—S-DEFEATIST 10—If I’m a candidate for elected office, I would watch my opponent closely for any signs of what they’re thinking. I’m looking for a tell. Maybe it’s their body language? Maybe its something they say that indicates a potential weakness? Maybe its all of the above?
—It seems State Senate candidate and Fremont Mayor Lily Mei is not a good poker player because she’s been showing on many levels that something is bothering her. Case in point was the candidate forum held two weeks ago in which Mei looked haggard, a little puffy, and was possibly imbibing a glass of wine while attending the virtual forum. As an elected official, drinking on the job is a felony. At a candidate forum, a little Chardonnay on the rocks is like attending a job interview and downing a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck.
—Mei showed her hand during the forum when out of the blue she warned against her challengers focusing on her fundraising from Asian donors. Such an attack has come nowhere near being raised so far in this race, but Mei appeared to make an end run on the issue by highlighting the subject.
—The continued reliance on donations from Asian American voters, as unfair as it positively is, could be problematic for some 10th State Senate voters. China and politics is a sensitive subject today. Mei’s somewhat lascivious photograph with suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang (Rep. Eric Swalwell’s rumored paramour) is another problem on the same front.
—But what stuck out recently was one of the most dispiriting and defeatist comments I have ever heard from an Alameda County official. Especially so early in the campaign, and from a candidate still sitting as one of the front runners. (Watch the clip of Mei on the East Bay Insiders YouTube channel HERE.)
—If you read between the lines, it seems like the doors to all types of groups, including some individuals, are possibly being closed on Mei. In her comments, she mentioned winning past elections without endorsements from the local establishment. The root issue here is most likely the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee’s near-unanimous decision last fall to formally admonish Mei for her past anti-LGBT comments and votes as a Fremont school boardmember. The action effectively issued a strong warning to individuals thinking about supporting her campaign.
—Insiders say Mei has been relying on Rep. Ro Khanna, her top endorser, to play down the central committee action, especially in the new parts of the district in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
—We’ll find out soon if one of Mei’s problems is also fundraising. She bolted out to an early advantage with more than $300,000 in contributions last July, but that was before the county Democrats laid a whammy on her campaign.
ELECTION 2022 UPDATE
—AD20 ENDORSEMENT—Dublin Councilmember Shawn Kumagai picked up the endorsement of state Treasurer Fiona Ma for his campaign in the 20th Assembly District. Ma is popular in the East Bay. The endorsement could send a strong message to Asian American Democrats in the East Bay and in Sacramento. Meanwhile, AD20 opponent Liz Ortega-Toro has the backing of the Bontas, current Assemblymember Bill Quirk, and four current councilmembers in the district.
—ALCO SCHOOL SUPE—There appears to be some disenchantment coming from teachers’ union toward Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L. Karen Monroe. The incumbent is facing a June re-election, and her challenger, Alysse Castro, announced her campaign has won the endorsement of the California Teachers Association.
—PULLED PAPERS—David Kakishiba, a former Oakland Unified School District trustee and leader of the East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC), pulled papers last week to join the Alameda County Board of Supervisors June primary in District 3. Kakishiba served on the Oakland school board from 2003 to 2009. He abruptly resigned after the district’s counsel determined Kakishiba had a conflict-of-interest that included his employment with the EBAYC. No wrongdoing was alleged. Kakishiba had abstained whenever contracts with the youth center came before the school district.
—GOP ANGST—Rep. Eric Swalwell is really good at raising the ire of Republicans and also compelling them to run against him. Currently, four Republicans in the redrawn 14th Congressional District have pulled papers to challenge the cable news TV star. One of the GOP challengers, Jackie Cota, has railed against the Covid-19 vaccine and mask mandates at several recent Alameda County Board of Supervisors meetings. In addition, two candidates registered as No Party Preference have also showed intent to run in the June primary. Not that Swalwell is worried. The gang probably sloughs off only a quarter of the entire vote.
—Check out the entire East Bay Candidate List for the June and November 2022 elections HERE.
D.C. DISH
—LEE SPEAKS—Rep. Barbara Lee, chair of the Progressive Caucus Peace and Security Task Force raised concerns over escalating tensions on the Ukraine border between the U.S. and Russia on Wednesday. Lee and the caucus' chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal urged the Biden Administration to continue efforts for a diplomatic solution and not to play into Russia's ploy to inflame the situation. "In past crises, where events are moving quickly and intelligence is unclear, vigorous, delicate diplomacy is essential to de-escalation," they said.
—NOMINATE A BLACK WOMAN—Lee joined many Democrats in asking President Biden to keep his word and nominate a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court after the expected retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer. Biden, you may recall, made the promise during a presidential primary debate in 2020. One of the potential candidates, according to experts, is California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger.
DATEBOOK
—TOWN HALL—Reps. Barbara Lee and Mark DeSaulnier (soon to be part of the Alameda County congressional caucus due to redistricting) will hold a joint Voting Rights Town Hall on Facebook Live on Thursday, Jan. 27, 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.Watch the town hall HERE.
NEWS BRIEFING
LIVERMORE
—HOUSING EXPANSION—Livermore is beginning to eye locations for up to 4,750 new units of housing within the next decade, The Independent reports. The state-mandated increase is 67 percent more than what the city was required to build over the past eight years.
OAKLAND
—MASK MANDATE—An Oakland city ordinance approved last month requiring proof of vaccination at restaurants, bars, and gyms comes into effect next Tuesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The mandate comes at a moment when the Omicron variant appears to be greatly subsiding in the East Bay and elsewhere. San Francisco and Berkeley have similar mandates.
—OUSD VACCINE MANDATE—Meanwhile, Oakland Unified decided on Wednesday to postpone a student vaccine mandate that was set to come into effect on Jan. 31, The Oaklandside reports. The school board moved the date to Aug. 1.
—A new episode of the East Bay Insiders podcast is now available. Get the podcast for FREE on Apple Podcasts or wherever you download podcasts. Listen HERE.
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