Candidates Debate Oakland's Problems In Mayoral Forum
OAKLAND (BCN) -- Nine Oakland mayoral candidates generally agreed Thursday night that the city's next leader needs to fight crime, create more jobs and find a way to balance the city's budget.
But at a forum attended by a standing-room-only crowd of about 350 people at the Kaiser Center auditorium, the candidates tried to set themselves apart by staking out different approaches to solving those problems.
Former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who was the front-runner in a recent poll conducted by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, which helped sponsor the event, said the city needs a fresh leader because its current leadership has left it "mired in debt" and with a high unemployment rate, and has laid off 80 police officers.
"I believe in Oakland, its history, its geography, its natural beauty and most important of all, its people," Perata said.
Asked by forum panelists how he would be able to hire more police officers given Oakland's high projected budget deficit, Perata said he would eliminate employees in other city departments, citing the 500 employees in the city's Community and Economic Development Agency as one source of possible cuts.
But City Councilwoman Jean Quan, who was second in the chamber's poll, said hiring more police officers by itself isn't the best approach of reducing the city's high crime rate.
Quan said that if there are further cuts to the Parks and Recreation Department budget and to after-school programs, "You won't have a reduction in crime."
Quan and Perata attacked each other over who is most responsible for the high salary and benefit packages for Oakland police officers, which average close to $200,000 a year.
In a reference to Quan and other City Council members, Perata asked, "Who gave the raises?" and said, "We've been living beyond our means."
But Quan said Perata was a legislative leader in Sacramento when public safety pension benefits skyrocketed at what she said was an "unsustainable" rate.
City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan, who was third in the chamber's poll, said she wants to "rebuild our economy" by cutting red tape and making it easier for companies to do business in Oakland.
Kaplan said that as mayor she would fight to improve Oakland's image by telling outsiders, "We have the best food, the best weather and the best people."
Some of the lesser-known candidates in the race tried to get attention with clever phrases or slogans.
Real estate agent Larry Lionel Young Jr. drew laughs and applause when he said he wants to put Oakland on the map by telling the world that it's, "The best place to live, the best place to work and the best place to vacation."
Young ended many of his responses by saying, "Vote for LL and all will be well."
Real estate broker Arnie Fields, who described himself as "a working stiff," drew some guffaws from audience members when he repeatedly said one way to reduce Oakland's crime rate would be to crack down on litter.
Peralta Community College District Trustee Marcie Hodge struggled with some of her answers and at one point told the audience, "You guys are scaring me. I'm just stumbling up here all night."
Asked by a panelist why he would be an effective mayor even though he's never before held public office, political science professor and television news political analyst Joe Tuman said he's balanced budgets when he's run small businesses and has been involved in leadership roles in labor negotiations.
Making light of Perata's status as probably the best-known candidate in the race, candidate Don Macleay pointed at Perata and said, "That's the other Don."
Perata described himself as "a lifelong Democrat" while Macleay said he's running as the Green Party's candidate.
"I've been a social activist all my life," he said.
Retired businessman Greg Harland called for Oakland to improve its business climate by reducing its high business and sales taxes, which he said have been forcing car dealerships and other businesses to move to other cities.
Educator Terence Candell, who also is running for mayor, didn't participate in the forum.
In addition to the Chamber of Commerce, the event was sponsored by the Oakland League of Women Voters and the Bay Area Business Roundtable in conjunction with the Oakland Tribune.
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