What’s up with Bryan Azevedo’s curious curly coif?
Oakland mayoral candidate speaks out about being cut from the November ballot
ELECTION 2022
Days until Election Day: 77. Sorry for today’s late newsletter. Substack was down for most the afternoon.
SAN LEANDRO MAYOR
—BEWARE THE CURL—Sometime early this year, a lone strand of brown hair started creeping down San Leandro mayoral candidate Bryan Azevedo’s forehead. If Azevedo is Superman, then who is Clark Kent down at the local San Leandro Times?
—An insider told me they recently asked Azevedo about the curly cue on his forehead. Was it natural? Was it teased to look like the Man of Steel? It’s somewhat the latter, Azevedo told them.
—But there’s more. Azevedo told the insider the hairstyle isn’t so much about the look but that he believes the curlicue gives him good luck.
—Prior to last Saturday’s candidate forum, I asked Azevedo about his curl and whether it was akin to a lucky rabbit’s foot. He nervously nodded and left the conversation.
OAKLAND MAYOR
—UNVICTORIOUS—Allyssa Victory Villanueva was expected to be on this fall’s mayoral ballot in Oakland. She participated in a few candidate forums and had a presence on the campaign trail for most of this year. But when the filing deadline came and went last week, her name was after the city clerk’s office her use of Victory on her paperwork. Villanueva said the city attorney’s office asked for additional information.
“My maiden name is Villanueva and my married name I adopted with my spouse 6 years ago is Victory,” she wrote on Twitter. “The Clerk’s office didn’t ask other candidates for explanation or additional affidavits on why their name is their name. Other people, including our current Mayor, used nicknames.”
—ENDORSEMENTS—The results from last weekend’s San Leandro Democratic Club endorsement meeting are in: The fast-growing club endorsed Celina Demos Reynes for San Leandro City Council in District 1, and Xoahoa Bowen in District 5. As expected, there was no endorsement offered in the mayor’s race. None of the three Democratic candidates for San Leandro mayor achieved majority support from club members.
—Over in East County, the Tri-Valley Democratic Club endorsed Evan Branning for the Livermore City Council seat in District 1, incumbent Dublin Councilmember Jean Josey, and Dublin City Council candidate Kashef Qaadri.
DATEBOOK
—SPEED DATING CANDIDATES—Your one-stop shop for a snapshots of candidates in several Oakland and countywide races is tonight. The Metropolitan-Greater Oakland Democratic Club and Alameda County Democratic Lawyers’ Club is hosting a virtual tonight at 7 p.m.
-Candidates from all three contested Oakland City Council and school board races will appear in short increments, along with AC Transit candidates for the at-large seat and Ward 3, and East Bay MUD’s Ward 3 race.
—OAKMAYOR FORUM—Six Oakland mayoral candidates will meet at a candidate forum hosted the by Center for Elders’ Independence and LifeLong Medical Care on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 6 p.m. at the Laney College Theater. Confirmed candidates include Sheng Thao, Loren Taylor, Treva Reid, Ignacio De La Fuente, Greg Hodge, and Allyssa Victory.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—MONEYBALL—Large Form 497 contributions filed Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. *-local city maximum campaign contribution.
COUNTY
—Pamela Price (Alameda County District Attorney), SEIU Local 1021 Candidate PAC, $20,000.
CITIES
—Jim Oddie (Alameda City Council), Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee, $2,500.
—Dean Wallace (Pleasanton City Council), Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee, $1,000.
—Nancy Thomas (Newark School Board), Nancy Thomas, $7,000.
STATE SENATE/ASSEMBLY
—Aisha Wahab (10th State Senate District), Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 483 Legislative Political Action Committee, $4,900. Lily Mei (10th State Senate District), Eric Chun Liu of Orinda, $1,000.
—Liz Ortega-Toro (20th Assembly District), California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, Public Affairs, $4,900. Shawn Kumagai (20th Assembly District), Charter Public Schools Political Action Committee, sponsored by California Charter Schools Association Advocates, $2,500.
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), Affirmed Housing Group of San Diego, $4,000; Meta Platforms, Inc., $2,000. —Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), American Clean Power Association, $1,000.
—Alex Lee (24th Assembly District), Plumbers, Steamfitters & Refrigeration Fitters Local 393 Political Action Fund Small Contributor Cmte, $2,500; County Employee Management Association, $1,000. Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), California YIMBY Fund, $1,500.
—HOUSEKEEPING—I’m going to take the rest of the week off from publishing a full newsletter to allow some extra time to work on a few election stories for the next month and candidate spotlight features. In the meantime, I’ll maintain the campaign finance data each day and perhaps a few small blurbs.
—Also, this week look out for the Season 5 premiere of the East Bay Insiders podcast. Co-host Shawn Wilson and I will preview the November election season. Oakland mayoral candidate Seneca Scott will join the podcast next week. Later next month, another aspiring Oakland mayoral candidate, Loren Taylor, is tentatively scheduled to come on the show.
