See what sticks

Supervisorial candidate with public safety negatives is testing the messaging waters; BLee invites DA Price recall co-leader to roundtable discussion; Ro Khanna is the $10 million man

ELECTION 2024

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 5

—MESSAGE TESTING—Nikki Fortunato Bas’ campaign is testing whether being a survivor of sexual violence resonates with District 5 voters in Oakland and Berkeley, according to a recent survey.

—The poll questions strongly suggests the campaign is worried about Bas’ lead back in 2021 for attempting to cut the Oakland Police Department’s budget by 50 percent over a two-year period.

—The policy was never implemented by the city council, but Bas’ involvement in Oakland’s “defund the police” movement has persisted.

—Two poll questions lay out arguments that include Bas’ personal history as a “sexual assault survivor.”

—It’s not believed that Bas has ever publicly mentioned being a sexual assault survivor before the release of this survey.

—One attempts to portray Bas’ record on public safety as a “holistic approach.”

• “As a mother and sexual assault survivor, nothing is more important to Nikki Fortunato Bas than our safety. Each and every one of you need to feel safe—whether it’s taking our kids out to play; walking, biking, or driving home from a long day, without worry. Nikki’s public safety vision is a holistic approach that embraces two elements: maintaining trained, accountable law enforcement combined with increasing financial investment to attack the root causes of crime and poverty.”

—The other seeks to frame Bas’ sexual assault, in this case referred to as “brutal rape” and her record on public safety as a selfless act to protect others from facing the same horrors she once faced.

• “As a mother and crime victim, Nikki Fortunato Bas has a vision and plan to attack the root causes of crime and make our communities safer. Since surviving a brutal rape as a young college student, Nikki draws from this painful personal experience to implement policies and programs so that no other person ever has to go through what she experienced.

—Each poll question includes prompts for respondents to whether they find the argument very convincing, somewhat, slightly, not at all convincing, in addition to “false” and “don’t know.”

—Increasingly in recent years, candidates for office in the East Bay have eschewed running on their legislative records. Instead, relying on past personal traumas to gain the attention of voters.

—In 2022, Sheng Thao’s campaign for mayor highlighted being a victim of domestic violence and being homeless and living in her car with her son for a brief time.

—Rep. Barbara Lee was also homeless, she said, and was forced to have an abortion at a time before Roe v. Wade.

BERKELEY MAYOR

—CANDIDATE FORUM—Berkeley mayoral candidates will meet on Wednesday evening at a forum at The Way Christian Center on 1305 University Avenue, 5 p.m.

—Berkeley Councilmember Sophie Hahn, former Berkeley Councilmember Kate Harrison, and non-profit consultant Adena Ishii will discuss the city’s values and how each candidate will strive to attain them.

—411 on the 510—Become an East Bay Insiders subscriber today and get full access to the inside scoop every weekday morning at 6 a.m. It’s what the insiders read.

MORE INSIDE:

• ELECTION 2024: BLee to host event with co-leader of Price recall

• Fremont firefighters union cash could help mayoral candidate’s chances

• November nomination period begins. Here’s who pulled papers

• Poll: Calif. Dems and independents wants Biden to drop out

• Congressional campaign finance reports: Khanna is the $10 million man