Don Macleay Kicks Off Upstart Campaign for Mayor of Oakland
by Jonathan Nack

OAKLAND – Don Macleay officially launched his campaign for Mayor of Oakland last night with a gathering of supporters at Sadiedey’s Café, 4210 Telegraph Ave. Macleay is the first Green to run for Mayor of Oakland.

Laura Wells, who recently announced her candidacy for the Green Party nomination for Governor ( http://www.laurawells.org/ ), introduced Macleay. ”He has the heart, and he has the head, to do the job,” said Wells, who resides in Oakland.

Macleay, who has never run for office before, spoke briefly about his motivation. He described how he's become increasingly active in the community over the past ten years, as well as increasingly frustrated with Oakland's government.

“Throughout this town there are groups of people working to make a difference,” said Macleay. He said there are many people out there with progressive solutions that need to be implemented and that's the reason he's running for mayor. “The community is the answer,” declared Macleay.

Macleay's web site states, “substance abuse, homelessness, parolee recidivism, and truancy need to be acknowledged and confronted through aggressive community involvement, sustained action, and on-going support.” In addition to social issues, economic growth, infrastructure and development projects, fiscal responsibility, and government that is “responsive – not reactive” will be themes in Macleay's campaign, according to his web site. ( http://macleay4mayor.org/the_issues.html )

Former State Senator Don Perata, who was one of the most powerful and best funded politicians in state government before being term out, is thought to be the current front runner in the race. Mayor Ron Dellums, who was elected with the kind of broad support from progressives which Macleay covets, has yet to announce whether he will seek re-election. City Councilmember Jean Quan is running too and also angling for progressive votes. Perata, Dellums, and Quan are Democrats.

Wilson Riles, Jr., the former City Councilmember who ran for mayor three times, who endorsed Dellums in the last election, was on hand to support Macleay. Riles was a Democrat, but has since jumped to the Greens.

The recent decision of the Oakland City Council to implement Instant Run-off Voting this year ( http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/01/06/18634487.php ) means that the election for mayor will not be until November. Voters will have the opportunity to rank their choices for the first time. Greens are hopeful their candidates will benefit from the new system.