Endorsements

OakPAC congratulates its winning candidates! Following successful campaigns, OakPAC celebrated the winners at a breakfast meeting.

Re-elected Councilmember Pat Kernighan expressed relief after her third campaign in less than 2 years. She is enthusiastic for the opportunity to return her full attention to District 2, improving public safety, and promoting retail development.

Courtney Ruby is gearing-up to make the City Auditor’s office a force for accountability which has respect and integrity. In her first bid for elected office, she easily unseated the embattled incumbent.

Education finance consultant Abel Guillen ran a remarkable campaign and secured key endorsements, in addition to OakPAC, which helped him win a seat on the Peralta Community College Board. Guillen pledged to work with the business community to strengthen workforce training programs, vital to economic growth.

As shown by the results, each of the candidates endorsed by OakPAC were successful in their campaigns. OakPAC congratulates the recently elected and looks forward to working cooperatively on matters affecting the business community.

OakPAC Endorses Winning Candidates
June 2006

While celebrating the election results recently, OakPAC Chair Michael Colbruno praised Oakland’s largest political action committee representing the business community for its support of winning candidates. "Once again, OakPAC was successful in educating the electorate about who is best qualified to promote the economic vitality of Oakland and the East Bay," cheered Colbruno. It also means that the Oakland business community has allies at various levels of government.

For instance, all State-level candidates endorsed by OakPAC for were elected. Sandré Swanson will replace Wilma Chan and represent the 16th District. Also endorsed by the Democratic Party, Swanson was in a field of candidates each with their own base of support in diverse locations such as Alameda, the Oakland Hills, and downtown. "As a Congressional aide, Sandre Swanson had a proven record of delivering money for new housing in Oakland and for ensuring that key Port projects were funded. His commitment to housing, education and the economic revitalization of Oakland, particurlarly downtown, earned him the endorsement of OakPAC. Oakland is fortunate to have someone representing it in the State Assembly who has a proven track record of delivering for the district," said Colbruno.

With little doubt about the outcome of the November ballot, Swanson will be colleagues with Mary Hayashi. Also endorsed by OakPAC, she will represent the 18th District in the Assembly. Although this is Hayashi’s first elected office, she has been actively involved in political and legislative efforts to improve health care systems and funding.

In the race for 10th Senate District, OakPAC is pleased that Ellen Corbett emerged victorious from a bitter campaign with another former Assemblymember John Dutra and current Assemblymember Johan Klehs.

In local races, OakPAC candidates also fared well, although some contests will be continue through the summer and fall. OakPAC believes Pat Kernighan has what it takes to continue representing Oakland’s District 2. Even though Kernighan will have to fend off another challenge from Aimee Allison in November, OakPAC is assured the turn-out will be higher and in favor of the incumbent. . “She has worked tirelessly to enliven our retail corridors and to improve Lake Merritt. Her strong stance on the on-going police negotiations show she’s serious about public safety,” Colbruno commented about her endorsement.

The relatively obscure but critical office of City Auditor will also go to a two-person contest with Courtney Ruby likely to replace embattled incumbent Roland Smith. OakPAC endorsed Ruby based on her assurances that her new leadership will renew respect for this vital hub of municipal accountability.