Oakland’s shrug-inducing, overstuffed, unexciting mayoral race

[KamaAina]

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-s-shrug-inducing-overstuffed-5810427.php

Many Oakland residents say they would like a mayor other than Jean Quan, but they’re having a hard time settling on exactly who that should be.

A surprising 39 percent of Oakland voters haven’t made up their minds about who should run the city with less than a month to go before election day, according to a recent survey....

Across Oakland, at the MacArthur BART Station and the east shore of Lake Merritt, at Montclair Village and the Foothill Shopping center, voters said they just can’t get excited about the race....

In addition, Oakland’s ranked-choice election format makes it hard for voters to grasp the differences between candidates because candidates are trying to be as likable as possible to get not only first-place votes, but also second- and third-place rankings. That makes candidates less likely to distance themselves from their competitors and makes it hard for voters to learn how different candidates would run the city.

The ranked-choice format might allow one or two of these minor candidates to make a splash -- but it could be a disaster for Mayor Quan, since the many voters who are disenchanted with her will be inclined to place her last, even behind Einstein the dog, who the Chron somehow managed to leave out.

http://www.einsteinforoakland.org/

My name is Einstein and I am running for mayor of Oakland, California.

I like to run. A lot! I mean A LOT! So make no mistake, I can make it all the way to the finish line, and I invite you to join me!

What gets under my collar is Oakland City officials not doing their job, and police not being prosecuted for beating and killing innocent beautiful creatures like Alan Blueford & Gloria, for example.

I have dogannally also been victim of Oakland Police brutality. While participating in peaceful rallies and marches, along with humans, I have been tear gassed, and had a flashbang grenade explode just a few paw-strides away from me. As a consequence I have been diagnosed with canine post-traumatic stress disorder, you can't even SAY the words 'Jean Quan' around me without causing me to freak out and start barking up trees trying to find the scoundrel.

Come to think of it, the ranked-choice format might go a long way to dismantle the advantages of incumbency, and give more candidates a legitimate shot. This bears watching.

edit: How would you rank this group?

[daredtowork]

1. Enquiring minds want to know

Last edited Fri Oct 10, 2014, 05:27 PM - Edit history (1)

What would happen if Einstein won?

The dog did get right to the point. Quan has been too busy hanging flower baskets and wooing uber rich techies to bother with the ravages wrought by extreme economic displacement. The displaced haven't been passive - hence the departure of the landmark Sears which got tired of regularly replacing angrily vandalized windows.

No question this will be an anti-Quan vote.

But could this also be the day the dog transcends the Internet?

Good luck, Einstein!


(Later edit: so many spelling mistakes! I plead my eye injections...)

[KamaAina]

2. ...

I doubt that Sears' departure was all about the windows. They could easily have installed rockproof glass as many inner-city businesses have done. They also closed their landmark store in Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, where vandalism is not an issue.