Second Berkeley councilmember abruptly resigns

IE makes $1.2 million ad buy for state Senate candidate; Board of Supervisors campaign finance analysis; Charter school interests emerging in county Board of Ed contest

Berkeley Councilmember Kate Harrison was elected in 2016

CITY NEWS

BERKELEY

—WATERSHED MOMENT?—Berkeley Councilmember Kate Harrison announced her resignation, effective Feb. 15, during yet another raucous city council meeting on Tuesday night, The Berkeley Scanner reports.

—Visibly upset, Harrison said, “I could say what office holders usually say that they would like to spend more time with their family, but that is not the reason, nor am I being harassed in any way to make this decision.

—”I’m doing this because I believe Berkeley’s processes are broken and I cannot in good time continue to serve on this body.”

—Berkeley council meetings have been beset by constant interruptions from protesters demanding a permanent ceasefire resolution and activists who oppose the redevelopment of People’s Park.

—Harrison is the third councilmember in Alameda County to abruptly announce their resignation in less than two months. San Leandro Councilmember Celina Reynes resigned last month, and Berkeley Councilmember Rigel Robinson did the same earlier this month.

—Harrison is a candidate for Berkeley mayor this November. It’s unclear if she will continue her nascent run. Robinson was also in the fall race for Berkeley mayor, but he ended his campaign earlier this month.

—After Harrison’s announcement on Tuesday night, protesters inside the council chambers chanted “Who’s next. Jesse’s next,” referring to Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, according to The Scanner.

SAN LEANDRO

—POPULAR GIG—Eighteen candidates applied for the San Leandro City Council appointment in District 1, the city announced on Tuesday night.

—The list of names interested in taking over for Celina Reynes, who resigned on Dec. 31, was not provided by the city.

ELECTION 2024

34 days to Primary Day (5 days until vote-by-mail ballots are sent.)

ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

—Registering a major upset in Alameda County politics of late doesn’t necessarily entail being that prolific as a fundraiser. But it certainly helps.

—Jennifer Esteen, the upstart candidate in the Alameda County Board of Supervisors race in District 4, has a nearly twice as much cash on hand than her opponent, incumbent Supervisor Nate Miley, according to pre-primary campaign finance reports covering the first three weeks of 2024.

—The current snapshot may have spooked Miley’s supporters. On Tuesday, Miley notched one of his biggest one-day fundraising hauls of the campaign.

—Meanwhile, the race to succeed Supervisor Keith Carson in District 5 is proving to be a highly-competitive contest. Emeryville Councilmember John Bauters leads the money race, with two other candidates on his heels.

—Oakland Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas, viewed as a frontrunner in this primary, posted middling fundraising reports that portends for help from labor-backed Independent Expenditure Committees.

—Below are cash on hand totals reported by candidates in the 4th Supervisorial District that includes Castro Valley, Pleasanton, and East Oakland; and the 5th Supervisorial District that includes Berkeley, North Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville, and Albany, in addition to full analysis later in today’s newsletter:

CASH ON HAND LEADERS through Jan. 20

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 4

• Jennifer Esteen $99,069

• Nate Miley $54,217

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 5

• John Bauters $108,234

• Ken Berrick $84,051

• Chris Moore $83,195

• Ben Bartlett $58,515

• Nikki Fortunato Bas $35,608

• Greg Hodge $16,143

• Lorrel Plimier $1,601

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