Mayor Kevin Johnson finally has an opponent.
Sacramento bounty hunter and four-time mayoral candidate Leonard Padilla said Wednesday he is running against Johnson after pulling candidacy papers Tuesday from the City Clerk's Office.
Padilla's main campaign issue: the arena.
"I don't want the Maloofs (who own the Sacramento Kings) given one red cent, much less a quarter of a billion dollars," he said, referring to a proposal for the city to lease downtown parking to help finance a new sports arena.
Padilla – who said he wouldn't hire a campaign consultant because he doesn't trust them – said he would fund his campaign out of his own pockets. Padilla said he thinks he can beat Johnson and his war chest of more than $500,000 with $20,000, "maybe $30,000."
Said Steve Maviglio, the mayor's campaign spokesman, "We are laying the groundwork and raising resources for an aggressive campaign against any possible opponent, including Mr. Padilla. The mayor is not taking anything for granted and will take his candidacy as seriously as we would any other opponents."
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