Oakland leaders call on Barbara Lee to run for mayor to get city 'back on track'
Oakland community leaders call on Rep. Barbara Lee to enter mayoral race
An open letter signed by Oakland's interim mayor, several city council members, community leaders and business owners called on Congresswoman Barbara Lee Thursday to enter the April 15th special election for the Oakland mayoral seat now vacated by Sheng Thao after the November recall election.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Dozens of Oakland leaders are calling on Congresswoman Barbara Lee to take the helm as the city's mayor.
In a letter signed by Interim Oakland Mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas, Carl Chan, and Councilmember Treva Reid, among other community leaders, they 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 released Thursday. "We need someone who can bring the new ideas, policies, resources, and opportunities that the people of Oakland deserve. That person is Barbara Lee."
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Timeline: Oakland will see 4 mayors over next 4 months
Oakland Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas laid out the timeline for who will be mayor in the wake of a recall and her own move to the board of supervisors.
Oakland faces a $129 million budget shortfall while navigating the aftermath of former Mayor Sheng Thao's recall by voters in a November election. Thao's last day in office was Tuesday, and Councilmember Bas was sworn in as interim mayor. Bas was elected as the head of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and will leave the mayoral position on Jan. 6.
The Oakland City Council will then elect a president who will become the next interim mayor until a special election is held on April 15, 2025.
The Oakland leaders said that given all its woes and with the Trump administration on its way in, the city needs a seasoned leader.
"Barbara has three decades of experience as a state legislator and member of Congress," the letter said.
Before Lee rose to Congress, she was committed to public service. She founded the Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, which provided mental health services for those in need. She knows Oakland.
"We know that to solve Oakland’s problems and unlock its powerful potential, it is going to take a unique combination of courage and proven experience. Barbara Lee embodies that," the community leaders said."Join us in urging Congresswoman Barbara Lee to run for Mayor, help restore faith in Oakland, and get us back on track to realize the full greatness of our city."