State Sen. Mark Leno considers challenging S.F. Mayor Ed Lee

In this file photo, Senator Mark Leno speaks to a crowd at Justin Herman Plaza. In this file photo, Senator Mark Leno speaks to a crowd at Justin Herman Plaza. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close State Sen. Mark Leno considers challenging S.F. Mayor Ed Lee 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Tech tensions between the public and City Hall have popular state Sen. Mark Leno considering a run for mayor next year — even if it means taking on incumbent Ed Lee.

For years, the former San Francisco supervisor-turned-assemblyman — and soon to be termed-out state senator — has had his eye on succeeding longtime Rep. Nancy Pelosi. But the combination of his age, 63, and Pelosi’s dogged determination to recapture the House speakership are not working in Leno’s favor.

At the same time, there has been a growing drumbeat among locals unhappy with the changes wrought under Lee’s tech-friendly policies.

Plus, there was a citywide poll in April that showed Leno as the only prospective candidate running ahead of Lee, 40 to 36 percent, in a face-to-face matchup in November 2015.

Leno also had a 57 percent favorable rating, compared with Lee’s 45 percent, according to the survey of 400 voters by pollster Jim Moore. The poll’s margin of error was five percentage points.

“A lot of people are asking, and I’m listening,” Leno said this week when we asked him about a possible run.

Nowhere was that more evident than at Willie Brown’s annual pre-election breakfast Monday at the Fairmont, attended by Lee and hundreds of other guests — and where Leno was button-holed by a half-dozen people urging him to run.

Complaints about the tech crowd and the changes it’s bringing to San Francisco may be coalescing around legislation Lee just signed allowing short-term, Airbnb-style rentals in the city. The issue has highlighted the mayor’s close ties to the tech industry and particularly to Ron Conway, an early investor in Airbnb.

The new law has also drawn a rare display of public opposition from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. She’s supported Lee in the past but says the short-term rental legislation is a neighborhood killer.

Feinstein has indicated a willingness to join a fight to repeal the law next November — just as the mayor is facing re-election.

And Leno is right there with her.

“In one stroke, we have rezoned the whole city,” Leno said. “There is a compromise to be found, but this is not it — it’s too broad.”

Oops! When it comes to riding the jailhouse merry-go-round, you’d be hard-pressed to beat 29-year-old Daniel Frary.

Within a single day, he managed to get booked into Santa Rita Jail on a petty-drug charge, catch a break and be released the same afternoon — then get locked up again at night after allegedly trying to rob the jail’s commander on a downtown Livermore street.

Frary, who has a string of convictions for assault, burglary, weapons offenses and car theft dating back to 2004, was picked up for allegedly being under the influence at 1:30 a.m. Oct. 16, said Sgt. J.D. Nelson, spokesman for the Alameda County sheriff.

At 1 p.m., Frary was cited, released from jail and given a court date.

Around 10 p.m., Frary allegedly approached two men who had been watching the Giants game at a bar as they walked along Pacific Avenue in Livermore.

With one hand in his pocket, Frary asked, “What’s your name?” Nelson said.

When the the two men ignored him, Frary slipped behind them and said, “Where you from?” Nelson said.

This time the two men stopped, and Frary allegedly told them, “What do you have in your pockets? Don’t call 911.”

What he apparently didn’t know was that the men were Capt. Colby Staysa, commander of the Santa Rita Jail, and Sgt. James McGrail, a member of the sheriff’s gang task force.

Staysa and McGrail exchanged a “can you believe this?” look, then overpowered Frary in a struggle. After rendering him unconscious, they allegedly found a knife in his pocket, Nelson said.

In short order, Frary was back in jail, where he is being held on a no-bail parole violation.

“I hope his family and friends read this and every day remind him just how stupid he is,” Nelson said.

Oakland picks: Oakland mayoral candidate Bryan Parker has picked up the endorsement of Don Perata, the longtime legislator who came in second in the 2010 mayoral sweepstakes to Jean Quan.

“I know what it takes to get things done,” Perata said. “Oakland leaders need to realize that we either go together or we don’t go at all.”

Also in Oakland, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is endorsing former TV journalist Dana King for the City Council seat from District Two.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or e-mail matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross