Nikki Fortunato Bas is officially the new, temporary mayor of Oakland. Sheng Thao was dismissed as the previous mayor, and her last day was Tuesday.
Following the council members’ agreement to accept the outcome of the Nov. 5 election, which included a recall that Thao lost by about 21 percentage points, Bas went from the City Council dais to the mayor’s office.
Due to her position as council president, which the city charter designates as the person who takes over as mayor in the event of a vacancy, Bas was only chosen interim mayor for the following few weeks.
In addition, the council scheduled a special election for April 15 to replace Thaoas and Bas, who is leaving for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors after defeating John Bauters of Emeryville City Council in the race to succeed retiring Supervisor Keith Carson.
As a result of Bas’ City Council seat becoming empty, the council will elect a temporary replacement for her on the dais during its meeting on January 6 and swear in the three new members to replace departing members Dan Kalb, Rebecca Kaplan, and Treva Reid.
During her last speech as a council member, Bas recommended that Kaplan be appointed by the City Council to take her seat until the April election.
“As you know Councilmember Kaplan is retiring, she is willing to serve in this interim capacity, she is a resident of District 2 in Jack London, will not run for the seat in the special election and I believe that she is uniquely qualified to jump in and immediately help to serve our District 2 residents, as well as key projects moving forward, and of course helped lead the city’s biennial budget process,” Bas stated.
Both seats will be up for grabs in the next regularly scheduled election because the winner of the mayoral and District 2 elections in April will only hold office until their present mandates expire on January 4, 2027.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.