Aaron Clay

Clay is the CEO of renewable energy solar company Sunswarm Community Solar, and a teacher for the Oakland Unified School District. He believes Oakland and District 7 needs to be a more healthy and sustainable community that provides affordable housing for everyone.

“A healthy community is a place where residents can afford to live, be comfortable and be safe in their home,” said Clay. “Instead, we see garbage on the ground, abandoned cars, and their community deteriorating. More attention needs to focus on eradicating the blight in our community.”

“I’ve taught in East Oakland’s public schools and I’ve seen what those kids go through. Let’s get them on board and allow them to create a different vision for the community. I will also be a champion to our youth and seniors,” said Clay.

“We also need jobs in East Oakland,” added Clay. “Establishing an economic-based green economy would be ideal because this area is the perfect place for it. Light industrial, clean tech manufacturing in East Oakland makes sense because we already have the available warehouses zoned for light industrial which can be used for investments in creating local new jobs.“

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For more information on Clay’s campaign, contact www.clay4d7.com.

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Marcie Hodge

A former two-term Peralta Community College Trustee, and current executive director of the nonprofit, St. John’s Boys Home and St John Corinthian Care, Hodge noted that District 7 “doesn’t need a transfer of leadership, we need new leadership.”

“I’m in the residential care business and many residential program owners like me want to expand their businesses because we are interested in serving different populations,” said Hodge.

“The unhoused includes many subgroups that must be considered for intensive support. We have a large population of individuals who have been released from state hospitals and many of them have mental disorders and need medical support.”

“When elected as District 7’s City Council person, my first priority is to address the issue of blight,” said Hodge. “We need to clean up the streets and identify areas that are frequently used as dumping grounds.  The issue of dumping needs to be eradicated and cameras should be installed”.

“District 7 (residents) deserve to have an ability to work and play in a community where we don’t have to worry about always looking over our shoulder.  I want our community to thrive.”

For more information about the Hodge campaign, go to www.hodge4oakland2020.com.

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Bishop Robert (Bob) Jackson

Pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland for more than 36 years, Jackson stressed his ideas for District 7 are based on what he has already been doing.

“I have lived in East Oakland for more than 43 years working for the betterment of the community,” said Jackson. “I started the Men of Valor Academy which has helped thousands of formerly incarcerated men become successful and away from crime.”

“I started the OK Program for boys 12 to18 years old; a food program, which feeds 300 individuals each week; the Acts Community Development Corporation, and the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce.”

“First and foremost, I believe City Hall should address the issue of blight and illegal dumping in our community,” said Jackson.  “The trash, debris and garbage in this community have been neglected far too long. It’s like a Third World country out here and the problem needs to be abated now.

“I will also address the ‘drug stores’ we have in the community. I’m not talking about Walgreens or CVS; I’m talking about the young men who are selling drugs on our corners and streets. We need more police presence in our community to address these types of problems and we need faster response times from the police instead of two or three days later. The safety of our community is paramount.”

To learn more about Bishop Jackson’s campaign, visit www.jacksonforeastoakland.com.

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Treva Reid

Reid is the daughter of 24-year incumbent Larry Reid but her passion to serve is solely-based on her commitment and leadership experience to move East Oakland Forward.

“I’ve only known my father’s career to be working and leading in service to others. I commend him for the years he’s served,” she said.  “It is paramount that District 7 goes through a philosophical, practical and strategic process to benefit us all.”

“Our community must be heard. I believe it is prudent that you proactively meet them where they are in your approach to championing equitable outcomes,” she added.

Reid’s campaign platform focuses on community vitality, ensuring housing stability, increasing career opportunities, economic development and ending gun violence.  She says she’s ready to tackle the city’s most challenging issues with sound judgment, strategic planning and collaborative execution.

Reid’s numerous endorsements include State Senator Nancy Skinner, Oakland Firefighters, Pastor Michael McBride of The Way Church and BWOPA. She is the only candidate endorsed by the Alameda County Democratic Party.

To learn more about Reid’s campaign, go to www.reidforoakland.com.

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Marchon Tatmon

Government Affairs Manager for the San Francisco Marin Food Bank, Tatmon said that there are a multitude of important issues facing residents in District 7 and Oakland.

Regarding COVID-19 Tatmon said, “In the midst of all of this, residents have also had to deal with finding and acquiring affordable housing; pushing for police reform; obtaining employment and sustaining equitable economic development,” said Tatmon.

“I used to house our homeless neighbors and ran a winter shelter program,” Tatmon said. “I know what the unhoused people in this city have to go through. We need to find housing for the 4,000+ people who are currently living on the streets.”

“We will also need to work with developers to ensure there’s enough affordable housing being constructed. There needs to be a healthy stock of affordable housing, while also providing wrap-around services including mental health, drug addiction and information on financial literacy.”

Tatmon also believes there needs to be a focus on police reform.  “The Police Dept. needs to be defunded and the budget should be scrutinized by every line item so we can know where to pull monies from,” said Tatmon.  “Presently, more that 20% of the city’s budget goes to the police but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s helping to reduce crime.”

For more information on the Tatmon campaign, contact votemarchon@gmail.com.

Michelle Snider

Associate Editor for The Post News Group. Writer, Photographer, Videographer, Copy Editor, and website editor documenting local events in the Oakland-Bay Area California area.

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