Filing deadline surprises
Oakland is guaranteed three new councilmember next year. Election apathy: 36 unopposed candidates won their race on Friday. Campaign finance data, and more filing deadline insights
ELECTION 2024
85 days to Election Day
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
—REIDOUT—Oakland Councilmember Treva Reid will not run for re-election to her District 7 seat after failing to complete the filing process prior to last Friday’s deadline.
—“With a heart full of emotions, I have decided not to seek reelection on November 5th to serve as your District 7 City Councilmember,” Reid told supporters on Friday. “This decision came after much prayer, processing with family, and wise counsel.”
—Reid will take time to care for ailing mother. “I have been blessed to serve as her primary caregiver for over a decade, and she now requires additional support to navigate the best path for her sustained health and wellness,” she wrote.
—The deadline for prospective District 7 candidates is now extended to Wednesday since the incumbent did not file for re-election.
—The move is surprising for Reid, the scion of long-time District 7 Councilmember Larry Reid.
—Next January, East Oakland will be represented by someone outside of the Reid family for the first time since 1996.
—Reid leaves City Hall after winning the seat in 2020, and followed it up with a run for mayor in 2022.
—During her only term in office, Reid often appeared frustrated with the pace and tenor of Oakland city government.
—During Reid’s run for mayor two years ago, she often criticized the “politicking and politricking” at City Hall. The phrase in many ways represented her deep-seated issues with Oakland politics.
—NEW DAY COMING—Big change is on the horizon for the Oakland City Council. Three current member and, possible a fourth, will be leaving the council at the end of the year.
—It’s yet another periodic cleansing of the board. Although, similar turnover in 2012 and 2020 did little to change the fortunes of the East Bay’s most dysfunctional political body.
—At-large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan’s era in Oakland politics is over, or at least, on pause, after 16 years on the council. Former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong is the favorite to replace Kaplan this November.
—District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb will end his term on the council after 12 years. Kalb’s attention to legislation will be difficult to replace in the near-term. Oakland firefighters union President Zac Unger is the favorite to replace Kalb this November,
—With District 7 Councilmmeber Treva Reid’s surprise departure from the council, there is now a potential leadership vacuum in the East Oakland district.
—None of the remaining candidates who pulled papers is expected to be contenders for the seat. Prospective candidates have until Wednesday evening to join the race.
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
—PARK PLANS—The death of Ellen Corbett changes the scope of the race for East Bay Regional Park District’s (EBRPD) Area 4 seat. Corbett’s term would have ended at the end of the year.
—The EBRPD Board of Directors must decide on a short-term appointment.
—If so, a strategy to select an applicant who will not run for the seat in the fall will be simple to execute since the field of candidates will be finalized later this week.
—The filing deadline for the Area 4 race is extended to Wednesday since the incumbent did not file.
—One possible applicant for a short-term appointment could be former San Leandro Councilmember Corina Lopez, who withdrew her candidacy for the Area 4 seat on Friday, citing deference to Corbett.
—Lopez could act as a caretaker for Corbett’s legacy on the board and administer her agenda through the end of the current term.
—Such an appointment would have historical context. Lopez served the same district that Corbett represented while on the San Leandro City Council.
SAN LEANDRO
—DUCKING—San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo declined to participate in a debate with his District 2 challenger, former Councilmember Ed Hernandez.
—A debate challenge was proposed to both candidates last week by another former San Leandro councilmember, Lee Thomas, who wanted the pair to answer questions generated by the public on his podcast, The Marinade.
—Azevedo, however, expressed concerns about the venue and format in declining the offer, Thomas said.
—In a video posted to social media over the weekend, Thomas refuted Azevedo’s assertion that the debate invitation was a “trap.” As a condition for appearing at the debate, Azevedo asked that he be given the debate questions beforehand.
—Public speaking is Azevedo’s major weakness. A candidate forum with Hernandez in 2016 featured a nervous Azevedo seemingly unable to form complete sentences. In 2020, the pandemic precluded in-person vetting of candidates.
—During Azevedo’s run for mayor in 2022, Azevedo committed several verbal snafus, in addition to a strange facial tick during one response that appeared to be a glitch in the matrix.
—RED ALERT—San Leandro educators are scrambling to find a candidate for the school board’s Area 3 seat. The current holder of the seat, Trustee Evelyn Gonzalez, also the mayor’s wife, was the victim of redistricting.
—The lone candidate to file for the seat is Cindy Rocha. Those who follow Alameda County Board of Supervisors meetings will recognize her as one of several who have voiced concerns about election integrity in the county, in addition to strongly opposing the work of the current county registrar.
—The emergence of a school board candidate perceived to have right-wing taste is worrying San Leandro officials.
CHABOT-LAS POSITAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
—DOUBLE TROUBLE—Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Trustee Luis Reynoso is running for re-election in addition to raising campaigns for three other races this fall.
—Reynoso added another on Friday, filing to regain a seat on the Hayward school board.
—There’s nothing that says a candidate can’t run for multiple office. Serving all of them if you win, however, is a matter for the courts. But running for five seats may be a local record.
—Reynoso has history on the his matter. In 2020, he won re-election to his Hayward school board seat, in addition to a seat on the Chabot-Las Positas board. Hayward took legal action against Reynoso, citing the roles were incompatible.
—Reynoso is also running for the Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District board, Oro Loma Sanitary board, and Eden Health District board.
—Get this, an early back of the envelope calculation suggests Reynoso could win all five seats. The least likely, ironically, could be the seat that he currently holds.
—COACH IS DONE—Former Dublin mayor and current Chabot-Las Positas Community College District trustee, Tim Sbranti, also failed to complete his filing on Friday, and will not seek re-election to the Tri-Valley’s Area 5 seat.
—Catheryn Grier pulled nomination papers on Friday morning to run for the seat. The filing deadline for this race is also extended to Wednesday.
ELECTION WINNERS
—CONGRATULATIONS—Election Day is still 85 days away, but the Friday filing deadline delivered a number of easy wins for incumbents and some lucky candidates.
—That’s because either nobody filed to challenge an incumbent or the number of challengers matched the number of seats available.
BY THE NUMBERS
36 went unopposed and won re-election on Friday night.
2 walked into open seats (Dorothy Lee, San Lorenzo USD; Ronna Jojola Gonsalves, Eden Health District).
7 of 11 community college district races went unopposed.
4 San Leandro elected officials (2 city council, 2 school board) were unopposed (tied with Alameda for most).
3 councilmembers in Alameda County went unopposed, along with 1 mayor (John Marchand in Livermore).
—Below are the races that will not appear on the November ballot:
Kevin Kearney, Alameda city auditor
Kevin Kennedy, Alameda city treasurer
Jeff Cambra, City of Alameda Healthcare District
Stewart Chen, City of Alameda Healthcare District
Dolly Adams, Castro Valley USD, Area 1
Lavender Whitaker, Castro Valley USD, Area 2
Michael McCorriston, Dublin City Council, Dist. 1
Gabi Blackman, Dublin USD, Area 4
Arun Goel, Dublin San Ramon Services District, Area 5
Sharon Coco, Fremont USD, Area 1
Vivek Prasad, Fremont USD, Area 5
John Marchand, Livermore mayor
Mary Jo Carreon, Pleasanton USD, Area 1
Sbeydeh Viveros-Walton, San Leandro City Council, Dist. 1
Fred Simon, San Leandro City Council, Dist. 4
Peter Oshinski, San Leandro USD, at-large
Diana Prola, San Leandro USD, Area 5
Dorothy Lee, San Lorenzo USD, Area 2*
Kyla Sinegal, San Lorenzo USD, Area 3
Stephen Lanza, Chabot-Las Positas Community College Dist., Area 7
Lance Kwan, Ohlone Community College Dist., Area 1
Greg Bonaccorsi, Ohlone Community College Dist., Area 2
Rakesh Sharma, Ohlone Community College Dist., Area 5
Bill Withrow, Peralta Community College Dist., Area 1
Nicky Gonzalez Yuen, Peralta Community College Dist., Area 4
Dyana Delfin Polk, Peralta Community College Dist., Area 6
Jean Walsh, AC Transit, Ward 2
James Gunther, Alameda County Water District, Ward 1
John Weed, Alameda County Water District, Ward 4
Elizabeth Echols, East Bay Regional Park District, Ward 1
Ronna Jojola Gonsalves, Eden Health District*
William Nicholson, Washington Township Healthcare District
Jeanette Yee, Washington Township Healthcare District
Sarah Choi, Fairview Fire Protection District
Melissa Dimic, Fairview Fire Protection District
Mark McDaniel, Fairview Fire Protection District
—🗳️PULLING PAPERS—Candidates who pulled papers at the deadline on Friday:
Sterling Engle - Fremont City Council, Dist. 5
Catheryn Grier - Chabot-Las Positas Community College Dist., Area 5
Janyth Hobbs - Fremont mayor
Luis Reynoso - Hayward USD
Cindy Rocha - San Leandro USD, Dist. 3
Sonia Salwan - Fremont City Council, Dist. 5
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—💰MONEYBALL—Form 497 campaign contributions filed on Aug. 9-11:
CITIES
OAKLAND
—Oakland Citizens for Public Safety, Supporting Zac Unger for City Council 2024 (Supporting Unger), California Professional Firefighters IE PAC, $5,000. TOTAL: $5,000.
—Oaklanders Together-For A Safer Oakland (ballot measure), IFPTE Local 21 Issues PAC, $15,000. TOTAL: $15,000.
SAN LEANDRO
—Bryan Azevedo (San Leandro City Council Dist 2), IFPTE Local 21 TJ Anthony PAC Fund, $1,500. TOTAL: $1,500.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Jesse Arreguin (7th Senate District), IBEW Local 1245 IBEW Executive Board, $5,000; James Dina of Vancouver, Wash., $5,000; Steve Westly of Menlo Park, $2,500. TOTAL: $12,500.
—Jovanka Beckles (7th Senate District), William Press of Berkeley, $5,000, $867. TOTAL: $5,867.
—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), Resource Recovery Coalition of California PAC, $5,500; Edison International and Affiliated Entities/Southern California Edison, $5,500; Shingle Springs Band Miwok Indians, $3,000; Greenberg Traurig, LLP, $2,000; Zenith Insurance Company, $2,000. TOTAL: $18,000.
—Marisol Rubio (9th Senate District), University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) Political Action Fund, $3,000. TOTAL: $3,000.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), IBEW Local 1245 IBEW Executive Board, $5,000; California Hospital Association PAC, $1,500. TOTAL: $6,500.
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), California African American PAC, $5,500; William Joseph Langelier of Beverly Hills, $2,000; Carvana LLC, $2,000. TOTAL: $9,500.
—Alex Lee (24th Assembly District), Engineers & Scientists of California Local 20, IFPTE Lou Lucivero Legislative Education & Action Program, $2,900; California Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $3,900.
STATEWIDE
—Rob Bonta for CA Attorney General 2026, Southern California Pipe Trades District Council No. 16 PAC, $9,100; San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, $9,100; Irvine Management Company, $,8,200; Northern California District Council of Laborers PAC Small Contributor Cmte, $5,000. TOTAL: $31,400.
