Building support
Former Oakland police chief is a finalist in the south; Building Trades name new president
ELECTION 2024
—BUILDING BRIDGES—The emergence two months ago of a political action committee created by the influential Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County perked up many ears as to what they may up to ahead of next year’s election season.
—It remains unclear why the PAC was formed. The simple answer: to do what every other PAC does—raise money to advocate for causes and candidates that affect their members.
—The other possibility is to use the PAC as an end run on a new state law that requires local elected officials to recuse themselves from votes if they have received campaign contribution since Jan. 1 from groups involved with the agenda item.
—If you’re the Building Trades in the midst of a construction boom in the East Bay, the fact this law could necessitate the recusal of a large number of the labor-friendly elected officials, could be a big problem.
—Earlier this year, we saw a large number of recusals from members of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors because of the law, known as the Levine Act. In a number of cases in which a four-fifths majority of the board was required for passage, there wasn’t enough voting members to pass the item.
—The end around to the Levine Act, therefore, is to direct contributions that would have went to mayors, councilmembers, and board directors to one PAC, and use the money to support elected officials, perhaps in 2024, when they are running for re-election.
—The Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County raised $29,716 since late May, according to a campaign finance report released on Friday. The PAC spent just $1,545…
MORE INSIDE:
Most of the PACs early donors are officials seeking re-election in ’24. Who are they?
Building and Construction Trades have a new president
She won a settlement in Oakland, now the former police chief is seeking the Big Easy
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