Annie Campbell Washington, who I interviewed two weekends ago, has just issued this press release that includes a surprise: Oakland District Two Councilmember Pat Kernighan, who has not endorsed anyone currently running for her District Two seat she’s vacating to retire, has decided to back Ms.Campbell Washington.
“Getting things done in Oakland is tough — few know how to do it and Anne is one of them,” observed Council President Pat Kernighan. “She’s practical, approachable and tough. She will fight for District Four and Oakland will become a better city with her on Council.”
Campbell Washington is the former chief of staff to two Oakland mayors and a public budgeting and policy expert. She holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. She and her husband Glynn live in Montclair and their two children attend Oakland public schools.
We simply cannot wait any longer to build the safe, vibrant neighborhoods all Oaklanders deserve,” Campbell Washington announced. “It’s time to move politics out of the way and get to work on our common priorities. I am proud of what I have achieved with my colleagues on the Oakland School Board and I know that I will have an even broader impact on our neighborhoods and schools as a member of the City Council.”
Campbell Washington’s early support includes City Council President Pat Kernighan, Oakland Unified Interim Superintendent Gary Yee, Oakland Unified School Board President David Kakishiba, Executive Director of Sustainable Business Alliance/Oakland Grown Erin Kilmer Neel, retired director of Alameda County’s Public Health Department Arnold Perkins and neighborhood leaders, including Doug and Linda Wong (Beulah Heights), Richard Cowan (Redwood Heights) and Melissa Raymond (Montclair).
Doug Wong, vice chair of the Wildfire Prevention Assessment District Board, offered equal praise stating, “Anne (Campbell Washington) is exactly who we need on Oakland City Council. She has committed to our families and neighborhoods through her work on the school board. She also has deep relationships in the City and County from her many years working in Oakland City Hall. This is a rare mix of talents — we need Anne’s collaborative style of leadership on City Council.”
That’s all in the press release, but what’s not there is that Annie’s got a late start, and so some of the people who would have backed her instead of Jill Broadhurst, who’s also running for the seat along with Niocolas Heidorn, instead got behind Jill, and have already thrown at least one fund-rasing event for her. So Annie’s got some catching up to do, but she knows that, and can do it.
Stay tuned for my video interview.
Zennie Abraham | Zennie Abraham or “Zennie62” is the founder of Zennie62Media which consists of zennie62blog.com and a multimedia blog news aggregator and video network, and 78-blog network, with social media and content development services and consulting. Zennie is a pioneer video blogger, YouTube Partner, social media practitioner, game developer, and pundit. Note: news aggregator content does not reflect the personal views of Mr. Abraham.