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| Candidate Statements for Nov 2010 Election |
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Oakland Candidates
Rebecca Kaplan for Oakland City Mayor
Jennifer Pae for Oakland City Council, District 2
Jean Quan, for Oakland City Mayor
Courtney Ruby, Oakland CIty Auditor
Berkeley Candidates
Josh Daniels, for Berkeley School Board
Ann Marie Hogan, for Berkeley CIty Auditor
Linda Maio for Berkeley CIty Council, District 1
Cecilia "Ces" Rosales, for Berkeley City Council, District 7
Kriss Worthington, for Berkeley City Council, District 7
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Rebecca Kaplan for Oakland City Mayor
We need an Oakland that works for everyone. As Mayor, I will build a City that creates jobs, strengthens public safety, provides education and opportunity for the next generation, and delivers effective and responsive government.
Oakland cannot afford to wait to revitalize our economy - we need a new direction now. I bring my experience representing all of Oakland at AC Transit and now on the City Council, my education and training from MIT and Stanford Law School, along with fresh ideas and the energy to deliver results. |
While serving as an elected official over the past nine years, I've led initiatives to create jobs, cut red tape for local businesses, improve transportation, and increase revenues without raising taxes on residents. I am a recognized leader on transit and the environment, fighting for transportation justice and fair access to transportation resources for all of our communities. As a longtime bicyclist and bus rider, I have secured funding for transit, road and sidewalk repairs, bike/ped improvements and alternative transportation from outside funds including at the County level.
Now, I am running for Mayor because we need to fundamentally change how our City is managed and build both justice and opportunity for the future. This includes putting an end to the red tape and barriers to small local businesses in Oakland. My record of working to create jobs in Oakland is paramount. I was the only policymaker to address use permits during the Downtown zoning update and I removed many burdensome permit requirements on sectors we are working to attract. I will actively recruit key sectors including construction, trade/logistics, arts/entertainment, food production, retail, transit oriented development and more.
My candidacy brings together groups with different interests for the common goal of ushering in an era of change, equity, effectiveness, and revitalization in Oakland. Whether it be economic and workforce development, gay rights, transit-oriented development, strong and enforced local hire policies, and creating green jobs, I will build a coalition for positive change.
I know we can and must be a leader on genuine public safety, including neighborhood based policing, recruiting local residents for the police department, civilianizing citizen complaints, and providing effective violence prevention programs. We can and must support revitalization that provides clean air and reduces asthma and oil dependency, and returns economic benefit to our community. I will lead a new generation of progressive change for a healthier environment and a thriving community.
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Jennifer Pae for Oakland City Council, District 2
I love Oakland. I have pride in our city's diversity, our resilience in times of adversity, and our rich history of activism.
It is only in Oakland where a grassroots organizer like myself with a fresh new perspective, can have the opportunity to run for City Council to represent those who have lost trust in their government.
I bring a fresh new approach - as a community organizer, a public policy advocate, and a former trainer for Campus Camp Wellstone. I have experience on the Oakland Community Policing Advisory Board as well as running start up progressive nonprofits and national organizations. Now is the time for creative energy to take Oakland into the next generation.
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We, as Oaklanders, have had enough. Our city is wrought with deep rooted problems and it's time we start investing in the future of Oakland.
We need to invest in Oakland by bringing fresh solutions, a bold vision, and new leadership into City Hall. We need to make local government work effectively with community members to improve the quality of life for ALL Oakland residents. We need to make fiscally and socially responsible investments in Oakland neighborhoods, jobs, and residents.
Investing in Oakland means we need to solve our budget crisis and address the root causes of crime by creating stronger partnerships to build a healthy vibrant Oakland.
We must invest in our local economy by implementing a jobs and economic development plan that:
(a) best leverages federal dollars to benefit our community
(b) encourages fiscally and socially responsible lending and investments in our local workforce economy, and
(c) strengthens Oakland's businesses, homeowners, and entrepreneurs.
We must invest in public safety by:
(a) addressing the root causes of crime by instituting a multi-strategy of violence prevention, intervention, and enforcement, and
(b) ensuring a properly staffed, responsive, and accountable Police Department.
It is our time to think differently in this new decade of change. As we fight to regain economic stability and bring hope to our communities, we have a unique opportunity to invest in Oakland by using this election to be vocal, reshape our vision, and aggressively pursue the fundamental changes we deserve.
Every day we have choices. This election is an opportunity to choose which direction we are going to move in. We have the choice to continue moving in the same direction or to move forward and carve out a more sustainable future for Oakland. We cannot stand by and let the city we love continue to struggle. Through hard work and perseverance, we can overcome impossible odds.
As a proud member of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, I pledge to work with you to solve our most pressing issues. I respectfully ask for your support to re-invest in our community by joining my campaign for City Council. www.JenniferPae.com
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Jean Quan for Oakland City Mayor
Oakland needs a Mayor with a history of ethical and effective leadership, who puts our community's interests first. I have a 20-year record of getting things done in Oakland, my family's home for over 100 years.
A public school mom fighting cuts to vital school programs, I became a three-term school board member, and led local and national efforts to: retrofit and build schools, reduce class and school size, restore arts and music programs, raise graduation standards, and advocate for urban and immigrant students.
Oakland needs a Mayor with a history of ethical and effective leadership, who puts our community's interests first. |
As a two-term Councilmember, I co-authored Measure Y, which put 63 new community officers on neighborhood beats and funded programs that addressed the root causes of violence in our community. I led efforts to save libraries, establish the Wildfire District, expand recycling, and preserve open space. During difficult economic times, I have worked to protect neighborhood and youth services while making tough political choices.
My slogan, "Taking Back Oakland Block by Block," is based on real Oakland organizing. I've linked neighborhoods and organizations with the city to bring concrete change such as shutting down the crime-ridden Hillcrest Motel, closing liquor stores, and revitalizing neighborhood retail. I authored the Nuisance Property Ordinance which has cleaned up 465 sites city-wide.
Oakland's most urgent needs are my highest priorities:
Ethical, Transparent, Effective City Hall
I led the fight for ethics and campaign reform to eliminate conflicts of interest and to lessen the influence of lobbyists and special interests. I led the fight against the attempts to stop Ranked Choice Voting and to double the campaign limits. My weekly newsletter engages residents on city issues that affect their quality of life; I and my staff hold open community office hours weekly
City-Wide Leadership for Quality Education
I will promote partnerships with local businesses, labor and education institutions to increase vocational training and internship opportunities, while teaming with parents, students, teachers and community leaders to support mentoring, innovation and reform within the public schools.
Comprehensive Neighborhood Safety
I know how to link community policing and neighborhood organizing, city resources, schools, local non-profits, and youth groups to promote solutions that reduce crime and create safety including emergency preparedness. I will continue to foster links between service providers and reentry populations. I will work to recruit Oakland residents to public safety positions so that Oakland will be more than just a place of work.
Community and Economic Development
Oakland can flourish with more local business incentives, protection of our industrial base and green economy, equitable jobs opportunities for Oakland residents, smart growth planning for thriving local districts, affordable housing, and continued support of our cultural, library, park and arts institutions.
A Cleaner, Greener, Healthier Oakland for All
Oakland ranks as one of the most sustainable cities in the nation, promoting a green economy and healthier environment. I led efforts for: preserving new acres of creeks and canyons, expanded recycling and zero waste programs, authoring polystyrene & plastic bag laws, better bike lanes and public transportation.
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Courtney Ruby, for Oakland CIty Auditor
Since you elected me your Auditor, I have delivered on my promise of reform. I have:
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Turned a failing Auditor's office into an awarding winning agency
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Exposed nepotism, unfair hiring practices, and payroll abuses
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Launched a successful whistleblower program that increased reports of abuse twelvefold
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Issued more than 28 reports, and more than 600 recommendations
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Demanded improvements in the way the City does business and held the Administration accountable
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Returned $4 to the City for every $1 my office spent.
The job of reform is not over -- in the next four years I will:
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Scrutinize OPD's finances to ensure we're doing everything we can to make Oakland's streets safer
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Examine outdated procedures that contribute to driving businesses out of Oakland
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Analyze the Parking Department to ensure that ticketing is reasonable and fair.
I am committed to serving you with the utmost integrity and ask for your endorsement again.
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