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Nadel Fights Off Bassette For City Council Seat By
Munira Syeda |
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Despite opposition from Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, Nancy Nadel won another term on the City Council. |
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"I'm so happy," Nadel said in a telephone interview, shouting over the noise of her victory party at Jack London Square. "Even 60%, I'd be really happy." Bassette, a Fremont High School government teacher, former mayoral candidate, and longtime critic of Oakland government, couldn't be reached late last night for comment. But earlier in the evening, when he returned from visiting polling sites, a tired Bassette declared that this was his last campaign. "If I don't win, this is it," he said. He had been working from 7 AM to 8 PM yesterday, handing out pamphlets to voters and encouraging them to vote for him. "Before, I wasn't doing it to win," Bassette said. "This time I did it to win" Bassette lagged behind Nadel, both in popularity and donations, throughout the campaign to represent District 3, which includes parts of downtown and West Oakland. During October alone, Nadel raised $18,577. Bassette received only $750 in donations during the same period. Even though he was short on cash, Bassette somehow managed to advertise himself. Several blocks from Nadels's home is a billboard-not yet paid for, Bassette said--urging Oaklanders to elect Bassette, "a change for the better." Sixteen of these billboards are up in the District 3 area. "Name recognition - people ride by and see that every day," Bassette said. "The other thing, I wanted to make sure people knew I was black." About 80% of West Oakland's population is black, Bassette said. An environmental engineer, Nadel was elected in November 1997 as the District 3 council member. Her campaign proposals included building an African American museum and library in downtown, creating an urban preserve near Mosswood, and bringing 6,000 new jobs to the Army base in West Oakland. Backed by Oakland mayor Jerry Brown, Bassette said yesterday morning that he was upset by the developers building new structures in Oakland without hiring Oaklanders for the job. He said he would oppose such developments in future. Observers have said Brown backed Bassette because Nadel has been critical of Brown's so-called "10K" plan, a program to bring 10,000 new residents to downtown. An hour before the polling sites closed, Nadel, dressed in a navy blue jacket, an olive green scarf around her neck and jeans, did her final calling. Introducing herself to supporters, she reminded them to vote. Nadel's endorsers include council members Jane Brunner, Nate Miley, Danny Wan, Larry Reid, and Dick Spees. Nadel is also endorsed by California Assemblywoman Audie Bock and Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan. An almost-defeated Bassette had a message for his high school students. "You have to participate in the system," he said. "If you've got a point of view, campaign, and get it out there."
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