Barbara Lee opens campaign account to run for Oakland's mayor

Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee has officially filed a campaign account to run for Oakland mayor. 

She filed the paperwork at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, according to the city of Oakland's Public Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State.

The documents are the first step to entering the special election on April 15 to fill the mayoral seat, following the recall of Sheng Thao last November.

The City Clerk's office said Lee will still need to file nominating signatures from 50 residents and other documents with the clerk's office. The clerk will then need to verify eligibility in order for Lee to be included on the April special election ballot. 

What we don't know:

Lee has not yet made a formal announcement and was not available for immediate comment. 

Sean Dugar, her campaign spokesperson, told KTVU that she would make an announcement "later in the week." 

Lee has received encouragement from many Oakland leaders, who said Lee would be an effective mayor. They said she has been very deliberate about considering a run for the office, consulting with a wide range of people about the reality of Oakland's budget crisis.

"She's met with countless leaders throughout the city of Oakland, and she's aware of what the challenges are," Oakland City Council member Carroll Fife said after Monday's council meeting.

On Monday, the Oakland City Council chose council member Kevin Jenkins to be interim mayor, now that Sheng Thao was recalled and has left office. 

Other people who have also filed campaign accounts for Oakland mayor include: Wendy Adams, Johnny Gatlin, Desmond Jeffries, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, Mindy Pechenuk, Fabian Robinson, Andrea Smith, Derrick Soo, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb and Larry Lionel Young Jr. 

Often, politicians open campaign accounts to raise money and gauge interest. 

Big picture view:

The 78-year-old Lee served as Oakland's Congresswoman for two decades before choosing not to seek re-election. She ran for Senate to succeed the late Dianne Feinstein, but was ultimately beaten by House Democrat Adam Schiff. 

She was probably most famous for her then-unpopular vote in 2001 as the only lawmaker to not want to use military force against those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. "Barbara Lee speaks for me" became a famous mantra for many liberals in the East Bay that she represented. 

What they're saying:

Before Christmas, then-interim mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas, business leader Carl Chan, and Councilmember Treva Reid, among other community leaders, urged Lee to run for mayor as the city grapples with turbulent times.

Interim Oakland Mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas, Carl Chan, and Councilmember Treva Reid, among other community leaders, urged Lee to run for mayor as the city grapples with turbulent times.

"Oakland is a city that is facing a crisis of leadership. Our city needs someone who can restore integrity to the office of the Mayor, unite us in a time of division, and help us address critical issues around the budget, public safety, housing, and inequity in our Town," they said in the letter. "We need someone who can bring the new ideas, policies, resources, and opportunities that the people of Oakland deserve. That person is Barbara Lee."

Oakland has many challenges that any mayor will have to face, including a $130-million budget shortfall and a perception of high crime, despite a 30% reduction from 2023 to 2024. 

Timeline:

The nomination period for the mayoral position as well as District 2 is expected to close on Jan. 17.

Oakland is expected to hold a special election to vote on a new mayor and councilperson on April 15. 

KTVU's Greg Lee and Jana Katsuyama contributed to this report. 

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