Oakland's special election is a 100-meter dash

An Olympian is running for Oakland mayor; San Leandro intends to having district-based elections ready for 2026; Alameda County Fair made money last year

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—Oakland’s special election is just 91 days away. In reality, the timeframe for candidates for Oakland mayor and the District 2 city council seat is much shorter.

Oakland voters will receive their ranked choice voting ballot in just 62 days.

The deadline for a candidate to complete their filing is this Friday.

Oakland’s special election is a 100-meter dash to April 15, and there is simply no time to waste.

But the special mayoral election appears to have momentarily seized up with the addition last week of Barbara Lee.

Lee is the race’s clear front runner. Most insiders believe Lee will offer scant details about her plans for fixing Oakland.

It’s a strategy that Lateefah Simon deftly used to coast to an easy victory in last November’s race to replace Lee in the 12th Congressional District.

Meanwhile, there’s growing concern about Loren Taylor’s campaign appearing to quietly disappear into the tall hedges behind him. Taylor’s campaign consultant, Bearstar Strategies, is one of the best in the state. When is Taylor going to make a move?

—More inside:

• Sixteen have pulled papers for Oakland mayor; seven for District 2. Who has already qualified for the ballot?

• The “worst Olympian ever” is running for Oakland mayor.

• Oakland looks to parking tickets for budget relief.

• San Leandro is moving to district-based elections in 2026.

• Alameda County Fair made money last year, but not as much as 2023.

• Supervisor doesn’t believe county’s soil importation ordinance is working.

—411 ON THE 510—There’s much more inside! Become an East Bay Insiders subscriber today and get full access to the inside scoop every weekday morning at 6 a.m.

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PODCAST

—EPISODE 103—The East Bay Insiders Podcast travels to Castro Valley for a live recording this Thursday night following the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce’s Installation Mixer. Join me, Shawn Wilson, and Dan Mendoza!