these “in kind” “volunteer” services are not limited by the Oakland contribution limit rules, so in effect any incumbent such as Nadel or Brunner, who automatically approves union compensation increases, get the union endorsements for re-election which are worth more than any monetary contribution from any single source.

Soft money contributions via “friends of” ad campaigns etc. is another story, but you’d need a hecka lot of that to offset the union support.

-len raphael
volunteer treasurer, Pat McCullough for City Council

Which (relatively) young democrat said “The very word “secrecy” is repugnant in a free and open society”?

If you think Sullivan, who’s career has been reaching out to youth in need, would be less attentive to youth issues, I’m baffled.

Here’s why the greens and the EBYD endorsed Nadel: unions. Nadel has spent a long time making friends with unions, and as the incumbent has been able to do them favors. Now she’s cashing them in. I was going door to door with Sullivan in Adams point yesterday. I ran into somebody who was going door to door for Nadel. That’s right. I was WITH Sullivan himself, and other volunteers who’d decided to go with him as individuals. I ran into a guy who was out there with Nadel flyers, but who was actually a union guy who’d been sent with material endorsing a variety of candidates including Nadel and others. He may even have been being paid by the union to do this, or earning some other benefit.

It’s not even that Sean is anti-union. He isn’t at all. But power consolidation over a long incumbency means that Nadel is guaranteed endorsement of unions and democratic organizations because she’s had more opportunities to do them favors. She’d have to do something unforgivably scandalous to lose those endorsements.

As far as making endorsement interviews public, I’m going to be sure to put pressure on future candidates to refuse to participate in secret interviews and questionnaires.

Oh, and as far as the SF Guardian’s endorsement of Nadel… They never even contacted Sullivan. Irresponsible.

Moreover, I think everyone is greatly overstating the importance of candidate position papers. Candidates’ relationships with people in the organizations and their in-person presentations are typically what decide these things. Because of this, it also makes it harder for a membership org to have an official “reason” for supporting a candidate (eg EBYD requires a 60% vote of their membership – so really there are prob as many different rationalizations as there are members) as opposed to an editorial board or a union or the Chamber where things are decided by one person or an executive board or other small group.

As for the EBYD, I am not a member but did attend the public debate they put on at the Berkeley library and thought Nancy Nadel presented herself very well (though I liked Sean and Greg as well). Whatever people think of her policies and politics, I think it is undeniable that she is the most Youth-friendly member of the current City Council. It is very hard for citizens generally to have a voice in city hall and this problem is compounded for young adults. Around a decade ago I was on the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (which I recommend for high school youth interested in politics), and found that Nancy was the only Councilmember willing to meet with us and take our concerns about youth issues seriously. In speaking with young adults at that meeting I can tell that has not changed, and I suspect that played a large — and legitimate — role in the EBYD endorsement.

And why wouldn’t a candidate want the opportunity to release more press where all they do is talk about how awesome they are? These things… I just don’t understand them.

The best way to solve this problem – join thesw groups and change the policy. Or realize that nobody cares about the endorsements of obscure groups except political junkies.

If I don’t know anything about a race, the only endorsement I listen to is my mom

Well if they promised not to release that information, the promise is the problem.

One day I will run for office on the platform that I will streamcast my entire life outside the bedroom and bathroom. You heard it here first folks.