We didn’t do well in Tuesday’s election. In fact, we got our asses kicked. Of the five endorsements we issued, three of our candidates went down to defeat: Anne Marie Shubert for Attorney-General, Jimmie Wilson for Alameda County District Attorney, and Gregory Ahern for Alameda County Sheriff. Meanwhile, we urged a “No” Vote on Proposition C, which won by a huge majority. As for Governor, we—the Board—split, with two votes for Michael Shellenberger, and one (me) for Gavin Newsom. Newsom won walking away.
What is the lesson to be learned? Does SBO support only losers? And how can we take heart from this experience, and feel optimistic about the future?
I think the main lesson learned (although we already knew it) is that Alameda County is a progressive place. The suburbs south and east of Oakland and Berkeley are a bit more mainstream, but the actual votes are heavily concentrated in Berkeley and Oakland. In both those cities, progressives continue to plod ahead, while the rest of the country, including San Francisco, is turning more moderate.
It will take a while to turn things around here in Oakland, but we’ve always known that. It’s a Sisyphean task trying to change Oakland’s politics. People vote emotionally and instinctively, without really understanding the issues; they’re easily subject to trite rhetoric, and name recognition also counts. Indeed, it was undoubtedly name recognition that resulted in Pamela Price’s victory for D.A. over Wilson. I will predict this: Price is going to overreach. That’s her style. She’s going to go to war against the cops in all of Alameda County’s cities, including Oakland. That does not seem to me to be a war she can win.
CBO has got to face the fact, IMO, that we’re a bit more conservative (in some ways) than most other Alameda County voters, especially those who turn out for primaries. Of course, in November, a lot of these uncertainties will be further clarified, but for the time being, we should acknowledge the fact that to some extent we’re outliers. That should make us want to work all the harder! Nothing worth having comes easy.
So if you’re discouraged by the election results, I say to you, be confident! Renew your outrage at what the current progressive system has done to our city, and re-dedicate yourself to changing it! I enjoy a good fight; it’s invigorating, and pumps me up. Our work has begun, and now, it goes on, and on. It will never end, but that’s the joy of doing what we do. There will be good days and bad days, but the fulfillment is in the struggle. Never, never give in. Let’s keep fighting, together.
P.S. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Our CBO meeting will be on Sunday, June 26 at noon in Lakeside Park (Lake Merritt). We’ll gather on the grass somewhere near the parking lot (I’ll let you know exactly where later). We did our best to find a date that most of you indicated was convenient; a few people may not be able to make it that day, and for that, I’m sorry.
Steve Heimoff