(Editor's Note: As we end 2011 and move into a New Year, the Oakland Local staff and featured contributors would like to share some of our favorite stories, experiences and thoughts over the last 12 months.)

If anyone would have told me a year ago that Mayor Jean Quan would soon be facing two recall campaigns, I would never have believed it.

A year ago, Quan was basking in her rank-choice victory and making plans to become the nations first big city Asian-American mayor. Media outlets from around the world were scrambling to do positive profile stories about this long-time Oakland politician.

In January, when Quan was sworn in, a lot of residents (not all) were quite hopeful that she could develop an administration that would tackle some of the cities biggest, nagging problems. Even as early as this spring, Quan was still getting positive headlines, even if the budget process was causing rumbling in some corners of the city.

As Oakland Local's de facto City Hall reporter, I attended many formal and informal events this year where Quan was present. Sometimes she was the featured speaker, sometimes she was just an invitee. A lot of the times she went to these events by herself and rarely had any typed up prepared remarks. She seemed comfortable chatting with different types of folks.

During most of her administration this year, Quan has held a weekly press events where media folks like myself could ask her a range of questions. This was a dramatic difference from when Ron Dellums was in office, and it was difficult to get any information from him, let alone an interview.

So what happened? How did things turn sour for the mayor not even a year into her term?

First, Quan had vulnerabilities that were bubbling beneath the surface even before she was sworn in as mayor.

Many small business owners and police officers had major problems with Quan serving as mayor. Some local businesses said she created a less that business-friendly environment and some city police officers didn't like Quan from her time with City Council. Police also were not pleased with the mayor because she (and Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan), decided to attend and get mixed up in a demonstration against former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle in the summer of 2010.

But, Quan really started facing problems beginning in the late spring when she decided to take a stroll down Grand Avenue. There, lying in wait, were angry Grand Avenue business owners who were frustrated by a host of city parking issues. Quan ended up in a face off with these folks in front of the media and from there, the bad news seemed to never let up.

Once summer hit, things really got bad on the crime front as homicides in Oakland climbed and gun shootings took a sharp spike. City Attorney John Russo quit, citing problems with Quan's administration. Even before Occupy Oakland pitched tents on the lawn of Frank Ogawa Plaza this fall, Quan was dealing with growing OPD issues - Former Police Chief Anthony Batts abruptly stepped down and her relationship with rank-and-file only grew more frosty. Meanwhile, hostilities with the City Council, and frustration among some City Hall staff members continued to grow.

Then there was the city's response to Occupy Oakland encampments and demonstrations. The use of pepper spray and bean bag projectiles by police during the raid on the Occupy Oakland camp in late October brought harsh scorn upon Quan and further fueled the recall efforts. And while these efforts still seems unfocused, they do show that there are a lot of residents who are very unhappy with Quan. Quan also lost long-time advisors because of disagreements over Occupy Oakland.

Whether she can mend her relationship with these residents, City Council, police and business leaders will be an important test of her leadership. Also, some kind of way, Quan is going to have to develop a relationship with Occupy Oakland because they are now a force to be reckoned with in the city.

This next year will perhaps be the biggest year of Quan's political career. Either she'll rise like a Phoenix, or she'll be the first Oakland mayor recalled from office. Time will tell.