Oakland: Yes on the Measures; Schaaf (#1) & Quan (#2) for Mayor, Guillen-Dist 4, Roberts-Auditor

I don't get to vote in Oakland, but I wish I did. There's a lot of important issues in play here. Since I don't get to vote, I haven't done quite as much research as one the races I do vote in. With those caveats, here's one big post with all my thoughts on Oakland races:

Propositions - vote "Yes" across the board

• CC: Yes to Strengthen the Ethics Commission. This is a no-brainer. There's no ballot argument against it, and it is a sensible set of reforms. 
• DD: Yes to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission. This also has no ballot argument filed against it. If Berkeley had one of these, it wouldn't have the ballot its having over redistricting (see Berkeley Measure S).
• EE: Yes for a technical fix on pension administration. 
• FF: YES YES YES to Lift Up Oakland. To prevent rising threats of displacement, voters should pass this measure to establish a living wage in Oakland. In Oakland, Measure FF would raise the minimum wage to $12.25/hour, with sick days and future cost-of-living increases (much better than the state's static $9 minimum). For more information, visit Lift Up Oakland's website.
• N: YES for High Schools parcel tax. We know Oakland schools need the help (Kim's worked in many of them and tells me stories), and Oakland property owners can afford $10/mo. And again -- no opposition argument was filed. Requires 2/3 vote, so it needs yours! Learn more: Yes on N campaign website, Ballotpedia entry.
• Z: YES to continue Violence Prevention/Police tax. This measure would continue an existing tax (Measure Y from 2004, amended by BB in 2010). It is supported across the board in Oakland (6 top mayoral candidates, some of the groups that opposed the 2010 & 2004 measures). It combines funding for an effective violence prevention program (Operation Ceasefire) with funding for adequate police staffing. Also requires 2/3 vote!. Learn more: Yes on Z campaign, Ballotpedia. 

Oakland Mayor - #1 Schaaf, #2 Quan, #3 ... blank or Siegel

If you're this far into my blog, you probably have your own opinion about the Oakland Mayoral race. I am not 100% sure how I'd vote, but here's my best thoughts -- combine them with your other info to make your own decision. 

There are 15 candidates. With that many, the first thing to do is eliminate the ones who have no shot -- I won't even name them 'cuz I can't keep track of them. Of the top seven (or six), only four have consistently supported the Lift Up Oakland minimum wage, Measure FF. In alpha order, they are Kaplan, Quan, Schaaf, & Siegel. Here's my thoughts on these four, in that alpha order:

• Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan (At-Large). I know her very well. I worked with her back in 2001, endorsed her during her 6 years on the AC Transit Board (before I had this blog) and in her races for the Oakland council (2000!, 2008, 2012) and gave her my #1 spot in the last mayoral race (2010). I've watched her political evolution for more than a dozen years. I still think we probably agree on most political issues, but I no longer think she's the right choice for Mayor of Oakland. I've seen her duck too many tough positions and fail to be a champion when the cause needed one. I also don't think she's well suited to being an executive -- too many times you have to make a decision without full information and just go with it. I think she'd be even less decisive than Quan has appeared to be. Campaign website.
• Mayor Jean Quan is the incumbent. She's gotten slammed for many things, and I don't pretend to have followed them all. I hear from many people that she's been a better mayor than is apparent in the press. Several people say she's a crummy communicator but pretty good on the issues. She has gotten Oakland to balance its budget and helped bring the successful Operation Ceasefire here. That's all good. A very astute friend (who works for a nonprofit, so I shouldn't name him) says she is "a solid ally -- not a champion -- but we know we can depend on her in the end." She has not been great on transportation and development issues -- her appointee Rachel Flynn nixed the very cool Latham Square without good reason. I think she's my #2 pick. Campaign website.
• Councilmember Libby Schaaf (District 4) has emerged as my #1 pick. That same respected NGO friend says she has been a champion on affordable housing and transit improvements, and she was the first of the mayoral candidates to come out in favor of the living wage (Measure FF). I hear great things about her from pragmatic progressives I know who are far more involved in city government than I am. They say she'll be more effective than Siegel or Quan. She knows her way around Oakland government, having been involved in it for years (I know, not necessarily a strong positive mark). Campaign website (note: her endorsements are listed on the home page). 
• Civil rights attorney Dan Siegel is running as the progressive alternative. He's got strong progressive values and has a LONG history of championing progressive causes through his law practice. He also has absolutely the best Campaign website of any of the mayoral candidates. You can find out anything you want to know about the man there: check out the "Vision" tab, with links to concise papers on 13 different issues -- some with links to position papers for more detail. He strikes me as someone who would be a great legislator. But I'm not sure he'd be a good Mayor. I think he might be my #3 pick, or maybe leave #3 blank.

In conclusion, I think I'd vote #1 Libby Schaaf, #2 Jean Quan, and for #3 I'd either leave it blank or pick #3 Dan Siegel.

Elected officials - besides Mayor

You get to vote for up to 3 (at least for the council races, not sure about Auditor). You can only vote for each person once. In practice, the best thing to do is honestly vote for the top three people you'd like to have represent you. If there's only one (or two) you're willing to have represent you, only choose your top choice (or top 2) and leave spots 2+3 blank (or just 3 blank). 

• Auditor: Brenda Roberts. She has experience as an auditor of government agencies, exactly the job she's running for. She's reasonable. Her opponent, Len Raphael, is apparently neither (he's an accountant, but that's definitely not the same). Friends describe him as an "annoying gadfly." Not the best option for your city auditor. 
• City Council District 2: Abel Guillen. He's a strong progressive, was on the Peralta College board and has experience in municipal finance. He has the backing of outgoing incumbent Pat Kernighan. I encourage you not to use one of your 3 votes for Dana King -- sure, you saw her on TV as a local news anchor for several years, but that doesn't mean she shares your politics! She has little experience but a lot of money, and that's a bad combination for local (or any) politics. 
• City Council Districts 4 + 6: I don't know enough about these seats to make an informed endorsement.