There’s plenty of interest in the upcoming Oakland mayoral race around here, but equal focus on who’s going to represent District 4 in the Oakland City Council as well. While no one’s even required to file yet, we’re already playing ball in a shadowing of the pro baseballers. It’s all about who’s at bat.
In the hills, our questions are very basic: Who are the players going to be? Who will replace Rep Jean Quan? What are the attributes, experiences, attitudes and platforms we want in this position?
At this point, many of the earlier-rumored candidates are still planning to join the game. Your faithful blogger has started to reach out and ask basic questions. We would like them to communicate verbatim at first, the way they see fit.
So far, Libby Schaaf and Jill Broadhurst have publicly announced their intentions to run for this all-important seat. In addition, we expect Melanie Shelby and Clinton Killian to join the gaggle too. Others will likely emerge, and we hope they will share their views as widely as possible.
Via the Montclair SIC Yahoo board, we recently learned about a volunteer group that’s planning to vet candidates. The all-new District 4 Neighborhood Endorsement Committee has asked potential candidates to complete an application and get interviewed in early May. We believe this explanation is a direct quote from Chairman Stan Weisner:
Candidates will be interviewed and assessed against a set of criteria that reflect specific qualities, which include an approach to organizing and supporting activities at the local level that has been working successfully in the district over the past several years. The goal is to recommend a candidate for the endorsement of the incumbent and District 4 neighbors. The Committee will recommend a candidate who will continue to support local neighborhoods.
Maybe your criteria are similar or different, everything from potholes to solving crime to ensuring city solvency. These candidates will come along and are worth listening to carefully. At least this baseball season, we strongly urge you to tune in and watch all the innings.
Today in Montclair, 94611 
How about a candidate that has a plan to get us out of the fiscal mess we are in? Doesn’t blindly support unions at the expense of local businesses (Farmer Joe’s) and taxpayers? Doesn’t down play our city’s crime problems? One that speaks about specifics, and not platitudes.
JQ is good at keeping us “informed” – she disseminates information well, is out and about, the staffers are nice when on the phone with me. But we need much more.
Considering that the deadline for registering to run for D4 Council is mid-August, May seems awfully early for an endorsement committee to recommend a candidate.
It likely is too early for endorsements, but it is not too early to find out what the candidates have to say about the critical issues the city faces. And this time, the focus cannot be on district concerns and constituent service. The has to be on setting priorities for the entire city in very tough economic times. I hope that every questionnaire and every candidate interview in every district seeks and obtains specific policy answers to our city-wide public safety and budget problems.