Candidate for
Council Member; City of Oakland; District 2

Pamela Drake is a progressive Democrat running to represent District Two on the Oakland City Council.

Pamela has decades of experience as a community leader. After moving to California in 1966, Pamela began her career organizing for the anti-war movement and the struggle for an Ethnic Studies Department at San Francisco State. She was one of the first women to drive a BART train and an active member of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1555. Pamela taught junior high school in Oakland and Hayward and still teaches adult ESL classes. She was chief-of-staff to Council Member Nate Miley and was recently staff for Council Member Desley Brooks.

Having owned a retail shop on Grand Avenue, Pamela understands the importance of strengthening our local business districts and encouraging the growth of new ones. Pamela is currently the Director of the Lakeshore Business Improvement District, an organization that brings together community members, merchants and landlords to promote the Lakeshore retail district. Pamela is also the former President of the Grand Avenue Business Association.

Pamela is committed to locally controlled schools and a strong advocate of community policing. Pamela was a member of Oakland's first Community Policing Task Force and successfully fought for open meetings at the Oakland Unified School District. After struggling for a time in public housing, Pamela now owns her home in the Lakeshore area. Pamela is incredibly proud of her two children, both of whom attended Oakland public schools and went on, respectively, to graduate from Clark University and Morehouse College in Atlanta.

As the Director of the Grand Lake Neighborhood Center for over four years, Pamela assisted countless Oaklanders in securing government services, tenant counseling, pursuing business development opportunities, community information and outreach, and various tutoring services. Pamela played a key role in the fight to stop McDonalds from opening on Lake Park Avenue and was pivotal in the fight to save Oakland's last See's Candy from closing. Pamela will be an independent voice at City Hall, supporting development that benefits our neighborhoods and not corrupt political insiders.

Pamela Drake loves Oakland -- our people, our neighborhoods, our businesses. She will put the City Council back to work supporting and strengthening our community. Pamela Drake was made for this job. Vote Pamela Drake for Oakland.