Editorial: Elect Lena Tam to substitute Wilma Chan on Alameda County board
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The race for this year’s only contested seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors has come down to two flawed candidates in the Nov. 8 runoff.
We suggest former Alameda Metropolis Councilwoman Lena Tam but with reservations about both of those contenders’ earlier carry out as elected officers. Of the two, Tam would finest signify the citizens of District 3, which consists of Alameda, San Leandro, San Lorenzo and portion of Oakland.
Tam and Oakland City Council member Rebecca Kaplan obtained the most votes in the four-way June election, but neither gained the majority necessary to switch Supervisor Wilma Chan, who was fatally struck by a car in November 2021 whilst strolling her pet.
In a rushed and politically orchestrated course of action to switch Chan soon after her demise, the remaining 4 supervisors appointed her main of staff members, David Brown, to provide the remainder of her time period. But simply because of his restricted time residing in the district, Brown is not qualified to run for a comprehensive expression. Indeed, his interim appointment is legally questionable and at present the issue of litigation.
Tam has the authorities practical experience for the job. She is a civil engineer and manager of water methods for the East Bay Municipal Utility District, where she has labored for 34 decades. She has also served on the Alameda Metropolis Council from 2006-14 after stints on the Town of Alameda Health Treatment District Board and the Alameda County Planning Fee.
In a district wherever the voting-age population is virtually just one-3rd of Asian descent in a county where by Asians are the largest racial team, Tam, if elected, would exchange Chan as the only Asian person and the only girl on the five-member board.
The job is formidable. The Board of Supervisors sets plan and approves the funds for a county federal government of almost 10,000 workers operating in 21 distinctive companies and departments who deliver health and fitness care, social providers, public protection and other courses.
As she talks about increasing public safety in the district, Tam recounts her discussions with Oakland’s Asian retailers who explain to her of patrons fearful to undertaking out to store because of crime. Tam also vows to drive for extra enable for the homeless and far better psychological overall health services.
In contrast, Kaplan, has been a chief of the Oakland council’s challenging-still left faction, keen to manufacture earnings numbers during the funds process and undermine city labor negotiators to advantage her union supporters, and keen to squeeze law enforcement staffing at a time when more cops are desperately needed. A relentless self-promoter, Kaplan has operate twice unsuccessfully for mayor and is now searching for a different political promotion.
Tam has had her very own controversy. A 2010 Alameda metropolis-commissioned investigation identified that, even though serving on the Metropolis Council, she improperly shared private info with a developer and a labor union and intervened in the variety of a bond underwriter. Tam and her attorney denied wrongdoing, and the district legal professional exonerated her of legal transgressions and declined to present the scenario to the civil grand jury.
Even so, the paperwork indicate that Tam overstepped her function as a council member, one thing she acknowledges nowadays. To be clear, for people who want to check out to attract comparisons, the proof of Tam’s missteps pales up coming to the abusive actions of two other council members seven several years afterwards when they, according to the county civil grand jury, fully commited malfeasance by meddling in the Alameda metropolis manager’s selection of a new fire chief.
Tam’s recognition of error and contrition counsel to us that, if elected, she will keep in her policymaking lane. We hope so. For the reason that she is the outstanding applicant in the District 3 race.
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