OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Election day is fast approaching and one closely watched local race will see voters weigh in on whether or not to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. This is the first time an Oakland mayor has faced a recall in over 100 years.
KRON4 spoke to Mayor Thao about what she feels is at stake and her potential future in office.
Since the recall was formally launched in January, Thao has been busy making her case to voters. On Monday, she rallied with families of those who lost loved ones to violence in the city.
Thao has maintained that Oakland’s overall decline in crime and violence is evidence that her policies are working. October’s decreased crime stats, she maintains, are an indicator of what voters can expect in the future of they reject the recall and keep her in office.
However, recall supporters have questioned Thao’s decision to fire former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong early in her tenure. A June FBI raid on Thao’s home has also drawn scrutiny.
Thao told KRON4 she is not the target of that investigation. However, the FBI has not publicly confirmed this.
To make the ballot, recall organizers collected 25,000 registered voters’ signatures. The recall was initially led by former Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin Forte and has been endorsed by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mayor Thao is one of two high-profile East Bay officials to be fighting to remain in office with Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price also being targeted by a recall.
Mayor Thao spoke to KRON4’s Lezla Gooden about the recall. Watch the video in the player above to hear her make her case for voters to reject the initiative.
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Election day is fast approaching and one closely watched local race will see voters weigh in on whether or not to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. This is the first time an Oakland mayor has faced a recall in over 100 years. KRON4 spoke to Mayor Thao about what she feels […]
Leave a Reply