Politics & Government

Alameda County Supervisors Approve Public Process to Appoint Replacement for Nadia Lockyer

Applicants can apply for the position in the next 2-week starting Wednesday, May 2 until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15.

By Supervisor Nate Miley's Office, Alameda County

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an open public process to appoint a replacement for Nadia Lockyer, who resigned on April 20 as Alameda County Supervisor for District 2.  

By a 4-0 vote, the Board adopted a motion that calls for a 2-week application period that will begin on Wednesday, May 2, and run until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15.

Following the application period, the Board will select a group of finalists to be interviewed in public session.  

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By law, the Board has until June 19 to fill the vacancy by appointment; otherwise, the right to appoint reverts to the Governor. The Board’s appointment will only serve as District 2 Supervisor until the November 6 General Election, when voters will be asked to select a candidate to serve out the existing term through 2014.

The Board’s decision came at the close of a public hearing in which more than a dozen speakers weighed in on whether Supervisors should launch a public appointment process or appoint someone immediately to serve until November.

Supervisor Keith Carson advanced the immediate appointment former Supervisor Gail Steele to serve until the November election to provide stability and – because Steele says she will not run for election in November – enable District 2 voters to elect their representative without any of the candidates having an incumbency advantage.  

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Supervisor Scott Haggerty supported that concept and pointed out that given the lengthy public appointment process, the appointee’s time on the Board before November would be extremely limited.  

Supervisor Wilma Chan and Board President Nate Miley supported a public appointment process, as did most of the speakers.

The unanimous vote called for proceeding with a process similar to that used by the Board in 2001 when it appointed a replacement for Supervisor Chan, who was elected to the State Assembly. Supervisor Chan was re-elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2010.

Applicants will be asked to fill out a 3-page application that asks for their background, work history, record of community involvement, experience in public office and a statement of interest that would include their priorities for District 2.  

At the request of Supervisor Haggerty, applicants will also be asked to state whether they plan on running for the seat in the November General Election. The question reflects the concern among some Supervisors and members of the community that the appointed person may have an unfair advantage in the upcoming election by running as an incumbent.

Only residents of Alameda County District 2 will be considered for the appointment. District 2 includes the cities of Hayward, Newark and Union City; the northern portion of the City of Fremont; and a portion of the unincorporated community of Sunol. Applications can be obtained at the following location:

Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Main Reception Desk, Fifth Floor
Alameda County Administration Building
1221 Oak Street
Oakland, CA 94612


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