Rebecca Kaplan returns another donation that could violate Oakland's conflict of interest laws

San Leandro official drops out of mayoral race, potentially scrambling the field

Alameda County supervisorial candidate Rebecca Kaplan seems lately to be refunding more contributions than her campaign is taking in.

ELECTION 2022

ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

—ELECTION MODE—It’s still not entirely clear why Alameda County District 3 supervisorial candidate Rebecca Kaplan returned a $5,000 contribution to her campaign this week from Lew Wolff, the former co-owner of the Oakland Athletics, because she appears only to answer questions from the Oakland Post and a certain YouTuber.

—Although Wolff sold most of his stake in the club in 2016, he may still retain a small portion of the team’s ownership, thereby kicking in a possible conflict of interest between the team’s bid for a new ballpark at Howard Terminal and negotiations with the Oakland City Council that include Kaplan.

—As reported in yesterday’s newsletter, it wasn’t the first time Kaplan has refunded a check from Wolff. Kaplan returned three $700 checks from the Wolff family in 2014 because there was a conflict of interest that may have violated Oakland’s election code. Kaplan was in the midst of negotiating a new lease for the A’s at the Coliseum.

—It looks like Kaplan’s campaign was reviewing its previous campaign contributions and found one that again potentially violates the same city conflict of interest code.

—On Tuesday, the Kaplan campaign returned a $1,000 contribution received on Mar. 14 from Clayton Collett, the point man for a company currently seeking a city contract for high-tech street kiosks.

—Last week, The Oaklandside reported on IKE Smart City’s efforts to erect up to 50 kiosks in Oakland, along with a proposed revenue-sharing plan with the city. The full proposal could come back to the Oakland City Council later this year. Berkeley approved the use of IKE Smart City’s kiosks last year.

—The Oakland Campaign Reform Act prohibits potential contractors from making contributions to Oakland officials from the beginning of negotiations through 180 days after the completion or termination of negotiations.

—The perception of an elected officials allegedly double-dealing could be a potent hit by Kaplan’s opponents in the Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 3 race. It remains to be seen if any of the candidates—Lena Tam, Surlene Grant, or David Kakishiba—have the money to highlight Kaplan’s alleged intent or misdeed here in the next month.

FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS: Recent moves evokes Kaplan’s 2014 campaign collapse | Alameda County’s huge donor maximum | IE cash keeps flowing | CoCo DA drama | Campaign finance roundup | San Leandro mayoral race is scrambled, what it all means? |