Alameda County supervisor applicant moved to the district less than a month ago

County's labor unrest and electability will be major questions for county supervisors; Fourth candidates joins SD7 race, Lateefah Simon gets a big endorsement

Alameda County supervisor applicant Ariana Casanova’s Facebook page.

COUNTY NEWS

DISTRICT 2 APPOINTMENT

—MARCH MADNESS—A few weeks ago there was rumblings that SEIU Local 1021, one of the most dominant labor unions in Alameda County, was planning to help one of its own win the appointment to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in the Hayward and Tri-Cities District 2.

—However, there seemed to be a problem. The rumored applicant, Ariana Casanova, a long-time political coordinator for SEIU Local 1021, lived in Oakland. The avatar on her personal Facebook had been recently change to include a photo of herself and the late Supervisor Richard Valle. Below it said Casanova lived in Oakland.

—Well, at least, since Feb. 19, Casanova now lives in Hayward, according to her application for District 2 supervisor.

—Casanova and the union’s play here will be one of the big talking points as the Board of Supervisors begin their efforts over the next two weeks to find a replacement for Valle.

—It also reignites major questions that arose the last time the Board of Supervisors made an appointment to its ranks. Is a board appointee required to live in the district prior to being selected?

—The story that could play out with Casanova is almost exactly what occurred with the appointment in December 2011 of Dave Brown to serve out late Supervisor Wilma Chan’s term.

—Brown moved to District 3 from Contra Costa County just days after Chan was killed in a traffic accident. In Brown’s case, there was no formal appointment process and he pledged not to run for a full four-year term in 2022, which he honored.

—A lawsuit asserted Brown did not fulfill a residency requirement that holds a supervisor must live in the district a year prior to election. The legal question is whether the county’s rules for residency pertain only to elected supervisors or also appointed supervisors.

—As Casanova begins the appointment process, this question remains unresolved. The major difference here is, unlike Brown, Casanova is seeking to run for the office in 2024, if appointed later this month.

MORE INSIDE:

• D2 APPT: How county labor woes factor in

• Can the appointee win in 2024?

• One candidate may run in 2024 regardless of outcome

• Supervisors to set up interviews next week

• VIDEO: Nate Miley’s instant classic “Bro” speech

• ELECTION 2024: Another officially joins SD7 race

• Simon gets big endorsement in CA12 race