District 11 Supervisor John Avalos, 47, will announce today his plan to run for Mayor of San Francisco. A California native (a rarity within progressive circles), Avalos was born in Wilmington in Los Angeles. He graduated (with honors!) from UC Santa Barbara where he studied English Literature. After making it to San Francisco in 1989, the budding Supe worked as an English teacher and cafe barrista "before finding his calling in the human services and community organizing fields." Champion of the local hiring law, "Avalos was elected as supervisor and chaired the Budget and Finance Committee after he served as former Supervisor Chris Daly’s legislative aide," reports SF Examiner.

Former supervisors Bevan Dufty, Michela Alioto-Pier and Tony Hall, Senator Leland Yee, BOS President David Chiu, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, and Joanna Rees have all tossed their hats into the mayoral ring. According to SF Appeal, Avalos "is the first and only candidate from the city's left-wing progressive bloc to enter the race."

Avalos plans on making it official at around 4 p.m. today at the Department of Elections.