Wahab: 'This recall is completely without merit'

Alameda County Democrats warned about conservatives eyeing campaigns for local school board races; Barbara Lee catches a break; campaign finance data

A possible recall looms over State Sen. Aisha Wahab.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT

—TOTAL RECALL—Next year could be the Year of the Recall.

—A recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is already underway.

—There’s a push to recall two Sunol Glen school boardmembers, and constant chatter about another against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.

—There’s also a recall of state Sen. Aisha Wahab that continues to quietly gain steam.

—“The recall, sadly, is to bully state legislators or policymakers as a whole to do what these individuals want,” Wahab said of recall proponents.

—The recall is widely believed to be an effort made by opponents of Wahab’s caste discrimination bill.

—“The sad reality is that we have heard them state that if we were to drop the civil right bill of caste discrimination and protecting people against caste discrimination, they would drop the recall. I don’t think that is healthy for a democracy,” Wahab told the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee earlier this month.

—“This recall is completely without merit. It is disappointing, but at the same time. I think every civil rights effort has been met with opposition,” she added.

—Although the caste discrimination bill sailed through the state Legislature last summer, Gov. Gavin Newsom ultimately vetoed the bill on Oct. 7.

—It remains unclear whether Newsom’s veto will take some of the wind out of the recall’s sails. Proponents issued a second notice of intent to recall last month.

—Last month, the Alameda County Democratic Party passed a resolution opposing Wahab’s recall.

—“Hopefully this recall effort will not get off the ground, but if it does,” said Alameda County Democratic Party Chair Igor Tregub, “we are primed to fight back and we’ve got your back.”

MORE INSIDE:

• COUNTY NEWS: Sunol school boardmember filed restraining order against colleague’s wife

• Rise of conservative school board candidates in the East Bay

• Price to speak in San Leandro next week

• ELECTION NEWS: Sen. Butler bowing out in 2024 is good news for BLee

• Adam Schiff chats with ALCO Dems

• Big endorsements on the line this Saturday

• Oakland USD campaign finance roundup

• Campaign finance data