What People are Saying About
Barbara Lee as Oakland’s Mayor

On Public Safety Leadership

Jesse Arreguín

"Barbara Lee is the leader Oakland needs to tackle its public safety challenges head-on. With a proven commitment to our community, she will increase beat patrols to ensure safer streets, aggressively combat gun violence and human trafficking, and expand investment in vital prevention programs that keep our youth on the right path. Oakland deserves bold, effective leadership, and Barbara Lee delivers.”

—Senator Jesse Arreguín, Chair–State Senate Public Safety Committee

Don Link

“I’m endorsing Barbara Lee for Mayor. She will strengthen community-based policing models that build trust between residents, businesses, and law enforcement to make our neighborhoods stronger and safer.”

—Don Link, Bushrod Resident and Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council Leader

Carlotta Brown

“As Mayor, Barbara Lee will address blight and illegal dumping and restore pride and security to our communities. Her proven ability to bring badly needed resources to Oakland will deliver the results we all need to be safer.”

—Carlotta Brown, Millsmont Resident, Alameda County Status of Women Commissioner and former Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Oversight Commission Chair

“Barbara Lee’s experience as a small business owner and her accountable, hands-on leadership style will help business owners recover from smash and grabs. We love her plan to reduce red tape and bureaucracy for new businesses wanting to locate here!”

—Owners of Everitt & Jones BBQ, Oakland

Endorsed by Current and Former Mayors

Jerry Brown

Elihu Harris

Kevin Jenkins

Jean Quan

Libby Schaaf

“We know what it takes to move this city forward. Barbara Lee brings the integrity, accountability, and decades of proven leadership to bring Oaklanders together and address our challenges at this critical time.”

—Former Mayor Elihu Harris

Endorsed by Oakland Firefighters

“Barbara Lee is working with public safety leaders and Oakland Firefighters to ensure a comprehensive approach to public safety, protecting 911 services, and working to keep all of our fire stations open.” 

—Seth Olyer, President Oakland Firefighters

Endorsed by Labor Organizations

“Barbara Lee is the leader Oakland needs to bring our city together while uplifting the unique character of each neighborhood and leaving no corner untouched. She will deliver for results for all of Oakland and ensure that every community has a voice at City Hall.” 

–Keith Brown, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Alameda County Central Labor Council * Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, President of Oakland Education Association

Endorsed by Former City Administrators

Henry Gardner

Dan Lindheim

“Barbara Lee is a hands-on leader who has directed billions of dollars into Oakland and her East Bay congressional district. She’ll bring effective, transparent and accountable leadership to addressing our City’s budget challenges.” 

—Former City Administrator Dan Lindheim

Endorsed by Business Leaders

Derreck Johnson, Owner, Home of Chicken & Waffles

“As a former Oakland business owner with 400 employees, Barbara Lee will bring her experience to create living-wage jobs, retain and attract businesses, and revitalize our commercial corridors.”

–Derreck Johnson, Owner, Home of Chicken & Waffles

A Leader Who Will Unify Our City

Carl Chan, Oakland Community/Business Leader

Richard Fuentes, Labor/Business Leader

“Barbara Lee is the leader Oakland needs to unite our city and move us forward. Her dedication to creating a safer, healthier, and more prosperous community inspires hope and action. We are proud to support her as the next Mayor of Oakland.”

—Carl Chan, Oakland Community/ Business Leader * Richard Fuentes, Labor/Business Leader

*Partial List. Titles for Identification Purposes Only

We Endorse Barbara Lee for Mayor

Current and Former Elected Officials

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon
Jerry Brown, fmr. Oakland Mayor
Elihu Harris, fmr. Oakland Mayor
Interim Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins
Jean Quan, fmr. Oakland Mayor
Libby Schaaf, fmr. Oakland Mayor
State Senator Jesse Arreguín, Chair – State Senate Public Safety Committee
State Senator Aisha Wahab
Assemblymember Mia Bonta
Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Chair- Assembly Labor/Employment Committee
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
Hon. Tom Bates
Hon. Loni Hancock
BART Board Director Victor Flores
Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas
Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley
Keith Carson, fmr. Alameda County Supervisor
Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife
Interim City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan
Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran
Oakland City Councilmember Zac Unger Oakland City Councilmember Rowena Brown Oakland Councilmember Ken Houston
Oakland School Board Member Jennifer Brouhard
Oakland School Board Member Mike Hutchinson
Oakland School Board Member Rachel Latta
Oakland School Board Member VanCedric Williams
Oakland School Board Member Valarie Bachelor
Peralta Community College Trustee Bill Withrow
Peralta Community College Trustee Paulina Gonzalez-Brito
Peralta Community College Trustee Nicky González Yuen
East Bay Municipal Utility District Director Jim Oddie
Corina Lopez, Alameda County Democratic Central Committee
Tonya Love, Alameda County Democratic Central Committee
Leo Bazile, fmr. Oakland City Councilmember
Ignacio De La Fuente, fmr. Oakland City Councilmember
Lynette Gibson McElhaney, fmr Oakland Council President
Treva Reid, fmr. Oakland City Councilmember 
Annie Campbell Washington, fmr. Oakland City Councilmember
Dan Kalb, fmr. Oakland City Councilmember
Richard Spees, fmr. Oakland City Councilmember Barbara J. Parker, fmr Oakland City Attorney
Dr. Gary Yee, fmr. Supt. of Schools
Toni Cook, fmr. Oakland School Board Member 
Sam Davis, Parent/fmr. Oakland School Board Member
Aimee Eng, Foundation Executive/fmr. Oakland School Board Member
Nina Senn, Parent/former School Board Member

Organizational Endorsements

350 Bay Area Action
ACCE Action
AFSCME Joint Council 57
Alameda Labor Council
APALA (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance)
APEN Action
BBBON
Black Church PAC
Building & Construction Trades of Alameda County
BWOPA - Oakland/Berkeley Chapter
Block by Block Organizing Network
California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
California Working Families Party
CBE Action
CWA Local 9415
East Bay Animal PAC
Emily’s List
Fund Her
Harvey Milk Democratic Club
Higher Heights for America PAC
IAFF Local 55 (Oakland Fire Fighters)
IFPTE Local 21
ILWU Local 6
ILWU Northern California District Council
John George Democratic Club
League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay
Muslim American Alliance
OakPAC
Oakland Education Association
Oakland Rising Action
Oakland Tenants Union (OTU)
Our Revolution East Bay
PDA-CA Oakland
Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte
SEIU 1021
SEIU 2015
SEIU UHW
Sierra Club
UAW Region 6
United Farm Workers (UFW)
United Native Americans
Voter Protection Project
Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
The Oakland Post
East Bay Times
The Bay Area Reporter

Faith Leaders

Elder Harold R. Mayberry
Bishop Gregory Payton
Bishop Keith Clark
Pastor Rodney D. Smith
Pastor Zachary Carey
Servant BK Woodson
Pastor A. Keith Williams
Pastor Kevin Barnes
Pastor Wayne Johnson
Pastor Michael McBride
Pastor Kenneth Anderson
Pastor Ken Chambers Pastor Dwight Webster Rev. Dereca Blackmon
Rev. Anthony Paulette
Rev. ToNiya M. Scott Smith
Rev. Cheryl Ward

Community Leaders & Neighbors

Henry Gardner, fmr. Oakland City Administrator
Dan Lindheim, fmr. Oakland City Administrator
Yeon Park, President-Alameda County Central Labor Council
Keith Brown, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Alameda County Central Labor Council, Hawthorne neighbor
Andreas Cluver, Secretary-Treasurer, BTC & Upper Diamond Neighbor
Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, President Oakland Teachers, Toler Heights neighbor
Oakland Port Commissioner Michael Colbruno
Alton Jelks, Park Boulevard neighbor
Angela Assenza, Trestle Glen Neighbor
Arabella Martinez, Founder of The Unity Council & North Oakland Neighbor
Audree Jones-Taylor, Parks & Recreation Advocate
Carl Chan, Community/Business Leader
Carlotta Brown, Millsmont/Public Safety Prevention Commissioner
Christina Balch, Upper Telegraph Neighbor
Domingo Balinton, Prescott Neighbor
Dr. Fouad Bendimerad, Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative Chair & Upper Rockridge Neighbor
Cassandra Brown, Havenscourt Neighbor
Elaine Brown, Lake Merritt Neighbor       
Linda Brown, Sequoyah Hills Neighbor
Jeannie Brumsey, Glenview Neighbor
Lo Bukowski, Claremont Hills Neighbor       
Kathryn Chalmers, Sequoyah Hills Neighbor       
Donna Collins, Bella Vista Neighbor       
Natasha Cooper, San Antonio Neighbor       
Gloria Crowell, Chabot Park Neighbor       
Rev. David Mundy, Hospice Chaplain, Piedmont Ave Neighbor    
JoAnn DePetro, Piedmont Pines Neighbor       
Frances Dibble, Sausal Creek Neighbor       
Pamela Drake, Lakeshore Small Business Advocate/Neighbor      
Zishan Evans, Golden Gate Neighbor       
Richard Fuentes, Labor Leader/Downtown Neighbor       
Mary Gamson, Piedmont Avenue Neighbor       
Carmen Garner, Lower Dimond Neighbor       
Sergi Goldman-Hull, Jefferson Neighbor
Carol Goldman, Glenview Neighbor
Zach Goldman, Labor Leader & Temescal Neighbor     
Conny Gomez, Fremont/Fairfax Neighbor
Viola Gonzales, former President Oakland League of Women Voters   
Margaret Gordon, Environmental Justice Activist/West Oakland Neighbor     
Corrina Gould, Oakland Tribal Chair /Co-Founder of IPOC
Donna Hall, Piedmont Avenue Neighbor       
Lionel Harris, Golf Links Neighbor       
Nicole Harris, Golf Links Neighbor       
Robert Harris, Business Leader/Sequoyah Heights Neighbor      
Joe Hawkins, Director of Oakland LGBTQ Center     
Kerry Heffernan, Rockridge Neighbor
Vivian Huang, Environmental Justice Leader
John Hutchinson, Cleveland Heights Neighbor
Samuel Johnson Jr., Skyline-Hillcrest Estates Neighbor     

Derreck Johnson, Oakland Small Business Owner/Downtown Neighbor     
Suzanne Johnson, Havenscourt Neighbor
Nigel Jones, Oakland Restaurant Owner David Kakishiba, Youth Nonprofit Director/San Antonio Neighbor      
Isaac Kos-Read, Business Leader/Lake Merritt Neighbor 
Tom Kunhardt, Lincoln Highlands Neighbor       
Karen LeGault, Highland Park Neighbor       
Bobbi Lopez, Labor Leader & Golden Gate Neighbor    
Debrenia Madison, Lakeshore Neighbor
Catherine Merschel, Piedmont Avenue Neighbor       
Emily Miller, Golf Links Neighbor       
Ellen Moyer, Rockridge Neighbor
Kara Murray Badal, Housing Advocate/Crocker Highlands Neighbor
Linda Myers, Havenscourt Neighbor
Glenda Newell-Harris, MD – Sequoyah Heights Neighbor
Kaya Oakes, Upper Telegraph Neighbor
Maureen Obiri, Montclair Neighbor
Owners of Everett & Jones BBQ, Jack London
Melissa Olazabal, Gaskill Neighbor
Stephanie Ong, Leona Heights Neighbor       
Jahn Overstreet, Maxwell Park Neighbor       
Jerry Powell, Brookfield Village Neighbor       
Tonia Pugh, Eastmont Neighbor
Karen Ramirez, Eastmont Hills Neighbor       
Richard Raya, Piedmont Pines Neighbor & Co-Chair AALAA    
Ronald Rosen, Adams Point Neighbor       
Steven Schectman, Piedmont Avenue Neighbor       
Salim Shariff, Temescal Neighbor
Irene Sheppard, Lake Merritt Neighbor       
Jerry Sims, Eastmont Hills Neighbor       
Jake Sloan, Community Leader/West Oakland Neighbor      
Leslie Smith, Montclair Neighbor
Staci Southwick, McClymonds Neighbor
Sean Sullivan, Oakland Small Business Owner/Downtown Neighbor           
Christine Templin, Montclair Neighbor
Dr. Terrence Candell, Santa Fe Neighbor      
Fela Thomas, Clinton Neighbor
Marilyn Thomas, Santa Fe Neighbor       
Gina Tomlinson, Montclair Neighbor
Keith Uriarte, Crestmont Neighborhood Leader       
Dawn Valadez, Jingletown Neighbor
Mary Virginia Watson, Grand Avenue Neighbor      
Sheryl Walton, East Oakland Block by Block Neighborhood Safety Co-Chair  
Danny Wan, Oakland Port Director       
Elyse Weiner, Uptown Neighbor
Steve Weiss, Clawson Neighbor
Morgan White, Lakeside Neighbor
Tamari Whitfield, Maxwell Park Neighbor       
Patricia Williams, Sobrante Park Neighbor       
Jessica Wynn-Grant, Frick Neighbor

*Partial List. Titles for Identification Purposes Only