November 16th 2024.
Alameda County District 5 residents are eagerly awaiting the announcement of their new supervisor. The latest ballot drop from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters has shown Oakland city council President Nikki Fortunato Bas with a narrow lead of 106 votes over Emeryville councilmember John Bauters. This tight race has captured the attention of the community, as it will result in new leadership for the first time in over a generation after Supervisor Keith Carson decided not to seek re-election last year. While Bauters had previously held a slight lead in the race, the most recent ballot drop has swung in Bas' favor.
This historic race will make history regardless of the outcome. If Bauters is declared the winner, he will become the first openly gay supervisor in Alameda County. On the other hand, if Bas emerges victorious, she will be part of the first female majority on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The focus of the campaign has centered around the strategies to address the district's most pressing issues, including homelessness, public safety, and unaffordable housing. Bas has championed a holistic approach that seeks to prevent residents from falling into homelessness or crime through early intervention programs. She believes that this approach has been successful in her work in Oakland, stating, "Nothing stops a bullet like a job, and that has always stuck with me." Bas has a strong background in social justice and economic opportunity, which she believes is the foundation for creating a safe and vibrant community.
Bauters, on the other hand, hopes to bring his pragmatic progressive approach from Emeryville to the Board of Supervisors. Known as "America's Bike Mayor," Bauters has emphasized his efforts to reduce homelessness in Emeryville by 79% since 2019 through the passage of housing bonds and the creation of permanently affordable housing. He is passionate about housing security and believes that everyone should have the opportunity to live in Alameda County. Bauters has also outspent Bas in campaign funding, spending over $350,000 compared to Bas' $224,000 in the last month of the campaign.
As the community anxiously awaits the final results, it is unclear how many uncounted ballots are left in the county. The state's Unprocessed Ballots Reports estimated that there are still 187,135 uncounted ballots as of Friday morning. However, the county has until December 5th to certify the election. Regardless of the outcome, the residents of Alameda County District 5 can look forward to new leadership and a bright future ahead.
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