OakPAC 2012 Candidate Endorsements

OakPAC    –      Our Candidates Mean Business!

As the voice for business in Oakland, the Oakland Political Action Committee (“OakPAC”) is proud to unanimously endorse the following candidates:    

 

District 1:             Amy Lemley

                                                2nd choice – Richard Raya

District 3:             Sean Sullivan

                                                2nd choice – Lynette Gibson-McElhaney

District 5:             Mario Juarez

                                                2nd choice – Shelly Garza

District 7:             Larry Reid

                                                2nd choice – Sheryl Walton

At Large:              Ignacio De La Fuente

                                                2nd choice – Rebecca Kaplan

City Attorney:      Barbara Parker

18th Assembly District:          Rob Bonta & Abel Guillen

                                                            Dual Endorsement                             

 

School Board District 1:         Jody London                          

School Board District 3:         Richard Fuentes

School Board District 5:         Rosie Torres                           

School Board District 7:         James Harris

“The OakPAC Board interviewed all the candidates, reviewed their extensive answers to our questionnaires and determined who we believe will best improve the City of Oakland.” said OakPAC Board Chairman John Gooding.

“Our goals of creating jobs, improving the economy and enhancing public safety for everyone in Oakland are shared universally by every candidate for office”, added OakPAC Board Vice-Chairman Mike Jacob, “but after careful review of their experience and policy proposals it is clear these candidates have the vision and ability to best make those goals a reality.”

OakPAC has a proven track record of successfully helping to elect candidates who appreciate the needs of Oakland’s business community.  With a winning percentage of 80% over the last several elections, OakPAC endorsements are highly sought after – and only the best candidates earn the distinction.

The purpose Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is to promote commerce and industry, to advance economic growth and to enhance the quality of life in the City of Oakland.  It is the purpose of OakPAC to promote those goals by supporting candidates that reflect those goals and objectives.

For more information on how you can help these candidates make Oakland a better place contact OakPAC Executive Director Paul Junge at (510) 874-4817 or pjunge@oaklandchamber.com

A Kick off to Election Season

What’s best for Oakland? What do Oakland’s voters think are the most important issues? The Chamber has embarked on the first of what it expects will be an annual series on “The Pulse of Oakland,” a public opinion poll that is currently underway to find out what issues are most important and the direction that the city is headed. The poll of Oakland residents, conducted by EMC Research, covers everything from economic development and jobs to public safety and education.

The results of the poll will be announced at a special Chamber breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Scott’s Seafood Grill & Bar in Jack London Square, and a professional pollster will be on hand to explain the results of the poll and answer audience questions. The breakfast costs $40 for Chamber members and $50 for non-members. Sponsor tables are available.

Join us to learn what Oakland voters consider the most important issues – and discover the story behind the numbers.

For tickets and information, contact Amanda Medina of the Chamber staff at (510) 874-4800, ext. 319 or at amedina@oaklandchamber.com.

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

Dont forget to Vote!

Today is Election Day in Oakland.  There are 3 measures on the mail in ballot and ballots must be received (a postmark is NOT good enough) by 8pm tonight.  If you haven’t mailed in your ballot and want to vote you need to take your ballot to the Registrar of Voters office at 1225 Fallon Street (12^th and Oak) Room G-1 in Oakland by 8 pm tonight.

The Chamber supports both Measure I and Measure J.  Measure I, also known as the Parcel Tax, would raise $11 million a year for 5 years by taxing home owners $80/year and apartment units $54.66/year while commercial properties would face a tax determined by a formula measuring their square footage and linear footage on the roadway.  While there are no guarantees on how the money raised would be spent, the Chamber supports this temporary tax while urging the Council to spend the revenues on an understaffed police force.

 Measure J extends the deadline for the City to fully fund the Police and Fire Retirement (PFRS) plan.  Even with voter approval, extending the deadline will require approval by the City Council, the PFRS Board and an actuary. This measure allows the City to meet its financial duties responsibly without creating an immediate payment requirement that would stretch an already tight city budget.