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In this, the second installment in my series on campaign contributions for major races in Oakland, I take a good look at the money sent to one of my best friends, Oakland City Attorney John Russo. Now, I must report that I'd have supported Sandre Swanson had John not entered the Assembly race. But John did; I even contributed $50, house parties, and some phone bank work. Look, I don't write this because he's my friend, but I do think John's hunger and drive and intellect will serve him and his constituents well in Sacramento. Besides, he's a popular and engaging person. As I told a friend, you don't turn your back on someone you've known since 1991, who is your confidant, and who's kids you consider your own. So I think you should know that John's been a good friend to me over the years; that written, I have to take a good look at the numbers to make sure there's no Jack Abramoff ties that would embrass him -- and me, too. John's campa

One thing I learned from working for the late Senator Lloyd Bentson as an intern in his Dallas office, volunteering for then-gubenatorial candidate Diane Feinstein, and from representing Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris and working under Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown was the importance of money in politics. Who contributes to a campaign is just as important as how much the campaigner has raised. With that, I decided to comb the online records of the California Secretary of State's website and with respect to several races, starting with that for California Assembly District 16. There are five contestants: Sandre Swanson, John Russo, Ronnie Caplane, Anthony Daysog, and Ed Ytuarte . I found some interesting information; I'll start with Sandre Swanson. Sandre Swanson's a good man who's served as Congresswoman Barbara Lee's Chief of Staff for many years, and who I've known well over the years, has raised a good sum of money for his District 16 Assembly race. Here's