Question #8: ‘Do you presently reside in District 2? For how long?’

Fremont’s new car sales fueled $37 million in extra sales tax receipts

Alameda County Administration Building in Oakland

COUNTY NEWS

—CARPETBAGGING, PART 2—The three-page application for appointment to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors is pretty straight-forward. However, question number eight could loom large, as it did, in hindsight, during the Board of Supervisors’ last exercise in appointing a new member to its ranks in December 2021.

—Question No. 8: “Do you presently reside in District 2? For how long?” It’s almost a throw away question. Easily answered. Most of the individuals reportedly interested in the appointment are elected officials in District 2 and longtime residents.

—After Supervisor Wilma Chan’s passing, her chief of staff, Dave Brown, quickly maneuvered to get himself the appointment. Turns out Brown didn’t live in Chan’s District 3. He didn’t even live in Alameda County. Yet, the appointment was allowed and a lawsuit was filed.

—A judge later disagreed with the lawsuit’s assertion that Brown’s appointment was illegal.

—The state attorney general’s office looked at the complaint. While they did not opine on its merits, the AG’s office recommended that Alameda County tighten its election code.

—The main issue still to this day regarding residency is a distinction between someone who is appointed supervisor and an elected supervisor. The lack of clarity allowed Brown to be appointed supervisor even though he had not lived in the district for the past year, as the code states.

—Recall that upon Chan’s tragic death, Brown moved to downtown Oakland and registered as an Alameda County voter just days before the appointment process began.

—Remember these chain of events because there’s a chance the exact same story is about to play out in coming weeks with the appointment to Richard Valle’s supervisorial district.

—The re-emergence of the same controversy that roiled the Board of Supervisors only 14 months ago and without any moves to remedy a solution, is yet another misstep by the board.

—It follows an overall lack of transparency that led to Brown’s appointment and the lack of accountability involving the Registrar of Voter’s inept performance in the past election cycle.

MORE INSIDE:

• Who’s picked up a District 2 application?

• Alameda looks at third-party food delivery fees

• San Leandro protests EBMUD plan

• Fremont’s big auto sales tax receipts