Bay Area

County Supervisor Keith Carson Announces Retirement after 30-Year Career

Many had assumed that Carson, who was first elected to the board in 1992, was planning to run for another term. But in a surprise statement, he announced Friday just after the filing deadline that he would not run for re-election.

Published

3 years ago

December 15, 2023

Oakland Post

Keith Carson

By Post Staff

Keith Carson, a 30-year incumbent on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, has announced that he will not seek reelection to the board in 2024.

“Serving you over the past 30 years has been an immense honor and privilege,” Carson wrote in a statement. “I’m excited about the future that lies ahead for Alameda County.”

Carson said that his decision was made after “careful consideration, prayer, and consultation” with his family.

Rushing to run for Carson’s District 5 seat, nine candidates have submitted their names:

Ben Bartlett,Berkeley councilmember
Nikki Fortunato Bas, Oakland councilmember
John Bauters, Emeryville councilmember
Ken Berrick, ALCO Board of Education trustee
Omar Farmer, ALCO Veteran Affairs Commissioner
Greg Hodge, non-profit executive
Chris Moore, community volunteer/accountant
Gerald Pechenuk, ALCO GOP Central Committee member
Lorrel Plimier, director, attorney/data scientist

In an interview quoted in the East Bay Times, Carson said that although he was grateful to represent his district, he also found that advocating for the Black and Brown communities he represents in corridors of power often occupied by White people was not always easy.

“It’s been a privilege to be at those table, and it’s also painful to be at those tables,” Carson said. “You’re usually the lone voice. You try not to be dismissed.”

Supervisor Carson said the decision to retire was not made for health reasons, and that he would have been “physically ready for another term.” He also said he would not run for another elected office or pursue consulting.

Conway Jones, Carson’s appointee and past Chairman of the Alameda County Veterans Commission, expressed gratitude to Carson for his efforts on behalf of veterans.

“Supervisor Keith Carson been a dedicated servant to our community,” Jones said. “We have a $240 million Veterans Administration Columbarium and Clinic in progress at the former Alameda Naval Air Station thanks to his leadership.”