The wheels are coming off
Incidents involving elected officials in Alameda and San Leandro; Frayed nerves all over the East Bay political scene with just eight days to Election Day; BART Police donate to DA Price recall
ELECTION 2024
8 days to Election Day
ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL
—WILD NIGHT IS CALLING—As the first Election Night ballot returns are released in Alameda County next week the Alameda City Council will discuss a formal admonishment of Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer for her actions in Long Beach on Oct. 19.
—Spencer is one of five candidates on the Nov. 5 ballot seeking two at-large seats on the Alameda City Council.
—While attending the annual League of California Cities event in Long Beach two weeks ago, Spencer was found allegedly inebriated a few blocks from the convention center at 12:12 a.m., according to Long Beach Police.
—Paramedics treated Spencer for injuries. In a statement last week, Spencer said she did not remember the incident and suggested she was the victim of assault, but made no mention of being intoxicated.
—Spencer reported bruises to her head and arms, and missing valuable belongings.
—Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft’s referral on the Nov. 5 council agenda does not call for censure of Spencer, only an admonishment for violating the city council’s conduct of code, specifically the section below:
“…Members are constantly being observed by the community every day that they serve in office. Their behaviors and comments serve as models for proper deportment in the City of Alameda. Honesty and respect for the dignity of each individual should be reflected in every word and action taken by members, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a serious and continuous responsibility.”
—“The inappropriate conduct of a Councilmember undermines the public’s trust in all matters that come before the Council,” according to the resolution.
—The topic is likely to create a firestorm at the Nov. 5 meeting. A group of Alameda residents and a local business owner have ridiculed Ashcraft during public comment for months.
—The mayor’s attempt to sanction Spencer next week is likely to further stoke their volatile rhetoric.
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL - DISTRICT 2
—WALKING ON EGG SHELLS—While Alameda elected officials appear on the path to directly handling the misbehavior of one of their colleagues, San Leandro officials are taking a more passive approach.
—Following San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo’s fight with a former San Leandro councilmember last month, the city council quickly set in motion a process for handling violations of its council handbook.
—San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez III, when pressed about the timing of the proposal, however, said the proposed disciplinary process had been previously discussed with the city’s former city manager.
—Last week, the city council removed the creation of an ad hoc committee to handle official complaints about a councilmember’s conduct from the proposed policy out of fears the process would be politicized.
—A surveillance video of the fight at the San Leandro Library on Sept. 7 showed Azevedo as the initial aggressor.
—None of Azevedo’s colleagues have made a statement about his behavior, in addition to another video that showed Azevedo removing the campaign yard signs of his opponent, Ed Hernández.
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12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—CLOWN SHOW—Jennifer Tran, a candidate in the 12th Congressional District, crossed paths with Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife, who is facing a tough re-election campaign
—Tran said Fife “tried to run up” on her at a parking lot in Oakland. “She said she was there to confront me about calling her a clown,” Tran wrote on X on Sunday night.
—“But it was obvious that she was just another little minion sent by Lateefah Simon in an attempt to intimidate me. She tried to physically threaten me by telling me verbatim that she feared for my safety,” Tran wrote.
—Tran is facing Simon in the 12th Congressional District race to succeed Rep. Barbara Lee.
—Fife denied Tran’s allegations in a posting on X. “Jen, you know none of this is true & I’m glad I recorded the conversation until my phone died,” Fife wrote.
—Tran responded: “Please publish your recording, Carroll. Hopefully your recording didn't mysteriously cut off before you tried to threaten me like a wannabe thug by sarcastically telling me that you fear for my safety.”
—Over the past month, Tran has significantly ratcheted up her rhetoric, along with a pair of campaign videos, one including a punching bag, that forcefully challenge Simon.
—On X last night, Tran reserved some words for Simon
—“I got news for you, Lateefah Simon. You can't scare me with these tired bully tactics. Nobody's afraid of you or any of your clowns. Even though you're paying the media with billionaire dollars to hide you from your hideous record destroying our community. We see you.”
—During the March Primary, Simon appeared very uncomfortable with Tran’s pointed rhetoric at a candidate forum in San Leandro. In particular, Tran’s call for Simon to publish policy positions and participate in debates, which never occurred during the fall election season.
OTHER LOCAL INCIDENTS
—BERKELEY—There are also frayed nerves in Berkeley. Berkeley Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani filed a police report after a resident allegedly assaulted her while trying to grab the mic at a community meeting last Thursday, Berkeleyside reports.
—MILPITAS—A Milpitas councilmember running for mayor said she was fearful for her safety after a former councilmember jammed her up about whether she supports Donald Trump for president, the Milpitas Beat reports.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—SPENDING SPREE—The final campaign finance reporting period is when campaigns mostly stop fundraising and shift their focus to spending.
—Here are the Top 10 spenders in Alameda County races from Sept. 22 through Oct. 19, according to campaign finance records released on Thursday:
EAST BAY’S TOP 10 SPENDERS
Raj Salwan (Fremont Mayor) $167,088
Sophie Hahn (Berkeley Mayor) $108,667
Warren Logan (Oakland City Council-D3) $51,982
Carroll Fife (Oakland City Council-D3) $45,393
Vinnie Bacon (Fremont Mayor) $44,255
Brenda Harbin-Forte (Oakland City Attorney) $39,819
Brent Blackaby (Berkeley City Council-D6) $39,326
Adena Ishii (Berkeley Mayor) $39,060
Dylan Boldt (San Leandro City Council-D6) $36,315
Zac Unger (Oakland City Council-D1) $35,211
**Paid subscribers, check your email this morning for a special Election 2024 edition of the newsletter featuring campaign finance report capsules for every candidate running in mayoral and city council races in Alameda County.
—BANK NOTES—
OAKLAND: Foundational Oakland Unites contributed $60,000 to the IE supporting Oakland City Council candidates Len Raphael (District 1) and Ken Houston (District 7).
A total of $40,000 flowed to a pair of IEs supporting Warren Logan in Oakland’s District 3, and PG&E added $50,000 to the committee supporting Oakland’s Measure NN, the public safety parcel tax.
There continues to be a big IE push in support of LeRonne Armstrong in Oakland’s At-large race. Families for a Safer Oakland, in Support of LeRonne Armstrong for City Council 2024 spent $110,000 over the weekend for TV and online ads.
FREMONT: Preserving Agriculture in Alameda County, the IE supporting Raj Salwan for Fremont mayor, received $50,000 over the weekend from an IE named Golden State PAC 2024. Mailers sent by Preserving Agriculture in Alameda County have unmercifully attacked Salwan’s main opponent, Vinnie Bacon.
PRICE RECALL: Police unions in Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, among others, have donated to committees supporting the recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Add BART Police to the list. The BART Police Officers’ Association contributed $8,000 over the weekend to Save Alameda For Everyone, the committee leading the Price recall effort.
—💰MONEYBALL—Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on Oct. 25-27:
ALAMEDA COUNTY
RECALLS
—Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE): Recall DA Price (Supports Price recall), BPOA Transit Safety PAC sponsored by the BART Police Officers’ Association, $8,000. TOTAL: $8,000.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Nikki Fortunato Bas (District 5), Laborers Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition PAC, $5,500. TOTAL: $5,500.
CITIES
FREMONT
—Preserving Agriculture in Alameda County Supporting Raj Salwan for Mayor 2024 (Supporting Salwan), Golden State PAC 2024, $50,000. TOTAL: $50,000.
HAYWARD
—Angela Andrews (Hayward City Council), Bay Area Teamster Local Unions, Teamsters National D.R.I.V.E. Political Fund, $1,743. TOTAL: $1,743.
—Ray Bonilla, Jr. (Hayward City Council), Bay Area Teamster Local Unions, Teamsters National D.R.I.V.E. Political Fund, $1,743. TOTAL: $1,743.
LIVERMORE
—Tara Boyce (Livermore Joint USD), Livermore Education Association PAC, $2,496. TOTAL: $2,496.
—Christiaan VandenHeuvel (Livermore Joint USD), Livermore Education Association PAC, $2,496. TOTAL: $2,496.
OAKLAND
—Committee to Elect Ken Houston & Len Raphael and oppose Zac Unger for City Council 2024 (Supporting District 1, 7), Foundational Oakland Unites, $60,000. TOTAL: $60,000.
—Together for Oakland’s Families, in Support of Warren Logan for City Council 2024. (Supporting Warren), Families for a Vibrant Oakland, Sponsored by Abundance Network, $20,000. TOTAL: $20,000.
—Oaklanders for Common Sense, United to Fire Carroll Fie and Elect Warren Logan for City Council 2024. (Supporting Warren/Opposing Fife), Revitalize East Bay Committee, $20,000. TOTAL: $20,000.
—Oaklanders Together - For A Safer Oakland, Yes on NN (Supporting parking/parcel tax), PG&E Corporation And Affiliated Entities, $50,000. TOTAL: $50,000.
SAN LEANDRO
—Ed Hernández (San Leandro City Council-District 2), The Blarney Family Trust, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Jesse Arreguin (7th Senate District), EdVoice for the Kids PAC, $2,000; Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP, $1,500; Knight Law Group LLP, $1,500; Forty Niners Football Company LLC, $1,000; California Association of Mortgage PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $7,000.
—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), David Wick of San Diego, $2,500. TOTAL: $2,500.
—Jerry McNerney (5th Senate District), Keeping Californians Working, a Coalition of Insurance Agents, Technology, Energy, & Health Care Providers, $2,500; James Swofford of Redwood City, $1,000. TOTAL: $3,500.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), California Restaurant Association PAC, $3,000; California Waste Haulers Council PAC, $2,500; Visa, Inc., $2,000. TOTAL: $7,500.
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), Anheuser-Busch Companies, $5,500. TOTAL: $5,500.
—Liz Ortega (20th Assembly District), Transport Workers Union Political Contributions Committee, $2,500. TOTAL: $2,500.
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), Merck, Sharp & Dohme LLC and Affiliated Entities, $2,000. TOTAL: $2,000.
STATEWIDE
—Rob Bonta for CA Attorney General 2026, Engineers & Scientists of California Local 20 IFPTE Lou Lucivero Legislative Education & Action Program, $9,100; Notarize, Inc., $5,500; 1-800 Contacts, Inc., $5,000; California New Car Dealers Association PAC, $5,000; Teichert, Inc. and Affiliates Entities, $5,000. TOTAL: $29,600.
—🧾EXPENDITURES—Form 496 Independent Expenditure Reports filed on Oct. 25-27.
STATE LEGISLATURE
COUNTY
BART BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—Victor Flores (District 7), Empower Oakland Committee. SUPPORT (Mailer—$2,397). TOTAL: $2,397.
CITIES
DUBLIN
—Measure II (Supporting land donation), Preserving Agriculture in Alameda County. SUPPORT (Mailer—$7,500). TOTAL: $7,500.
FREMONT
—Raj Salwan (Fremont Mayor), Fremont Police Association PAC. SUPPORT (Mailer—$12,091; Newspaper ad—$186). TOTAL: $12,277.
—Raj Salwan (Fremont Mayor), Fremont Police Association PAC. SUPPORT (Mailer—$1,343; Slate mailer costs—$90). TOTAL: $1,433.
—Teresa Keng (Fremont City Council-District 1); Yajing Zhang (Fremont City Council-District 5); Teresa Cox (Fremont City Council-District 6); Recall Pamela Price (Support recall). [Each candidate and committee received same amount from IE], (Fremont City Council), Fremont Police Association PAC. SUPPORT (Slate mailer—$400; Newspaper ad—$186). TOTAL: $586.
LIVERMORE
—Steven Dunbar (Livermore City Council-District 3), California Real Estate PAC. SUPPORT (Digital ads—$1,680). TOTAL: $1,680.
OAKLAND
—Zac Unger (Oakland City Council-District 1); Warren Logan (Oakland City Council-District 3); Noel Gallo (Oakland City Council-District 5); Ken Houston (Oakland City Council-District 7); Iris Merriouns (Oakland City Council-District 7); LeRonne Armstrong (Oakland City Council-At-large); Kanitha Matoury (Oakland City Council-At-large); Charlene Wang (Oakland City Council-At-large); Benjamin Salop (Oakland USD-District 1); Dwyane Aikens, Jr. (Oakland USD-District 3); Patrice Berry (Oakland USD-District 5); Clifford Thompson (Oakland USD-District 7); Brenda Harbin-Forte (Oakland City Attorney). [Each candidate received same amount from IE], Empower Oakland Committee. SUPPORT (Mailer—$2,397). TOTAL: $2,397.
—LeRonne Armstrong (Oakland City Council-At-large), Families for a Safer Oakland, in Support of LeRonne Armstrong for City Council 2024. SUPPORT (TV ads—$80,000; Online ads—$30,000). TOTAL: $110,000.
—LeRonne Armstrong (Oakland City Council-At-large), Citizens For A Brighter Oakland Future - Armstrong for Council 2024. SUPPORT (Mailer—$6,512; Consulting—$2,000). TOTAL: $8,512.
—Ryan Richardson (Oakland City Council-District 7), Families for a Vibrant Oakland, Sponsored by Abundance Network. OPPOSE (Campaign literature—$32,175). TOTAL: $32,175.
—Brenda Harbin-Forte (Oakland City Attorney), Families for a Vibrant Oakland, Sponsored by Abundance Network. SUPPORT (Campaign literature—$10,725; Text messages—$11,811). TOTAL: $22,536.
—Ryan Richardson (Oakland City Attorney), California Workers' Justice Coalition sponsored by SEIU Local 1021. SUPPORT (Text messages—$3,300). TOTAL: $3,300.
