Bas also offers timeline for selection of new District 2 councilmember

By Post Staff

Speaking at a press conference this week at City Hall, Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas provided a timeline for the election of a new mayor, which is scheduled for April 15, and outlined other steps in the transition to new city leadership in the wake of the recall and Nov. 5 election.

Bas, who represents City Council District 2 and was recently declared the winner in the election for supervisor for Alameda County District 5, emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong and stable leadership in a time that the city is facing many challenges.

“Now, more than ever, it’s critical to come together to support a leadership transition that puts Oaklanders first for the betterment of our communities,” she said.

“We are singularly focused on the issues before us and those issues are making sure that we address both our current budget and our two-year budget and the structural issues that have led to the projected deficit” as well as continuing to enhance public safety,” she said.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters released final election results on Tuesday and certified the results on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The City is hoping to consolidate the mayoral and City Council District 2 special elections on a single date, which would save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.

To achieve this, Bas will submit a letter to the City Clerk on Dec. 17 stating that she will resign as councilmember of District 2, provided the election results are certified without subsequent challenge, effective at 11 a.m. on Jan. 6.

Bas offered the timeline based on the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao and her election to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

However, if the results of the supervisor race are contested and Bas cannot take her new position as supervisor on Jan. 6, some parts of the timeline would be modified. Under election regulations, a recount must be requested within five calendar days after the Registrar of Voters certifies the election results.

The timeline is based on a legal opinion published by the City Attorney explaining the applicable law that guides the process to address potential vacancies in the Office of the Mayor and the District 2 Council Office, including a 2025 special election or elections.

The anticipated timeline:

Dec. 5: Alameda County Registrar of Voters certifies election results.

Dec. 17:  The Oakland City Council will vote to declare the results of the Nov.  5 election. It is expected the City Council will declare the Office of Mayor vacant, and Council President Bas will serve as interim mayor until the vacancy is filled in a special election that is within 120 days of the vacancy.  President Pro Tempore Dan Kalb will serve as acting Council president. The Council will declare a vacancy in the Office of Council District 2 and set the date of the special election for mayor and District councilmember on April 15.

Dec. 23:  It is expected the nominations period for mayoral and District 2 Councilmember candidates would begin on Dec. 23 and end on Jan. 17.

Jan. 6:  Newly elected councilmembers will be sworn in. The District 2 seat would be vacant, leaving seven Councilmembers. The seven remaining Councilmembers may adopt a motion to appoint a person to serve as the District 2 councilmember until the election and swearing in of a new District 2 councilmember. City Council will elect its Council president and president pro tempore. The Council president will serve as interim mayor until the special election for mayor and their swearing-in, and the president pro tempore will serve as acting council president.

Jan. 17:  Nomination period for mayoral and District 2 councilmember candidates anticipated to close.

April 15:  The City of Oakland is anticipated to hold a special election for mayor and District 2 Councilmember to complete the current term through Jan. 4, 2027.

Regarding the District 2 Council seat, Bas said she would share more information prior to Dec.17. “It has been a true honor to serve the diverse constituents of District 2,” she said. “Until a new councilmember is elected, I am committed to making sure our residents and businesses receive critical city services in partnership with a caretaker councilmember who understands the needs of our community.”

Bas offered her appreciation to Thao and her staff for their dedication and hard work for the city and concluded the press conference saying:

“We love the city deeply, we believe in the city, we will fight for the city, and so we are working to ensure that our leadership is strong.”

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