Guide can be viewed at:http://theballot.org/2006/oakland

Oakland's Voter Guide!!!

Oakland, CA

November 7, 2006

Voting in the town this elecion? Here's all you need to know...

Measure M - Better Investment Options for Fire and Police Retirement

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Measure N - Give Libraries Some Love

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Public libraries are great - free books, music, and Internet. Measure N is a facilities bond, meaning that the increase in tax dollars goes to physical improvements on the buildings where many branch libraries are housed, and also moves the library's Main Branch to the now-empty Henry J. Kaiser Center near Laney. The only problem with this initiative is that it's aiming to do a whole lot with not much money. Hopefully this bond won't create more of an uphill battle for the library system to get more funding later that could go directly to increased staffing, programming and, you know, new books.

Measure O - Instant Runoff Voting

Endorsed Vote: Yes

It's about time. The Oakland City Council finally voted to put Instant Run-Off (IRV) on the ballot, joining the ranks of the most progressive cities in the country in taking action to fix our broken elections system. Here, IRV is set up as "ranked choice voting" meaning you can choose your top 3 candidates in any given race. If no candidate gets a majority of votes, your second and third choices get factored into the count until someone gets a majority. This means you can finally vote for who you actually want, without worrying that you're wasting your vote. Opponents say this idea is too confusing for voters, but it's about as hard as remembering that International Boulevard is the same as E. 14th Street.

City Council, District 2

Aimee Allison

Endorsed Vote: Yes

This race is huge, cause it's for the swing seat on City Council. The stakes: whether or not Mayor Ron Dellums can actually implement a
desperately needed social justice policy agenda. A sharp contrast to her pro-corporate development opponent, Aimee is a true progressive, committed to environmentally sound development, eviction protection,
government transparency, preventing violence through community peacekeepers, and bringing money to the city by taxing the Port. Aimee is immensely qualified, has clear and practical solutions for Oakland, and is looking out for us young people.

Alameda County Auditor

Courtney Ruby

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Peralta Community College Board, District 7

Abel Guillen

Endorsed Vote: Yes

AC Transit Director at Large

Rebecca Kaplan

Endorsed Vote: Yes

House of Reps, D-9

Barbara Lee

Endorsed Vote: Yes

This guide uses the Cityscape - colorful design by Nica Lorber