Former Alameda County DA, Oakland mayor support recalls of successors

OAKLAND, Calif. - The former Alameda County District Attorney and the former mayor of Oakland are both supporting the recalls of their successors.

Nancy O'Malley, who was DA from 2010 to 2022, held a rare virtual news conference on Wednesday to announce her support for the recall of Pamela Price, who won the seat two years ago. 

O'Malley, who has largely stayed out of the limelight, said she is speaking out publicly now because in her opinion, Price is unfit for the job. 

"She is not qualified nor competent to hold that position," O'Malley said, adding that she has been working diligently and quietly behind the scenes to recall Price. "She ignores the rights of victims."

O'Malley said that Price discriminates against people she doesn't like, creates a hostile work environment and fired victim's advocates, replacing them with people not qualified to do the job. 

"She lies constantly," O'Malley said. "She blames other people for everything…She has ignored the law and undermined all these programs we put together. And basically, taken this district attorney's office to a place that cannot function under her leadership."

O'Malley said she is qualified to make this assessment after having worked in the DA's office for 39 years and has a "clear understanding" of the "role of the leader." 

The news conference was also attended by recall organizer Brenda Grisham and organized by public relations expert, Sam Singer. 

Price's critics argue that she has been soft on crime. 

Grisham said that defendants should face harsh penalties.

"The color of your skin should not give you a pass," Grisham said. "If the law says you murdered somebody, then 25 years is where you need to start." 

Both she and Price are Black. 

Supporters say Price has been targeted by conservatives, who are opposed to her efforts to reform the criminal justice system. 

Price campaigned on a platform of not overcriminalizing Black and brown defendants and not adding on extra enhancements unless there are "extraordinary circumstances." 

Price has also regularly blamed many of her administration's problems on the prior administration of O'Malley. 

Meanwhile, former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has come out against Mayor Sheng Thao, who is also facing a recall, mostly over crime, a missed retail theft grant and a pending FBI probe of her home, which has yet to yield any charges. 

Shaaf said as an Oakland resident herself, she supports the recall. 

"We've all been waiting for two years to see evidence of this mayor leading," Schaaf said on Tuesday. "Not of being the lucky recipient of CHP officers that the governor, out of frustration, sent to us." 

Despite her criticism, Schaaf said she sees Thao as a hard worker, but that ultimately she is unable to grow into the job.