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NEW YORK - New York City Comptroller John Liu has officially embarked on his bid to become the first Asian-American mayor of the nation's biggest city.

The Democrat made the announcement Sunday on the steps of City Hall.

Liu is already the first person of Asian descent to be elected citywide in New York. His mayoral ambitions illuminate the political rise of the city's Asian-American population.

But it has been shadowed by a fundraising-conspiracy case against two former aides. They have pleaded not guilty. Liu hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing.

Liu worked as an actuary before winning a City Council seat in 2002 and the comptroller's race in 2009.

He was born in Taiwan and came to New York at age 5.

Several other candidates want to succeed Mayor Michael Bloomberg.