Oakland City Attorney hopefuls square off in first candidate forum

Nearly six months into the electoral process, the two final candidates for Oakland’s City Attorney race debated tonight in front of nearly 100 potential voters and business leaders in an open forum at the Waterfront Hotel, located in Jack London Square.  The debate was co-produced by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee and the League of Women Voters.

Moderated by Helen Hutchinson of the Oakland League of Women Voters, the debate included questions from panelists Matthew Artz of the Oakland Tribune and the Bay Area Newspaper Group, and Jill Broadhurst, Director of Community Affairs and Advocacy for the East Bay Rental Housing Association.

Current City Attorney Barbara Parker shared meaningful exchanges with City Councilmember Jane Brunner in the debate, the first of six debates featuring candidates for Oakland public office. The second in the series will be held tomorrow night, Wednesday, August 22, with candidates for City Council District Three squaring off at Z Café, 2735 Broadway, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The office of the City Attorney (OCA) is “bureaucratic” and “way too slow” said Brunner, “I am an activist attorney” and “will bring change.” Parker, who has had the job for a year, said her judgment and experience will stand her in good stead in the position.

While Brunner insisted that Oakland City Attorney must “understand politics in a political world,” Parker said that there is “no place for politics in the city attorney’s office.” Despite a case of laryngitis her voice was strong and did not waver. Brunner cited her 25 years of experience as an attorney in Oakland and emphasized her commitment to eliminating elder abuse and workers rights.  

The candidates covered a wide range of topics in the conversation, and many of the detailed comments can be found on Twitter using the hashtag #oakdebates.

Closing Statements

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7:40pm --Closing Statements

In closing Parker indicates that she is “making good headway, in developing the relationship with council membership” and Brunner underscored that she was “a consensus builder” and “knows how Oakland works.”

On the Use of Outside Counsel

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7:35pm -- Use of Outside Counsel

The City Attorney’s office is criticized for excessive use of outside counsel. The candidates were asked if this excessive use of outside counsel critique is fair and if so, what should be done about it? Parker responded that the City Council makes the policy decisions (such as cutting the OCA office’s budget by over one third), and thus puts the pressure on the use of outside counsel. Parker said that she has been arguing for years that hiring more staff (i.e. a journeyman attorney) would easily offset the cost of ($250K was cited) for one summary judgment from an outside hired counsel.

Brunner would rather be “employing police” and acknowledged that everyone has to “do more with less.” She cited that Fresno spends only $8m compared to the City of Oakland $20M on their OCA, and if elected she would try to shoot for this.

On Gang Injunctions

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7:30pm -- On Gang Injunctions

Under the leadership of the previous City Attorney, two Gang Injunctions were established in Oakland, specifically in North Oakland and Fruitvale.  Both candidates were asked if they supported these efforts and if they would support future Gang Injunctions. Brunner indicated that she had asked the current OCA “to meet with the ACLU and to date, the meeting never happened” and would have a hard time supporting new injunctions because she “doesn’t think that they are that useful” but as City Attorney she would of course “defend it.”

Parker said “Oakland is in a major public safety crisis" and that the city should use all tools available to “achieve an end [to the violence].” Ms. Parker said that she is comfortable continuing the two existing gang injunctions, and is OK with new ones if the city council decides to enact them.

Recording Keeping in the OCA

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Ms. Brunner said that we need clear rules about what records we “keep and what we don’t keep.” Ms. Parker said that her office has already proposed a searchable record for the public, and its “critical for the stakeholders to know what is happening in city hall.”

Opening Questions + Early Questions

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Opening Questions + Early Questions

Each candidate is given 2 minutes each for an opening statement. Brunner indicated that she would work proactively with the council to bring new life to the city attorney’s office. She cited her work on the council with the Oakland Amy Base and local hire requirements. She said that she has, “watched that  (the city attorney’s) office for 15 years, [and] its bureaucratic and much too slow with contracts” and that settlements arrive too late from the office, which costs the city “lots of money.” Brunner state that if elected she would work on consumer fraud, reducing elder abuse, she indicated that she would be an “activist attorney” and will “help make that office change.”

Parker, highlighted that she was the first in her family to attend college (at Harvard) and in her one year in the position she has worked to improve public safety, streamline services, and act as watchdog “to ensure fair and honest practices in City Hall.” Ms. Parker highlighted that in her short tenure her office has, “shut down two hotels [hotbeds of prostitution], cut cost of outside counsel 40%, despite staff cuts of 1/3.”  

Candidates for Oakland City Attorney Dig into Debate, Brunner and Parker Discuss the Issues

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6:35pm -- The two final candidates for Oakland’s City Attorney race began their debate tonight in an open forum at the Waterfront Hotel, located in Jack London Square.  The debate, co-produced by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee and the League of Women Voters started promptly at 6:30pm to a full house of nearly 80 people. OMCC representative Paul Junge introduced the candidates on behalf of the Chamber Public Policy Council, and Oakland Tribune City Hall Reporter Matthew Artz and Helen Hutchison of the League of Women Voters of Oakland moderated. Questions will be solicited from the audience, candidate responses will be chronicled in our next post.

To review, the Oakland Office of the City Attorney (OCA) provides legal counsel to the City of Oakland, its employees, officers, agencies, boards and commissions. The City Attorney role has been an elected position in Oakland since 2000.

The job of an elected city attorney was most recently (and only!) held by John Russo, for almost 11 full years. Russo departed to become the City Manager of nearby Alameda in June of 2011. The measure to eliminate the elected position was put to voters in November 2011 and defeated, making the November 2012 election the start of the city’s second elected city attorney in its 160 year history. 

Program Starts

Mr. Russo is in the audience tonight, wearing a smile and a summery white linen blazer. It is presumed that Russo will show his support for Barbara Parker, his former second-in-command. Candidate Barbara Parker, a long time staffer and Chief Assistant in the City Attorney’s Office (and current city attorney) appeared in a smart plum colored suit, and fashionable black high heels. Council member Jane Brunner looked sharp in her trademark blue collared shirt.  After a short concern over the amount of notes the candidates could have (decision: unlimited) the opening statements are underway!

Complete & Up to Date Coverage of Tonight's City Attorney Debate

Candidates for Oakland City Attorney Square off at Jack London Square Waterfront Hotel Tonight

Nearly six months into the electoral process, the two final candidates for Oakland’s City Attorney race will debate tonight in an open forum at the Waterfront Hotel, located in Jack London Square.  The debate, co-produced by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee and the League of Women Voters kicks off at 6:30pm and is free to attend. Doors open at 6pm, and questions will be solicited from the audience.
The Office of the City Attorney (OCA) provides legal counsel to the City of Oakland, its employees, officers, agencies, boards and commissions. The OCA drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other legal documents requested by city officials and departments, and reviews the form and legality of all city contracts and represents the city in litigation matters. The City Attorney role has been an elected position in Oakland since 2000. Elected City Attorneys are common in big California cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

The job of city attorney was most recently held by John Russo, for almost 11 full years who departed to become the City Manager of nearby Alameda in June of 2011.  Mr. Russo characterized the position as, “contentious” citing working with city council members as a key challenge to the performance of the office. Shortly after departing Russo said, “I believe [the city council] is a morally corrupt government and I just didn't want to serve anymore in that capacity… as city attorney you have confidentiality bonds that bind you and prevent you from being able to speak out…I didn't go into public service to help preside over what I believe has become a government that is not serving the people of Oakland.” Russo openly clashed with Mayor Quan and council members over everything from industrial marijuana growth farms to gang injunctions. In July 2011, the City Council appointed Barbara Parker, a long time staffer and Chief Assistant in the City Attorney’s Office to the elected City Attorney’s seat for the balance of the current term, which ends in January 2013.

Some public officials think it was a mistake to make the city attorney an elected position, because politics then can play a larger part in making legal decisions when protecting the city’s interest. However, the measure to eliminate the elected position was put to voters in November 2011 was roundly defeated. What do you think? Let us know your comments by following the event on Twitter tonight @oaklandchamber and using the tag #oakdebates.

Candidate Backgrounds

In 1996, Jane Brunner (right) ran for Oakland City Council against then-Planning Commissioner Peter Smith in the District 1 (North Oakland) seat vacated by Sheila Jordan, and she has held the council seat in District One ever since. The District, which encompasses North Oakland, including the Rockridge and Temescal neighborhoods and portions of Piedmont Avenue, is sometimes characterized on the council as more affluent and politically connected to the city power structure than other Oakland council districts.

By many accounts, Ms. Brunner has been a reliable and dedicated council member, and she is widely viewed as a policy and “big picture thinker” in the areas of labor relations and community development. Ms. Brunner has been a practicing attorney for over 25 years at the local law firm Siegel & Yee, in addition to holding her job on the council for the past 16 years. Brunner states that “the City Attorney’s Office has been remarkably mis-managed” citing that the 70 person office (35 are FTE attorneys) currently costs Oakland taxpayers over $32 million each year, of which approximately $6 million is spent on outside attorneys. Brunner says she is, “running for Oakland City Attorney because I want to make the City Attorney’s Office work for Oakland residents and businesses.” She received her JD from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1988 and has lived in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland for 35+ years.

In contrast, the other candidate, Barbara Parker (left) has not held elected office before. Ms. Parker is a non-partisan independent applicant who was appointed to the job last July in the wake of Russo’s mid-2011 departure. She is a Harvard educated attorney from the class of 1975, whose CV includes more than five years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. Parker also has worked in the private sector for private law firms and Kaiser Hospitals. Prior to becoming City Attorney, Parker served for 20 years in the Oakland City Attorney’s Office, including 11 years as Chief Assistant City Attorney.  Parker has been quoted as saying "it is extremely important that the elected City Attorney bring competence, integrity and professionalism to the job of providing impartial advice to the City Council and City Administration, representing the Oakland community’s interests in court and advocating on behalf of all Oaklanders.” Ms. Parker lives in the Haddon Hill neighborhood of Oakland.

Chamber Support

The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (OMCC) public policy committee does not endorse political candidates, but there is a separate political action committee OakPAC that does. For more information on OakPAC, please contact Paul Junge, Executive Director at pjunge@oaklandchamber.com  

Full Debate Schedule

Tonight’s City Attorney debate is the first of six debates in this series. The full schedule is posted below; all debates are FREE and begin at 6:30pm.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Chamber to host Free City Debates - RSVP Required

In an effort to help you get to know the candidates the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce will host a series of candidate forums the last two weeks in August.  A schedule is provided in the table nearby.  It all gets started with a showdown between the two candidates to be City Attorney.  This program is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and will be held at the Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square.  Like all the events it will start at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6) and is free to the public. 

The debates for city council seats are hosted exclusively by the Chamber and will be held in locations in the districts.  While the events are free they will fill up fast.  To guarantee your spot contact Paul Junge or Amanda Medina at the Chamber pjunge@oaklandchamber.com or amedina@oaklandchamber.com or by phone 874 – 4800. 

Contest                    Date – all events start at 6:30pm           Location

City Attorney         August 21                        Tuesday               Waterfront Hotel

                                                                                                                  Jack London Square

District Three      August 22                           Wednesday        Z Cafe – 27th & Broadway

                                                                                                                  27th & Broadway

District One        August 27                            Monday               College Ave. Presbyterian Church

                                                                                                                  5951 College Ave.

District Five        August 28                             Tuesday               Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center

                                                                                                                   3301 East 12th Street

At-Large                   August 29                        Wednesday        Kaiser Auditorium

                                                                                                                   300 Lakeside Drive