Mayor of Oakland

Mayor of Oakland is the chief executive of the City of Oakland, California, and is elected by the voters of Oakland to a four-year term. The Mayor of Oakland is responsible for proposing a budget, signing legislation into law, and appointing citizens to Oakland City Council-related boards and commissions, such as the Port of Oakland and the Oakland Unified School District. The Oakland City Council has the power to approve or reject the Mayor's proposals, and the Alameda County Superior Court has the authority to review the actions of the City of Oakland. The Mayor also works closely with other elected officials, including the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and the California State Legislature.

History of the Office

The office of the Mayor of Oakland was established in 1854, when Oakland was incorporated as a city, with Horace Carpentier serving as the first Mayor. Over the years, the office has evolved to meet the changing needs of the city, with notable Mayors including Jerry Brown, who later became the Governor of California, and Jean Quan, the first Asian American woman to serve as Mayor of a major United States city. The Mayor has worked with various organizations, including the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Oakland Association, and the East Bay Community Foundation, to promote economic development and improve the quality of life for Oakland residents. The Mayor has also collaborated with neighboring cities, such as Berkeley, California, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, on regional issues, including transportation and environmental protection.

Powers and Responsibilities

The Mayor of Oakland has a range of powers and responsibilities, including proposing a budget, appointing department heads, and overseeing the administration of city services, such as the Oakland Police Department and the Oakland Fire Department. The Mayor also has the authority to sign or veto legislation passed by the Oakland City Council, and to appoint citizens to various boards and commissions, including the Oakland Planning Commission and the Oakland Public Library board. The Mayor works closely with other city officials, including the City Administrator and the City Attorney, to ensure the effective operation of city government. The Mayor also represents the city on the regional stage, working with organizations such as the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

List of Mayors

The list of Mayors of Oakland includes Horace Carpentier, Anthony Chabot, Washington Bartlett, Frank Mott, John L. Davie, George C. Pardee, Frank K. Mott, John L. Davie, George E. McCrea, John W. Hodgson, James F. Holohan, Fred N. Wood, John W. Holohan, Warren H. Atherton, Joseph E. Smith, Fred N. Wood, Clarence Victor Dolwig, John C. Houlihan, Harold L. Ickes, Clarence Victor Dolwig, John C. Houlihan, Joseph E. Smith, Robert T. Marsh, Clarence Victor Dolwig, John C. Houlihan, Joseph E. Smith, Robert T. Marsh, John F. Slavich, Robert T. Marsh, John F. Slavich, Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, Ron Dellums, Jerry Brown, Ron Dellums, Jean Quan, Libby Schaaf, and Sheng Thao. The Mayor has worked with various community organizations, including the Oakland NAACP, the Oakland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Asian Pacific American Community Center.

Elections and Term

The Mayor of Oakland is elected by the voters of Oakland to a four-year term, with elections held every four years, as specified in the Oakland City Charter. The Mayor is limited to serving two consecutive terms, but may serve again after a four-year break, as stated in the California Constitution. The Mayor is elected through a ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank their top choices for the office. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters is responsible for conducting the election and certifying the results. The Mayor has worked with various labor unions, including the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to promote workers' rights and improve working conditions.

Current Mayor

The current Mayor of Oakland is Sheng Thao, who was elected in 2022 and took office on January 3, 2023. Sheng Thao is the first Hmong American woman to serve as Mayor of a major United States city. As Mayor, Sheng Thao has focused on issues such as affordable housing, public safety, and economic development, working with organizations such as the Oakland Housing Authority and the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor has also collaborated with regional leaders, including the Mayor of San Francisco and the Mayor of San Jose, California, to address issues such as homelessness and transportation.

Former Mayors

Former Mayors of Oakland include Jerry Brown, who served from 1999 to 2007 and later became the Governor of California, and Jean Quan, who served from 2011 to 2015 and was the first Asian American woman to serve as Mayor of a major United States city. Other notable former Mayors include Ron Dellums, who served from 2007 to 2011 and was a former United States House of Representatives member, and Libby Schaaf, who served from 2015 to 2023 and was a former Oakland City Council member. The Mayor has worked with various institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, Mills College, and the California College of the Arts, to promote education and innovation. The Mayor has also collaborated with community organizations, including the Oakland Museum of California and the Paramount Theatre (Oakland, California), to promote arts and culture.