The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Oakland and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Public Input, Records Management, City/School District Cooperation

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from Clinton Killian:

I would advocate weekly meetings, and host issue forums where the public may voice their opinions.

Answer from Rebecca D. Kaplan:

There are two major changes we need to make. One is to deal with the frequency and schedule of meetings, to make sure enough time is provided so that important decisions are not made in a rush, and so that there is ample time to hear, and consider, public input. I will work with the other council members and community members to change the Council meeting schedule, to provide sufficient meeting time to handle the extensive and important issues that our local government must deal with.

Second, we need other improved methods, beyond the meetings themselves, for public input to be taken into consideration. I will personally hold regular public meetings in our neighborhoods to ensure that I am accessible to the public. I will take public input ahead of time, so that it can genuinely shape policy proposals, instead of being left to complain with the feeling that the real decisions have already been made.

Answer from Clinton Killian:

I believe we should make public records more accessible and easier to obtain.

Answer from Rebecca D. Kaplan:

The present records management program is not sufficiently easy to use for the general public, and this deserves significant improvement. For example, we should have a system in which members of the public, via internet, (as well as an in-person option) can locate documents related to any specific issue of concern to them, through a searchable data storage method.

Answer from Clinton Killian:

The City of Oakland must ensure the State Administrator is held accountable, and work with the schools to enhance after school programs.

Answer from Rebecca D. Kaplan:

One of the biggest impediments to more effective city-school collaboration is the fact that the schools have been under control of a State Administrator due to being put into a state "takeover" -- and this has impeded the ability of local leaders to take effective action.

I will work together with community members to help bring an effective return of local control to our schools.

In addition, there is much more that the city can and should do, and that I will help to advance, to improve effective coordination with the school district. This includes working together to upkeep grounds and buildings, to collaborate on after-school programs and city-school land sharing opportunities. By pooling resources, we could increase the availability of recreational and educational opportunities for our community, both during and after school.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.