Alameda County Dems suspend vote, approve opposition to Price recall by acclamation

Alameda County Dems slog through another chaotic meeting: 'This is the kind of things that makes the AC Dems look like idiots;' Sheng Thao tells AC Dems, 'Call me incompetent all day long'

Alameda County DA Pamela Price, right, made her case against a recall to Alameda County Democrats on Wednesday night in Oakland.

ELECTION 2024

PRICE RECALL

—PRICE-FIXING—Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and her supporters successfully blocked the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee from a second vote to oppose the recall against her.

—The central committee voted in August 2023 to oppose the Price recall, at the time, in its infancy.

—Alameda County Democratic Party Chair Igor Tregub determined a second vote was needed after the recall qualified for the fall ballot.

—Tregub’s decision set off another chaotic scene at the central committee that included shouting, members repeatedly talking over each other, and attempts by Price to undermine the chair’s authority.

—“I cannot believe this party has opened the door to people who are so undemocratic,” Price said, referring to a member of the recall campaign who addressed the central committee on Wednesday evening.

—But the discussion turned after a committee member motioned to suspend the vote on opposing the Price recall, even though some had already voted and left the meeting.

—Instead, the maker of the motion urged the central committee to vote in support of the original August 2023 resolution by acclamation.

—The motion passed with more than two-thirds support, but also revealed strong uncertainty among Price and those supporting her bid to escape a recall in November.

—“It’s an end-run around. If, in fact, 60 percent of this body was not in favor of the recall, we should not be afraid to vote for it on a ballot,” said Cheryl Cook-Kallio, a member of the central committee. “You should get the same result. I think this is very confusing.”

—Trish Munro, a member of the central committee and former Livermore councilmember, strongly objected to the move to suspend the vote.

—“I don’t know what the hell is going on,” Munro said. “This is a mess. This is the kind of thing that makes the Alameda County Dems look like idiots.”

—On Tuesday, Price attempted to go around Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Chair Igor Tregub by asking its members to overrule his determination to hold a second recall vote.

—In an email, Price wrote, “As Democrats, we need to stand together firmly against this right-wing agenda, here at home and nationally. I personally asked the Chair to do his part to avoid dividing us, and he chose another path. I hope that we can all pull together after this fight to defend our democracy and protect the win.”

—A month ago, the Alameda County Democrats were scheduled to vote on opposing the Price recall. But the item was quickly pulled from the agenda. The rationale then was the decision should be made in September, along with the local party’s slate of November endorsements.

—However, the subtext behind the move highlighted the possibility that many elected officials up for re-election and those running for office this November are reticent about taking a stand either way on the contentious recall issue.

—In August 2023, the central committee voted overwhelmingly to oppose the recall against Price that was only brewing at the time. The signature-gathering campaign would commence a few months later.

Alameda County Democrats oppose Price recall

—“Everywhere I go people tell me, ‘Don’t worry. We got you and we’re not going to let this happen,’” Price told Alameda County Democrats on Aug. 2, 2023.

—The local party later approved spending up to $10,000 to oppose the Price recall. It’s an expenditure that bolsters the claim that the vote last year was a standing endorsement to oppose the recall through the November 2024 election.

—411 ON THE 510—Become an East Bay Insiders subscriber today and get full access to the inside scoop every weekday morning at 6 a.m. It’s what the insiders read.

MORE INSIDE(RS)

• ELECTION 2024: Thao: “Call me incompetent all day long”

• Fremont mayoral candidate notches support for city’s congressmembers

• Pelosi backs East Bay candidate

• CITY NEWS: Oakland city attorney is suing Southwest Airlines

• Hayward whittles proposed district maps down to one

• Campaign finance data: Money continues to pour into Berkeley ballot measures