City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan Joins Crowded Oakland Mayor's Race
OAKLAND (KCBS) – Another big name candidate has joined the race for mayor of Oakland.
On Thursday, Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan joined the already crowded field. "I am running for mayor of Oakland – to bring strong and effective leadership, for good jobs, for safe neighborhoods, and for a fresh start for our city," she said.
Kaplan becomes the 17th candidate in the November election. She finished third in the Oakland mayoral race in 2010 and poses a significant threat to the reelection of Mayor Jean Quan, who said she looks forward to running on her record against all comers.
Kaplan made her announcement on the desolate, trash-strewn corner of 92nd and International in East Oakland, where a dead dog lay uncollected for days, incensing the neighborhood.
"Every single corner of Oakland deserves to be treated with respect, and deserves a government that responds when people call," Kaplan said.
Kaplan, who serves as Oakland City Council President Pro Tem, announced her decision on Wednesday evening, releasing a video on her website, in which she said "Oakland isn't ungovernable, just ungoverned. We need strong, stable leadership for safe neighborhoods, for local jobs, and for a fresh start for our city."
Kaplan said she's running this time to be voter's first choice in the rank choice election, but she encouraged those who already support someone else to put her second on the ballot.