Joel Young, the East Bay election's most vulnerable incumbent, issued his campaign a big loan
IE spending is ramping up in Oakland mayoral and ballot measure races; Heavily-funded group spends $86,000 in Livermore mayoral contest
ELECTION 2022
Days until Election Day: 29.
AC TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—SELF-INTEREST LOAN—Joel Young, the at-large AC Transit board director is scratching and clawing to keep his seat. Young, who has served the transit board since 2009, has long been stained by a domestic violence allegation that has never been fully examined or resolved since it was first reported a decade ago.
—In 2011, Young was accused of hitting his girlfriend in the face after she discovered him one morning in bed with another woman. Documents, including sworn affidavits provided by the victim to an Alameda County Superior Court, said the blow to her eye and side of the head led to extensive bruising. A nurse at UCSF who treated the victim initially worried the orbital bone around her eye at been fractured.
-In the years since, Young has attempted to brush away the allegations, often pointing to temporary restraining orders sought by Young and the victim that were denied by the judge. Recently, Young has told labor union officials that the allegation is old news and that he was in fact merely defending himself from the girlfriend’s attack.
—In court documents a decade ago, Young repeatedly played up a small abrasion on his torso as representation of the harm he endured during the altercation. He also claimed the victim was following him near his downtown Oakland apartment. The victim was a jilted ex-girlfriend who aimed to bring down his bid in 2012 for the state assembly.
—After failing to advance out of the 2012 primary for the 18th Assembly District, Young won re-election to the AC Transit board in 2014 and 2018. In both races, he faced unknown and unfunded candidates. However, Young’s electoral performance each election cycle was considerably low for an incumbent in a down-ballot race like AC Transit.
—Young garnered 52 percent in a three-person race in 2014, Four years later, Young performed worse at the ballot box, winning just 50.6 percent of the vote. His opponent Dollene Jones, a bus driver who also faced Young in 2014, actually won the Contra Costa County portion of the AC Transit at-large seat. Clearly, Young’s domestic violence story is still an issue for voters.
—It’s been clear to many that Young’s re-election this year is in serious doubt. Alfred Twu, a Berkeley planning commissioner with strong ties to the Alameda County Democratic Party establishment, is challenging Young this November and is a real threat to his re-election. This has forced Young to mount an actual campaign this year.
—Young has typically been a sure vote for labor unions while on the AC Transit board. A number of unions have acknowledged his record and have generously funded Young’s campaign this year, despite the unresolved domestic violence allegations against him.
—Young’s contribution this election cycle are almost entirely derived from labor unions. They include:
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helper Local 569 PAC, $5,000
Alameda Contra Costa Transit District Employees Local 3916, $5,000
California Conference Board Amalgamated Transit Union Small Contributor Committee, $2,500
U.A. Local 342 P.A.C. Fund, $2,500
IBEW Local Union 1245 Political Donation, $1,500
Sheet Metal Workers Local union 104 Political Committee, $1,000
—The contributions apparently are not enough. On Monday, Young loaned his campaign $43,000. The transaction may be intended to cover the cost of a political consultant. Well-known Sacramento political consultant Darius Anderson contributed $1,000 to Young’s campaign last week.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE DATA
—IE SPENDING—Below is Form 496 Independent Expenditure Reports from Friday through Monday afternoon.
—Alameda County Tenants Families and Workers supporting Rebecca Kaplan for Supervisor 2022 sponsored by SEIU (Mailer in support of Kaplan), $38,250.
—Californians for Safer Streets Supporting Ignacio De La Fuente for Mayor of Oakland 2022 (Media buys, polling in support of De La Fuente), $50,000, $34,646.
—Friends Supporting Mony Nop for Mayor of Livermore 2022 (Supporting Nop), $26,500 (digital ads), $23,000 (polling and research), $20,924 (mailer), $3,845 (slate card).
—Keeping Californians Working, A coalition of insurance agents, technology, energy and health care providers (Mailer opposing Aisha Wahab in SD10), $82,858
—Families & Teachers United, sponsored by California Charter Schools Association Advocates (Mailer supporting Shawn Kumagai in AD20), $25,000.
—Keep California Golden (Mailer opposing Liz Ortega-Toro in AD20), $49,819.
—Keep California Golden (Digital ads supporting Lily Mei in SD10), $49,878.
—MONEYBALL—Below is Form 497 campaign contributions ($1,000 or more) filed Friday through Monday afternoon. *-local city campaign contribution limit.
COUNTY
ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMOCRATS
—Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, Skinner for Senate 2020, $4,000.
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—Terry Wiley (Alameda County District Attorney), Kevin Flynn of Burlingame, $5,000.
ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Alameda County Tenants Families and Workers Supporting Rebecca Kaplan for Supervisor 2022 Sponsored by SEIU Local 1021 (Supporting Kaplan), Dignity CA SEIU Local 2015, $25,000.
AC TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—Joel Young (AC Transit Board of Directors-At-Large), U.A. Local 342 P.A.C. Fund, $2,500; Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee, $1,000.
EBMUD BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—Corina Lopez (EBMUD Board of Directors-District 7), IFPTE Local 21/TJ Anthony PAC Fund, $1,200.
CITY
OAKLAND
—Oakland Neighbors for Affordable Housing & Safe Streets (Supporting Oakland Measure U infrastructure bond), Operating Engineers Local Union 3 Issues Advocacy/Ballot Initiative PAC, $25,000.
—Yes on W, Oakland Fair Elections, Sponsored by Civic Advocacy Organizations Committee Address (Supporting Oakland Measure W fair election act parcel), Progressive Era PAC, $20,000; Oakland Rising Ballot Committee Supporting Measures T & W Sponsored by CEP, $6,185, $560.
—Sheng Thao (Oakland Mayor), Service Employees International Union United Healthcare Workers West PAC, $1,800*.
—Working Families for a better Oakland Supporting Sheng Thao of Oakland Mayor 2022 (Supporting Thao), Dignity CA SEIU Local 2015, $25,000.
—Californians for Safer Streets Supporting Ignacio De La Fuente for Mayor of Oakland 2022 (Supporting De La Fuente), Monarq, Inc. of Oakland, $1,000.
—Neena Joiner (Oakland City Council-Dist. 4), OAKPAC, Oakland Metropolitican Chamber of Commerce, $1,800*.
—Kevin Jenkins (Oakland City Council-Dist. 6), OAKPAC, Oakland Metropolitican Chamber of Commerce, $1,800*.
BERKELEY
—Committee for An Affordable & Resilient Berkeley (Supporting Berkeley Measure L bond), Operating Engineers Local Union 3 Issues Advocacy/Ballot Initiative PAC, $25,000.
ALBANY
—Albany Forward, Lopez, Miki, and Pilch for Council 2022 (Supporting Lopez, Miki, Pilch), John Miki, $2,900
SAN LEANDRO
—Bryan Azevedo (San Leandro Mayor), Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee, $1,900.
PLEASANTON
—Jamie Yee (Pleasanton City Council-Dist. 3), Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee, $1,000.
—Committee for PUSD Students (Supporting Pleasanton USD bond), Pleasanton Middle School PTSA, $1,999.
STATE LEGISLATURE
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—Aisha Wahab (10th State Senate District), SEIU Local 2015 State PAC, $9,700; Cruise LLC, $2,500; Fund Her PAC, $2,500; Victoria Henley of Alameda, $1,032.
—Lily Mei (10th State Senate District), C C Yin of Vacaville, $4,900; Konghua He of Union City, $3,000; Phihong of Fremont $2,000.
20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Liz Ortega-Toro (20th Assembly District), Skinner for Senate 2020, $3,000.
18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), Operating Engineers Local No. 3 Statewide PAC Small Contributor Committee, $4,900.
16TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), California Mortgage Bankers Assoc. Political Action PAC Two, $1,500.
14TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), California Mortgage Bankers Assoc. Political Action PAC Two, $1,500.
24TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Alex Lee (24th Assembly District), Operating Engineers Local No. 3 Statewide PAC Small Contributor Committee, $4,900.