I wish we had this kind of contest when Jerry Brown ran for his second term. But now, we've got a good one and the fur will fly in the next week. Ron Dellums is still the best choice over the two candidates most responsible for Oakland's governmental morale problem.
Oakland mayoral candidates making final push
De La Fuente, Dellums, Nadel pound pavement to win over undecided voters
By Heather MacDonald, STAFF WRITER, OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — With less than two weeks to go until the election, mayoral candidates Ron Dellums, Ignacio De La Fuente and Nancy Nadel are all working at breakneck speed to convert undecided voters and mobilize their supporters.
While Dellums, a former congressman, and De La Fuente, the president of the Oakland City Council, talk of winning outright June 6, most observers of the race expect the close contest to result in a November runoff — and Nadel, an Oakland council member, should not be counted out.
"I'm pounding the pavement," said Nadel, whose grass-roots campaign has largely focused on talking to voters one on one.
As he has for most of his campaign, De La Fuente is spending most of his time speaking to small gatherings of voters at house parties, sometimes holding two or three a day — with the vast majority in the hills above Interstate 580.
"We're going to kick ass," De La Fuente roared at a rally last week designed to energize his supporters and encourage them to volunteer during the crucial home stretch of the campaign.
Many of De La Fuente's supporters said they are voting for him because of his track record on the City Council and his ability to get things done.
"De La Fuente came through on everything he promised, and he didn't make promises he couldn't keep," said Derrik Williams, a resident of the Glenview-Fruitvale district that De La Fuente has represented for 13 years.
Dellums, who will deliver the commencementaddress Thursday at Laney College, is striking a deliberate tone, choosing events that showcase his eloquence and ability to inspire large groups of people.
At a Saturday rally for precinct walkers and other campaign volunteers, Dellums pledged to take Oakland in a radically different direction.
"You have to marry vision and practicality," Dellums said. "It is no wonder we have problems — we have no vision."
Many of Dellums' advocates praise his big-picture approach to politics in Oakland, saying it is the only way change will truly come to Oakland.
Heather Baker, 27, said she was inspired by Dellums' refusal to compromise his beliefs while in Congress, and his insistence that Oakland tackle the root causes of the problems in Oakland rather than their symptoms.
"He's not about Band-Aids," Baker said.
Larry Gertson, a political science professor at San Jose State University, said De La Fuente has demonstrated tremendous staying power in the face of Dellums' celebrity and deep roots in Oakland.
"Ignacio has hung on, and it's become a very competitive race," Gertson said.
The three leading candidates met for one last debate Monday night hosted by several chambers of commerce representing various ethnic groups in Oakland. Many of the pointed questions were unabashedly pro-business.
Each of the candidates promised to work to make sure firms owned by minorities and women get their share of city contracts, with Dellums calling it a "moral obligation and an ethical responsibility."
De La Fuente said he would use the power of the mayor's office to cut through red tape at City Hall to ensure that laws on the books designed to ensure that minorities and non-English speaking residents can access city services are implemented.
Nadel — who would be Oakland's first female mayor — said she thought the city did a relatively good job in making sure crucial positions — such as department heads and commission members — are held by minorities and women.
Nadel and De La Fuente clashed over the proper role of the city in building affordable housing. De La Fuente made it clear that other needs — such as public safety — were much higher on his agenda.
"We should do our share, but we will never meet the entire need," De La Fuente said.
But Nadel said the city has a responsibility to ensure that its residents have a roof over their heads, which would make it possible for them to get a job and begin paying taxes.
"That's how you turn a city around," Nadel said.
De La Fuente challenged Dellums on whether he would raise taxes to fund "wrap-around services," such as mental health counseling and health care, at public schools throughout Oakland.
Saying he was glad De La Fuente asked him that, Dellums said taxpayers are already paying for it — but that the money must be spent more efficiently with greater collaboration between the city, county and nonprofit groups.
As many as one-third of voters may be undecided in the race to become Oakland's mayor, and several people at the debate said they were not yet sure who they were voting for.
"It's much too close to call," said Melanie Gordon, an Oakland resident. "For once, I'm excited about local politics."
E-mail Heather MacDonald at hmacdonald@angnewspapers.com
Oakland mayoral candidates making final push
De La Fuente, Dellums, Nadel pound pavement to win over undecided voters
By Heather MacDonald, STAFF WRITER, OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — With less than two weeks to go until the election, mayoral candidates Ron Dellums, Ignacio De La Fuente and Nancy Nadel are all working at breakneck speed to convert undecided voters and mobilize their supporters.
While Dellums, a former congressman, and De La Fuente, the president of the Oakland City Council, talk of winning outright June 6, most observers of the race expect the close contest to result in a November runoff — and Nadel, an Oakland council member, should not be counted out.
"I'm pounding the pavement," said Nadel, whose grass-roots campaign has largely focused on talking to voters one on one.
As he has for most of his campaign, De La Fuente is spending most of his time speaking to small gatherings of voters at house parties, sometimes holding two or three a day — with the vast majority in the hills above Interstate 580.
"We're going to kick ass," De La Fuente roared at a rally last week designed to energize his supporters and encourage them to volunteer during the crucial home stretch of the campaign.
Many of De La Fuente's supporters said they are voting for him because of his track record on the City Council and his ability to get things done.
"De La Fuente came through on everything he promised, and he didn't make promises he couldn't keep," said Derrik Williams, a resident of the Glenview-Fruitvale district that De La Fuente has represented for 13 years.
Dellums, who will deliver the commencementaddress Thursday at Laney College, is striking a deliberate tone, choosing events that showcase his eloquence and ability to inspire large groups of people.
At a Saturday rally for precinct walkers and other campaign volunteers, Dellums pledged to take Oakland in a radically different direction.
"You have to marry vision and practicality," Dellums said. "It is no wonder we have problems — we have no vision."
Many of Dellums' advocates praise his big-picture approach to politics in Oakland, saying it is the only way change will truly come to Oakland.
Heather Baker, 27, said she was inspired by Dellums' refusal to compromise his beliefs while in Congress, and his insistence that Oakland tackle the root causes of the problems in Oakland rather than their symptoms.
"He's not about Band-Aids," Baker said.
Larry Gertson, a political science professor at San Jose State University, said De La Fuente has demonstrated tremendous staying power in the face of Dellums' celebrity and deep roots in Oakland.
"Ignacio has hung on, and it's become a very competitive race," Gertson said.
The three leading candidates met for one last debate Monday night hosted by several chambers of commerce representing various ethnic groups in Oakland. Many of the pointed questions were unabashedly pro-business.
Each of the candidates promised to work to make sure firms owned by minorities and women get their share of city contracts, with Dellums calling it a "moral obligation and an ethical responsibility."
De La Fuente said he would use the power of the mayor's office to cut through red tape at City Hall to ensure that laws on the books designed to ensure that minorities and non-English speaking residents can access city services are implemented.
Nadel — who would be Oakland's first female mayor — said she thought the city did a relatively good job in making sure crucial positions — such as department heads and commission members — are held by minorities and women.
Nadel and De La Fuente clashed over the proper role of the city in building affordable housing. De La Fuente made it clear that other needs — such as public safety — were much higher on his agenda.
"We should do our share, but we will never meet the entire need," De La Fuente said.
But Nadel said the city has a responsibility to ensure that its residents have a roof over their heads, which would make it possible for them to get a job and begin paying taxes.
"That's how you turn a city around," Nadel said.
De La Fuente challenged Dellums on whether he would raise taxes to fund "wrap-around services," such as mental health counseling and health care, at public schools throughout Oakland.
Saying he was glad De La Fuente asked him that, Dellums said taxpayers are already paying for it — but that the money must be spent more efficiently with greater collaboration between the city, county and nonprofit groups.
As many as one-third of voters may be undecided in the race to become Oakland's mayor, and several people at the debate said they were not yet sure who they were voting for.
"It's much too close to call," said Melanie Gordon, an Oakland resident. "For once, I'm excited about local politics."
E-mail Heather MacDonald at hmacdonald@angnewspapers.com
Comments