in May, followed by a runoff that could coincide with the presidential primary June 7, his spokeswoman said.

Describing himself as a “socially conscious” 1960s-style Democrat, Burton said, “I’m as liberal, progressive and left as I’ve ever been.”

Three others who indicated their intention to run for the seat by taking out petitions are Democrat Roberta Achtenberg, Republican Stephen Callahan and Peace and Freedom Party member Melissa Ehman, the registrar of voters office said.