Alameda County's historic recall election is set for Nov. 5

County supes choose to consolidate recall with presidential election; Price-Swalwell Twitter war continues; County opts out of new state election rule that seeks to foster ballot measure transparency

COUNTY NEWS

PRICE RECALL

—DECISION DAY—After roughly four hours of testimony from victims of violent crime and supporters of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors set a date for her recall.

—It is Nov. 5.

—The county supervisors, those who stayed around for the deliberations, acknowledged the recall has become an highly charged issue.

—Supervisors Keith Carson and Elisa Marquez expressed levels of discomfort over being the final say on what would be the potentially destabilizing recall, if successful at the ballot box.

—“Public safety is a system. It’s a full system,” said Carson, adding that single person should not be blamed for perceptions that the system is properly functioning.

—“I think they deserve a reasonable period of time to see what that job entails and how it is carried out,” Carson said of Price and her administration.

—The prevailing issue for Supervisor Nate Miley was cost.

“I think the bottom line is I can’t in good conscience have a special election that is going to cost taxpayers $20 million,” Miley said. “The prudent thing financially from my perspective is a consolidated election.”

—Alameda County Registrar of Voters Tim Dupuis estimated a special recall election would have cost up to $20 million, while consolidating the recall with the Nov. 5 General Election will add only $4 million to the county’s tab.

—Prior to the board’s deliberations, Supervisor Lena Tam left the dais and did not return. When the special meeting began shortly after 3 p.m., Supervisor David Haubert left the dais and also never returned.

—The two absences raised the possibility that the Board of Supervisors might punt setting the recall date to the county registrar. This scenario would have been triggered if one of the remaining three supervisors voted against the Nov. 5 date.

—Either way, the question would have been likely moot, since Dupuis has repeatedly advocated for the Nov. 5 recall election date.

Alameda County DA Pamela Price

—PRICE PRESSER—Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price will address the recall election date at a press conference this morning at Everett & Jones BBQ in Oakland at 10 a.m.

—“The move to consolidate the vote with the general election is a win and will see more voters casting ballots and provide more time for the electorate to be informed with the facts,” said Protect the Win for Public Safety, the committee opposing the Price recall.

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