By Ken Epstein

Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who is currently running for State Treasurer in 2026, has agreed to pay a $21, 000 fine for serious violations of election rules to defeat political opponents in 2018 and 2020 city elections.

Following a years-long investigation, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission last week concluded scrutiny of political wrongdoing by Schaaf and her political allies, saying she secretly plotted to organize, raise money, and lead campaigns in violation of election laws while she was still in office.

Investigators found that she secretly controlled several political committees that she used to attack elected city leaders who did not agree with her and to promote a ballot measure.

Ethics investigators also found that those who worked with Schaaf in violation of election law included the Oakland Police Officers Association, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, contractors, campaign consultants, along with others who were fined hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Under the proposed settlement agreement issued earlier by the Commission, those who faced the charges waived “all procedural rights” under the law.

“If respondents fail to comply with terms of this stipulation, then the Commission may reopen this matter and prosecute respondents to the full extent permitted by law,” according to the proposed agreement.

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The settlement agreement continued:

“The respondents’ violations in this case are serious. The strict rules applying to candidate-controlled committees go directly to the very purpose of campaign finance law. Candidates for office, and (because) particularly high-ranking office holders such as the Mayor, have a disproportionate ability to bring in campaign money.”

One commissioner said that the terms of the settlement were too weak, insufficient to deter further violations.

“I think the penalties are really inadequate, and I worry that the ends have justified the means here,” said Commissioner Alea Gage, according to Oaklandside.

Several commissioners were concerned that the majority of the penalties are to be paid by two campaign committees, Oaklanders for Responsible Leadership and the Committee for an Affordable East Bay. However, these committees no longer function and have no money, meaning that collecting the fines will be problematic.

Schaaf is no longer mayor and therefore under less potential scrutiny, but many observers say she is still using similar tactics to smear opponents of her pro-real estate developer priorities, which in the current election include District 3 incumbent Councilmember Carroll Fife.

Schaaf’s tactics include finding a staffer or former staffer to run against her target. She raises money from corporate benefactors, finds endorsements, and encourages media attack campaigns that include lies and misrepresentations.

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