In a field of immigrant candidates, assemblymember notes that he’s born in America

Alameda has major infrastructure needs, contemplates large bond measure for November

Assemblymember Alex Lee

ELECTION 2022

24TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

—AMERICA, F-YEAH—I received a few messages today about a web ad posted by Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee’s campaign. Some called it nativist. Others wondered if the ads was a dog whistle for non-Asian Americans. Except for the Republican in the Fremont and South Bay 24th Assembly District race, all the Democrats are Asian, but not all were born in the U.S.

—Lee’s simple Facebook ad says, “Born and raised here, Alex knows the challenges we face.” Lee, in his first term in the Assembly, is being challenged by the former seat holder, Kansen Chu, who was born in Taiwan; Fremont Councilmember Teresa Keng, was also born in Taiwan. In addition, former San Jose Councilmember Lan Diep is the son of Vietnamese refugees.

—It’s a provocative statement made by Lee, the perceived frontrunner in this race. It remains to be seen whether this blows up in the campaign’s face.

OAKLAND MAYOR

—AY DIOS MIO—Ignacio De La Fuente’s campaign for Oakland mayor is oddly under the radar. It’s not like the current field of maybe five legitimate candidates and 15 total aspiring mayors is knocking the socks off of the public.

—The longtime Oakland councilmember is opinionated and bombastic and some think a blast from the past that’s needed at this moment.

—There’s one other thing that’s needed: a copy editor. De La Fuente is holding a campaign fundraiser on May 5 at Quinn’s Lighthouse in Oakland. The flyer refers to De La Fuente as “candidte.”

—Enough of that. What’s classic IDLF is the tagline at the bottom, “Always take life with a grain of salt… slice of lime and a shot of tequila.” That line fits with De La Fuente’s appearance on the East Bay Insiders podcast last fall in which said he would run for mayor without any regrets.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

—MONEYBALL—Here’s the rest of the late Form 497 Large Contributions from Thursday through this afternoon: