OakPAC - the largest political action committee in Oakland representing the business community - announced endorsements Wednesday for City Council candidates competing in the November General Election. 

The influential group endorsed former City Hall staffer Libby Schaaf for the only open seat in District 4. In her first run for elected office, Schaaf eclipsed the other six candidates in the only City Council race without an incumbent running.

OakPAC also endorsed incumbents Pat Kernighan and Desley Brooks. OakPAC played a key role in Kernighan’s last race against a challenger for the District 2 seat. In District 6, incumbent Brooks will again be endorsed by OakPAC. Brooks faces two challengers in November. All endorsement decisions were unanimous.

The political action committee also chose to endorse City Auditor Courtney Ruby for a second term. 

“She’s demonstrated leadership and is proving herself capable holding the city accountable for its spending,” OakPAC Chair John Gooding said.

“The board was impressed with the quality and enthusiasm of the candidate pool,” said OakPAC Vice-Chair Mike Jacob.

Candidates were required to complete a questionnaire and participate in an interview with the OakPAC directors. They also had to demonstrate campaign viability by submitting campaign finance information.

In September, OakPAC will meet with mayoral candidates and make its endorsement decision in a public announcement. 

Ten candidates have qualified for the election following incumbent Mayor Ron Dellums’ announcement that he would not seek a second term. However, the field of candidates participating in the forum will likely be narrowed by objective criteria used by the League of Women Voters throughout the nation. Those indicators measure campaign viability by assessing at least one of the following criteria: documented fundraising success (at least one campaign contribution per 1,000 residents) and 5 percent or more of the vote, tested in a professionally conducted independent public opinion survey to be launched in the coming weeks.

“These rigorous criteria are being used because they help OakPAC decide who has a competitive campaign,”  Jacob said. “Candidates have to prove they have what it takes to win before OakPAC even considers their endorsement."

For more information, visit www.oakpac.com.

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