Supervisor candidates enter the interview phase today. Here's what you need to know
Hayward councilmember has emerged as the frontrunner ahead of Thursday's appointment; Reparation in Alameda County get an ad hoc committee
COUNTY NEWS
D2 APPOINTMENT
—HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW—Paid subscribers received this scoop yesterday and it may simplify what happens this week with the District 2 sueprvisorial appointment:
—HE GONE—Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas is ending his bid for appointment to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in District 2.
—Salinas was scheduled to be one of five applicants to be interviewed by the board this afternoon. (Starts around 2 p.m.) An appointment by the board is schedule for this Thursday.
—Salinas was viewed among the top tier of applicants, but his path moving forward was dimmed last week when three other applicants received unanimous support (four votes) to move forward their applications to the interview round. Salinas received three of four votes.
—We’ve did this before when it comes to Salinas and a possible appointment to the board. In 2012, Salinas nearly attempted a bid for the appointment to replace Nadia Lockyer, which went to Richard Valle, but removed himself from consideration prior to the process beginning.
—BUT WHY?—It’s not entirely clear why Salinas didn’t proceed with the process, although it hints that a frontrunner for the appointment has emerged and it’s likely Elisa Marquez.
—Salinas found himself a bit behind the eight ball after three other applicants received all four votes in the first round of voting last week. In recent days his often smug attitude may have done in him. This included some griping and trash talking against some local leaders.
—SALINAS’ ENDORSEMENT—On his way out, Salinas offered Marquez his endorsement. If other groups follow Salinas’ lead, then the road leading to who may be the next supervisor in District 2 becomes less fuzzy.
—CHATTER—There’s growing consensus that Elisa Marquez is the clear frontrunner for the appointment. Furthermore, business interests and landlord groups appear comfortable with Marquez sitting on the Board of Supervisors.
—Ariana Casanova, labor’s candidate, started strong but her light has dimmed over the past week. Casanova has been reaching out to special interests not usually friendly to labor-backed candidates, like landlords, as late as Monday.
—Obviously without much luck, according to insiders. The outreach campaign may be a signal that labor’s plans for gaining the appointment is floundering.
—INTERVIEW CRIB NOTES—We don’t know what the Board of Supervisors will ask the four interviewees this afternoon, but here’s a few hot topics:
—The specific role of county supervisor, eviction moratorium and renters’ protections, responses to an uncertain budget season, the county’s ambulance contract, thoughts about law enforcement, and, perhaps, the Howard Terminal infrastructure financing district.
—None of the four applicants are particular charismatic speakers, so in order to wow the Board of Supervisors, each one will need to clearly articulate their understanding of county government and their vision for its future.
—CRYSTAL BALL—The appointment is about an electorate of four people: Supervisors Nate Miley, Keith Carson, David Haubert, and Lena Tam. So how might they vote? Here’s some insights I’ve collected in recent days.
—Keep an eye who Haubert and Tam support and whether they become a voting bloc. The most likely applicant to gain their backing is Elisa Marquez. If so, it’s a strong signal that Marquez has brought landlords and other business interests to her side.
—The entire game here is about counting to three votes. So, under this scenario, where does Marquez get that third vote? It’s not clear, according to insiders, whether Miley, who often votes on regular matters with Haubert, could be a third vote.
—If not Miley, then there’s not much chance that Carson will back Marquez.
PODCAST
—Listen to more insights into the appointment process in the latest episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast, recorded on Monday evening.
—EPISODE 61—The future of Alameda County politics is on the line as the Board of Supervisors begin the interview and deliberation process for choosing an appointment to its ranks. A shift to center could take hold or a move back to the left is at stake. We take you through the process and the storylines in this special edition. Also, Shawn Wilson talks about his trip to Mexico.
REPARATIONS
—ADHOC COMMITTEE FORMS—The Alameda County Board of Supervisor’s timeline for reparations is not as far along as previously thought. Nevertheless, the board will approve the creation of a 15-member ad hoc committee to study reparations in Alameda County.
—Once formed, possibly as late as July, the group will make bimonthly reports to the board. However, the process could take more than a year.
—The proposed make-up of the ad hoc committee is quite diverse and specific. In addition, the proposed composition of the committee suggests any reparations proposal might lean on philanthropy and fundraising.
—Each supervisor will get one at-large pick, but the rest of the committee includes, among other individuals, a formerly incarcerated individual, a member of the local Black business community, individuals with financial expertise, and someone 55-years-old and up who lives in a predominately Black community.