Coal train dumps another $250,000 in Oakland’s mayor race
Alameda County Dems keep getting punked by upset Dem candidates
ELECTION 2022
Days until Election Day: 18.
OAKLAND MAYOR
—BIG COAL SPENDER—The push to get Ignacio De La Fuente elected Oakland mayor just hit yet another gear on Thursday.
—Jonathan Brooks, the SoCal businessman hoping for the opportunity to ship coal through Oakland, added another $250,000 to the IE supporting De La Fuente.
—This is in addition to the $250,000 Brooks contributed to the IE earlier this month. Brooks’ expenditure makes him the largest individual donor in this entire East Bay election season. See more in today’s campaign finance data section that is free to all!
—RUNNING AGAINST SCHAAF—An interesting tidbit in yesterday’s revealing of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce polling data is that termed-out Mayor Libby Schaaf has become deeply unpopular. The poll found scant few respondents viewed her favorably after nearly eight years in the mayor’s office.
—Sheng Thao, one of 10 candidates hoping to succeed Schaaf, and groups supporting her campaign, must have had similar polling on the mayor’s nosediving support. Just prior to news of the chamber poll, came the release of a noteworthy video created by Care 4 Community Action and paid for by the East Bay Tenants Union PAC.
—The intent of the video is to support Thao’s effort this November, but what’s most interesting about the video is it treats Schaaf as the opponent in the race.
—The video aggressively legislates Schaaf’s record on housing in Oakland and aims at making a connection between her and mayoral Loren Taylor, who Schaaf endorsed last month. In light of polling that shows Schaaf may be more of a hindrance than helpful this election season, the video could be highly effective in pushing progressive voters to send in their ballots.
—CULT OF PERSONALITY—A well-done large mailer sent by Oakland mayoral candidate Sheng Thao says she is the only person who can fix the city’s extensive problems. “Only Sheng can bring the change Oakland needs,” the campaign mailer says.
—Thao has used the populist-driven cult of personality argument many times during candidate forums since last summer. But the argument could rub some Oakland progressives the wrong way. None other than Donald Trump used the same argument in 2016. “I am your voice. I alone can fix it. I will restore law and order,” Trump said of America’s problems.
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
—The chamber poll may be the latest development spooking Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas’ re-election campaign. Bas has expressed nervousness about her campaign for a few months. But almost all elected officials are skittish during re-election time no matter the level of competition. Bas is well-known in Oakland politics and fairly respected and that’s why the chamber poll showing 58 percent of voters in District 2 are on the fence in this race is very concerning.
—It may have been a reason why Bas’ campaign organized a rally on Wednesday morning to highlight support within the area’s Asian American community and for her to dispell “mistruths” offered by her lone opponent, Harold Lowe, who has run a very aggressive, although underfunded, campaign.
—In a mailer sent to voters last week, Lowe said “Oakland is on the wrong track. We need leaders who unite, not divide us.” At one candidate forum last month, Lowe was unmerciful in critiquing Bas’ tenure on the city council. The attacks were so pointed that it appeared Bas was physically wincing from Lowe’s barrage.
ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
—GETTING AWAY WITH PUNKING DEMS—Getting the once-powerful Alameda County Democratic Central Committee back on its feet is an important side dish to this fall’s election season. The mantra has been about getting the local party back to the basics. This means raising money and getting preferred Democrats elected in Alameda County. So far, so good, at least, on the fundraising part.
—But insubordination within the Alameda County Democratic Party’s rank-and-file is still evident. Since the party’s pivotal endorsement meeting last month, a growing number of Democrats on the ballot this November have resorted to trash talking and outright defiance after not receiving the party’s endorsement.
—Dean Wallace, a candidate for the Pleasanton City Council and former lieutenant to Rep. Eric Swalwell, actually received the party’s backing and then double-crossed them by defying their prohibition on police union endorsements and the acceptance of campaign donations. Swalwell was also guilty of party disloyalty when he endorsed Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern’s re-election last spring. Even worse, Ahern is a Republican.
-On Wednesday, Shawn Kumagai, the 20th Assembly District candidate, became the latest to defy the party after accepting a maxed-out $4,900 contribution from the Union City Police Officer’s Association PAC. Alameda County District Attorney candidate Terry Wiley has also been criticized for accepting police endorsements
—Over the weekend, we saw San Leandro mayoral candidate Bryan Azevedo openly diss the party and equated them to the Republican Party after he did not received their backing. There is chatter among insiders that other candidates who sought the party’s endorsement and were denied are going around town trash-talking the central committee.
SAN LEANDRO MAYOR
—The first consequences of San Leandro mayoral candidate Bryan Azevedo’s decision to disavow his own Democratic Party over the weekend may have appeared on Wednesday. Lee Thomas, also a candidate for San Leandro mayor this November, announced the endorsement of Igor Tregub, the chair of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee.
—However, Tregub chose not to use this title. Instead, the graphic posted by Thomas’s campaign identifies Tregub as the chair of the California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus. Last month, the central committee offered “no endorsement” in the San Leandro mayoral race.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE DATA
—IE SPENDING—Below is Form 496 Independent Expenditure Reports from Wednesday through Thursday afternoon.
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—Keep California Golden (Opposing Aisha Wahab in SD10), Total: $31,070—Mailer ($29,578), Consulting ($1,500).
—Keep California Golden (Opposing Aisha Wahab in AD20), Total: 71,267—Mailer ($71,267).
—JobsPAC (Supporting Lily Mei in SD10), Total: $47,036—Mailer ($47,036).
—JobsPAC (Opposing Aisha Wahab in SD10), Total: 24,231—Mailer ($24,231).
20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Keep California Golden (Opposing Liz Ortega-Toro in AD20), Total: 49,819—Mailer ($49,819).
—Nurses and Educators for a Brighter California Future sponsored by labor organizations (Opposing Shawn Kumagai in AD20), Total: $44,573—Mailer ($44,573).
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—Golden State Communities Project (Opposing Pamela Price for DA), Total: $25,000—Web Ads ($25,000).
OAKLAND
—National Association of Realtors (Supporting De La Fuente for Oakland Mayor), Total: $54,851—Online Ads (50,000), Voter File $4,551), Staff Time ($300).
—Working Families for a Better Oakland supporting Sheng Thao for Oakland Mayor 2022 (Supporting Thao for Oakland Mayor) Total: $48,606—Mailer ($48,606).
—Oakland Education Association PAC (Supporting Jennifer Brouhard for OUSD) Total: $932—Mailer ($932).
—Oakland Education Association PAC (Supporting Pecolio Manigo for OUSD) Total: $1,358—Mailer ($1,358).
—Oakland Education Association PAC (Supporting Valarie Bachelor for OUSD) Total: $819—Mailer ($819).
—Oakland Education Association PAC (Supporting OUSD Measure H parcel tax renewal) Total: $3,111—Mailer ($3,111).
LIVERMORE
—Take Back Livermore (Opposing John Marchand for Livermore Mayor), Total: $22,851—Mailer ($22,851).
—Take Back Livermore (Supporting Carol Wahrer for Livermore City Council-Dist. 1), Total: $10,977—Mailer ($10,977).
—Take Back Livermore (Supporting Ben Barrientos for Livermore City Council-Dist. 2), Total: $10,948—Mailer ($10,948).
—Take Back Livermore (Supporting Carol Wahrer for Livermore City Council-Dist. 1), Total: $10,977—Mailer ($10,977).
—Livermore Forward (Supporting Mel Chiong for Livermore City Council-Dist. 2) Total: $4,245—Mailer and Slate Ad ($3,113), Design ($500), Slate Mailer ($350); Political Data ($281).
—Livermore Forward (Supporting John Marchand for Livermore Mayor) Total: $10,405—Mailer and Slate Ad ($8,708), Design ($700), Slate Mailer ($400); Political Data ($597).
—Livermore Forward (Supporting Evan Branning for Livermore City Council-Dist. 1) Total: $4,153—Mailer and Slate Ad ($3,027), Design ($500), Slate Mailer ($350); Political Data ($276).
—MONEYBALL—Below is Form 497 campaign contributions ($1,000 or more) filed Wednesday through Thursday afternoon. *-local city campaign contribution limit.
COUNTY
ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMOCRATS
—Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, Yes on 30: Clean Air California, $5,000; Marchand for Mayor 2022, $2,000; Alfred Twu for AC Transit Board 2022, $1,027.
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—Terry Wiley (Alameda County District Attorney), Marty Glick of Oakland, $2,500; Buffy Wicks for Assembly 2022, $2,000; Bill Cumbelich of Oakland, $1,250; Sara Cumbelich of Oakland, $1,250; PG&E Corporation, $1,000.; Christopher Infante of San Francisco, $1,000.
—Pamela Price (Alameda County District Attorney), Joshua Garnett of Hayward, $2,500.
ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Lena Tam (Alameda County Board of Supervisors-Dist. 3), Lena Tam, $10,000; Anna Aguila of Oakland, $1,000.
EAST BAY MUD BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—Corina Lopez (EBMUD Board of Directors-Ward 7), Contra Costa United Working Families, $1,200.
CITY
OAKLAND
—Californians for Safer Streets Supporting Ignacio De La Fuente for Mayor of Oakland (Supporting De La Fuente), Jonathan Brooks of Los Angeles, $250,000; Holland Residential, Inc., $10,000.
—Citizens for Impactful Voting in Oakland (Supporting Loren Taylor, Ignacio De La Fuente, Treva Reid for Oakland Mayor), Holland Residential, Inc., $30,000.
—Oakland Neighbors for Affordable Housing and Safe Streets (Supporting Oakland Measure U infrastructure bond), MidPen Housing Corporation, $40,000.
—Yes on T-Invest in Our Oakland 2022 (Supporting Oakland Measure T progressive business tax), California Workers' Justice Coalition sponsored by SEIU Local 1021, $50,000.
BERKELEY
—Committee for an Affordable and Resilient Berkeley (Supporting Berkeley Measure L infrastructure bond), MidPen Housing Corporation, $5,000.
FREMONT
—The Parent's Choice Committee to Elect Jennifer Kavauniaris for 2022 FUSD School Board Trustee District 3( Fremont School Board-Area 3), Richard Howard of Livermore, $4,904; Dan & Jean Smith of San Jose, $3,000; Christie English of San Jose, $1,000, $500.
LIVERMORE
—Take Back Livermore (Support Nop & Oppose Marchand for Livermore Mayor 2022. Support Barrientos & Wahrer & Oppose Chiong & Branning for Livermore City Council), Jeannette King of Livermore, $49,500; Lynn Seppala of Livermore, $49,500; John Seppala of Livermore, $49,500.
—Mony Nop (Livermore Mayor), Phoenix Roofing Company, Inc., $1,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—Lily Mei (10th State Senate District), Zenith Insurance Company, $3,000.
—Aisha Wahab (10th State Senate District), California State Association of Electrical Workers, $9,700
20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Shawn Kumagai (20th Assembly District), Tenet Healthcare Corporation, $2,500.
—Liz Ortega-Toro (20th Assembly District), California State Association of Electrical Workers, $9,700
18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), California State Association of Electrical Workers, $9,700; SEIU Local 2015 State PAC, $9,700.
14TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), SEIU Local 2015 State PAC, $9,700; Sunpower Corporation, $3,500; Ken Kahan of Los Angeles, $1,500; Remmie Madden of Beverly Hills, $1,000.