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Council President Nikki Bas Says Election for New Mayor Scheduled for April 15

The City is hoping to consolidate the mayoral and City Council District 2 special elections on a single date, which would save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. To achieve this, Bas will submit a letter to the City Clerk on Dec. 17 stating that she will resign as councilmember of District 2, provided the election results are certified without subsequent challenge, effective at 11 a.m. on Jan. 6.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 4, 2024

Oakland Post

: Nikki Fortunato Bas. File photo.

Bas also offers timeline for selection of new District 2 councilmember

By Post Staff

Speaking at a press conference this week at City Hall, Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas provided a timeline for the election of a new mayor, which is scheduled for April 15, and outlined other steps in the transition to new city leadership in the wake of the recall and Nov. 5 election.

Bas, who represents City Council District 2 and was recently declared the winner in the election for supervisor for Alameda County District 5, emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong and stable leadership in a time that the city is facing many challenges.

“Now, more than ever, it’s critical to come together to support a leadership transition that puts Oaklanders first for the betterment of our communities,” she said.

“We are singularly focused on the issues before us and those issues are making sure that we address both our current budget and our two-year budget and the structural issues that have led to the projected deficit” as well as continuing to enhance public safety,” she said.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters released final election results on Tuesday and certified the results on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The City is hoping to consolidate the mayoral and City Council District 2 special elections on a single date, which would save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.

To achieve this, Bas will submit a letter to the City Clerk on Dec. 17 stating that she will resign as councilmember of District 2, provided the election results are certified without subsequent challenge, effective at 11 a.m. on Jan. 6.

Bas offered the timeline based on the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao and her election to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

However, if the results of the supervisor race are contested and Bas cannot take her new position as supervisor on Jan. 6, some parts of the timeline would be modified. Under election regulations, a recount must be requested within five calendar days after the Registrar of Voters certifies the election results.

The timeline is based on a legal opinion published by the City Attorney explaining the applicable law that guides the process to address potential vacancies in the Office of the Mayor and the District 2 Council Office, including a 2025 special election or elections.

The anticipated timeline:

Dec. 5: Alameda County Registrar of Voters certifies election results.

Dec. 17: The Oakland City Council will vote to declare the results of the Nov. 5 election. It is expected the City Council will declare the Office of Mayor vacant, and Council President Bas will serve as interim mayor until the vacancy is filled in a special election that is within 120 days of the vacancy. President Pro Tempore Dan Kalb will serve as acting Council president. The Council will declare a vacancy in the Office of Council District 2 and set the date of the special election for mayor and District councilmember on April 15.

Dec. 23: It is expected the nominations period for mayoral and District 2 Councilmember candidates would begin on Dec. 23 and end on Jan. 17.

Jan. 6: Newly elected councilmembers will be sworn in. The District 2 seat would be vacant, leaving seven Councilmembers. The seven remaining Councilmembers may adopt a motion to appoint a person to serve as the District 2 councilmember until the election and swearing in of a new District 2 councilmember. City Council will elect its Council president and president pro tempore. The Council president will serve as interim mayor until the special election for mayor and their swearing-in, and the president pro tempore will serve as acting council president.

Jan. 17: Nomination period for mayoral and District 2 councilmember candidates anticipated to close.

April 15: The City of Oakland is anticipated to hold a special election for mayor and District 2 Councilmember to complete the current term through Jan. 4, 2027.

Regarding the District 2 Council seat, Bas said she would share more information prior to Dec.17. “It has been a true honor to serve the diverse constituents of District 2,” she said. “Until a new councilmember is elected, I am committed to making sure our residents and businesses receive critical city services in partnership with a caretaker councilmember who understands the needs of our community.”

Bas offered her appreciation to Thao and her staff for their dedication and hard work for the city and concluded the press conference saying:

“We love the city deeply, we believe in the city, we will fight for the city, and so we are working to ensure that our leadership is strong.”

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U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Speaks on Democracy at Commonwealth Club

Based on his first speech as House minority leader, “The ABCs of Democracy” by Grand Central Publishing is an illustrated children’s book for people of all ages. Each letter contrasts what democracy is and isn’t, as in: “American Values over Autocracy”, “Benevolence over Bigotry” and “The Constitution over the Cult.”

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Oakland Post

: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs Council on Dec. 2. Photo by Johnnie Burrell. Book cover: "The ABCs of Democracy" by Hakeem Jeffries.

By Linda Parker Pennington
Special to The Post

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addressed an enthusiastic overflow audience on Monday at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club, launching his first book, “The ABCs of Democracy.”

Based on his first speech as House minority leader, “The ABCs of Democracy” by Grand Central Publishing is an illustrated children’s book for people of all ages.

Each letter contrasts what democracy is and isn’t, as in: “American Values over Autocracy”, “Benevolence over Bigotry” and “The Constitution over the Cult.”

Less than a month after the election that will return Donald Trump to the White House, Rep. Jeffries also gave a sobering assessment of what the Democrats learned.

“Our message just wasn’t connecting with the real struggles of the American people,” Jeffries said. “The party in power is the one that will always pay the price.”

On dealing with Trump, Jeffries warned, “We can’t fall into the trap of being outraged every day at what Trump does. That’s just part of his strategy. Remaining calm in the face of turmoil is a choice.”

He pointed out that the razor-thin margin that Republicans now hold in the House is the lowest since the Civil War.

Asked what the public can do, Jeffries spoke about the importance of being “appropriately engaged. Democracy is not on autopilot. It takes a citizenry to hold politicians accountable and a new generation of young people to come forward and serve in public office.”

With a Republican-led White House, Senate, House and Supreme Court, Democrats must “work to find bi-partisan common ground and push back against far-right extremism.”

He also described how he is shaping his own leadership style while his mentor, Speaker-Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, continues to represent San Francisco in Congress. “She says she is not hanging around to be like the mother-in-law in the kitchen, saying ‘my son likes his spaghetti sauce this way, not that way.’”

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

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City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org