San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is questioning whether the city's new sheriff can effectively do his job while battling domestic violence charges.

Lee says he intends to speak with Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi soon about the possibility of stepping aside while the charges are heard in court. But he also wants Mirkarimi to pose the question to himself.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/zAOzyy), Lee made the comments on Friday after a media event to raise a San Francisco 49ers flag at City Hall.

Mirkarimi has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of domestic violence battery, dissuading a witness and child endangerment in connection with an alleged New Year's Eve argument with his wife, Eliana Lopez.

He has refused to step down.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com