As a long time activist in Oakland (some have even called me an Oakland chauvinist), I would like to share my recommendations for local offices. These recommendations were first made to my Democratic club for its endorsement process. They are mine alone and do not represent any campaign.

Mayor’s Race

The Oakland mayor’s race is once again an open one with many contenders. Some have even been attracted to a recent entrant who bills himself as “not a career politician” even though he has made his living in politics and talks in sound bites. His claims are grandiose; his experience is of the television kind.

So we have three “serious” candidates with varying levels of experience not including the Green candidate, Don Macleay, who will probably be my choice for the third spot - remember Ranked Choice Voting?

My candidate for mayor is the local policy maker who has worked with neighborhoods all over Oakland and very closely with one district. Jean Quan is a leader who has made tough choices throughout her political career as recently as the police layoffs that made it possible to save libraries, parks and other city services.

Laying off officers was a difficult choice; but since the police union was initially unwilling to negotiate, it was the only responsible choice. Jean worked hard to bring about Measure Y and also will work hard to pass the fix that can bring many of our officers back.

Jean has led neighborhood and school activists in implementing their dreams and cleaning up the problems in the schools and streets of Oakland. Check her website, jeanquanforoakland.org, for the story of the crime-ridden (a child prostitution ring) Hillcrest Motel, which is now senior housing and was the catalyst in revitalizing the Dimond district.

During this process Jean worked with neighborhood youth who had become a problem as a result of this crime magnet. Her office helped almost all of them into jobs or training programs rather than jailing them or shooing them into other neighborhoods. Youth and schools will be of upmost importance in her administration, and she has the background to fully support the school district and city youth programs.

Jean is giving up her safe council seat to run for the office she was made for. She is not coming from Sacramento or Washington looking for a well-padded retirement nor seeking to pass through the mayor’s office on her way up.

She is a working politician who, while not good at the glad-handing game, has rolled up her sleeves and is already at work on all the issues that neighborhood folks care about. Her administration will have an entrepreneurial spirit coupled with inclusiveness, which appeals to me.

When I asked her why she initiated Oakland’s end to the use of Styrofoam in take-out (also plastic bags, which was blocked at the state level), she told me that she was sick of seeing the stuff at her creek cleanups and decided to do something about it. This is typical of her pragmatic and innovative approach to local politics.

Jean and I have not always agreed on every issue; but I know that when she tells me what she will do, she is open and honest about her decision and how she made it. I think she will offer the most transparent city government we’ve ever had.

Jean has a thorough on-the-ground campaign and can beat Perata who is slavering over our remaining public resources (he wants to sell off the Coliseum Complex after he led the effort to “give” it to the Raiders, which still costs us $12 million a year). She is covering the ground in all sections of Oakland including previously ignored flatland neighborhoods; and of course, she is supported by her friend and co-chair, Sandre Swanson.

Since this is Ranked Choice Voting, I would recommend Rebecca Kaplan as my No. 2 choice and hope that Rebecca’s supporters list Jean as their No. 2.

District 2

Pat Kernighan has done a thorough job and deserves to keep her seat. She has served her flatland neighborhoods and been available to the immigrant community whenever they needed her.

The Central Labor Council endorsed her as they see she understands the needs of rank and file workers. She also took the tough stance on the police retirement intransigence, which may hurt her.

I do, however, wish she would develop a neighborhood council or advisory board similar to what Jane Brunner has implemented.

Jenn Pae is running a good race and will gather experience and name recognition for the next race that she chooses. Her strength seems to lie in bringing progressive ideas to the Democratic Party, which can use her energy and positive spirit.

District 4

This is an open seat, and, as such, has garnered a number of contenders. Of the three nominated by the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club for endorsement, one is a consummate insider, Libby Schaaf, who has worked in the Brown administration after working for de la Fuente and at the port. She has close ties to the Perata people, but seems to be moving away from that identification.

Melanie Shelby has run before and knows quite a bit from her work with PG&E and other companies as a community representative, but it is hard to know which issues her office would promote as priorities.

Daniel Swafford is a local guy who has worked long and hard on promoting and revitalizing the Dimond neighborhood. He seems to be the candidate for Main Street.

District 6

Jose Dorado is a hard-working community activist, and I know many folks have felt that Desley Brooks’ style is difficult to love. Her district could benefit by a fully-staffed office. Despite this, Desley is an extremely hard worker and it is her I recommend for reelection.

Desley’s ability to challenge the bureaucracy with probing questions demonstrates her prosecutorial background and has resulted in getting resources for that district, which had been so long neglected. In addition, she is the first Council member in District 6 to stage events at Arroyo Viejo Park.
 
I want to add that I have personally experienced how hard Desley Brooks works; she came to talk to the students at my school, Edward Shands Adult School, whenever I asked and has always been there when we needed her.
 
I don’t think that our Oakland community could have gotten through the horrible murder of Oscar Grant without her. She demanded accountability from BART when no one else did and continued to make these demands to the state legislature when the crowds were gone.
 
I am as often impressed by her tough-mindedness as I am annoyed by it. However, I believe Desley is an important force for her district and this city. I cannot see how she can be replaced and that our city would not suffer for the loss of that force.

Superior Court

Victoria Kolakowski is my pick for judge for the Alameda County Superior Court. Not only does she bring much needed diversity to the court, she brings real judicial experience and an awareness of the barriers the average person faces when going to court.

BART Board

BART has been in the middle of many controversies lately and can no longer be ignored in favor of business as usual. After the fiasco with the Oakland Airport Connector, in which BART was found to have violated the civil rights of the community it was elected to serve; and, in the process, lost $70 million in federal stimulus funds, the BART Board continues to try and go around that decision to waste more taxpayer dollars for this boondoggle. Next, BART finds itself with a surplus and proposes a 15 cent, temporary fare decrease rather than cleaning up the trains and improving service.

Last but not least, a BART officer was responsible for the death of a young unarmed man and left it to the city of Oakland to deal with the horrific situation it created while slowing stewed in its juices. As I understand, Oakland has no hope of regaining any of the costs associated with this young man’s murder and its consequences. At the least, an Oakland BART representative should push for some reimbursement.

Robert Raburn is well known as a bicycle activist, but he has also worked long and hard on public transit issues. He has taught urban geography and transportation and has ably chaired the Measure B Citizens’ Watchdog Committee. You can read more of his accomplishments on his website, raburnforbart.com. He’s strongly endorsed by the Sierra Club. While I have always like Carol Ward Allen, it’s time for innovation and accountability.

Parcel Taxes

I sincerely hope that Oaklanders will pass the Measure Y fix so that we can use the funds Oaklanders voted for to support violence prevention and community policing. A simple change of language is needed as a result of our unprecedented economic downturn.

The $360 parcel tax for the restoration and maintenance of police positions is a tougher vote. I wish that the amount being requested had been smaller and more manageable. Further, I wish that the police union would have offered a larger contribution to our deficit. I can say that without this tax we may have to lay off more officers unless the police union makes a serious pension and wage offer. Since 92 percent of our officers do not live in town, it is difficult to recoup these high wages as they stream out into far-off communities.

The school tax is important because it is slated to go to teachers and other rank and file workers who make Oakland schools run (and have lost ground during this recession). However, it includes charter schools and there’s the rub. I do not favor charters; and, as an adult school counselor, I have seen some of the very poor results.

However, I think unions have to take the struggle to the charters since many Oakland children now attend them; and a measure that does not include them, probably would not pass.

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