Below is a note from GFC East Bay Chapter Chairs Alistair Thornton and Eli Bildner to the GFC network. I wholeheartedly support their recommendations. You may donate to any or all of the candidates they recommend using this form. If you use that form, you may also elect to have GFC’s legal counsel handle any required political reporting for you at GFC’s expense.
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Three Oakland Candidates Who Need Our Support
TL;DR: The GFC East Bay Chapter’s highest-priority candidates are Arielle Fleisher and Alexandra Williams for OUSD School Board, and Charlene Wang for City Council. Support key races here and Govern for California’s East Bay Chapter here. Candidates have a $900 per donor campaign contribution limit.
First, the good news: Oakland has come a long way since the recall of the city’s former mayor in 2024. Mayor Lee and the Oakland City Council have made meaningful progress on a number of issues, including public safety, homelessness, and addressing illegal dumping.
And yet, at the same time, Oakland continues to face a number of challenges — chief among them a fiscally imperiled public school system.
The public’s frustration with the state of Oakland schools is unmistakable. In an East Bay Polling Institute survey, just 3% of voters rated the school board positively on financial management, 78% lacked confidence that the district could solve its budget problems, and 57% favored operating fewer schools so the remaining campuses could be adequately supported. Even Oakland’s principals are speaking out: In a powerful April letter, 60 district principals — representing two-thirds of Oakland school sites — urged the school board to close under-enrolled schools and to stabilize district finances. Families expect — and deserve — better.
Of course, other issues beyond public education demand continued attention — for instance, the city’s persistent fiscal challenges and a property crime rate that, while down significantly over the past year, remains high relative to other large cities. The November 3 election gives voters an opportunity to choose leaders prepared to address these problems directly.
Arielle Fleisher for OUSD School Board, District 2
Arielle has already done the work of helping families participate more effectively in their schools and district. She has organized hundreds of Oakland mothers, served in PTA and neighborhood leadership, and helped make OUSD’s finances more understandable to parents.
Her career has focused on making public programs work in practice, including work in public health and transportation. She would bring independent judgment, financial discipline, and a parent’s perspective to the board.
Crucially, Arielle is running against incumbent OUSD School Board President Brouhard, whose term has been marked by continuous fiscal crises and district leadership turnover.
Charlene Wang for Oakland City Council, District 2
Charlene has brought energy and strong policy skills to City Hall since taking office in 2025. She has helped reverse shelter cuts, connect unhoused residents with services, improve neighborhood safety, support small businesses, and expand assistance for vulnerable residents.
Charlene’s approach stands in contrast to that of her opponent, a former co-chair of the East Bay DSA, whose platform includes advocating for increasing city government hiring and raising business fees and payroll taxes.
District 2 should re-elect Charlene Wang, and we encourage members of the GFC community to support her.
Alexandra Williams for OUSD School Board, District 6
Alexandra is an experienced educator and doctoral candidate in organizational leadership. Her work has exposed her to different school settings and to students with a wide range of academic and personal needs.
She understands that board members must set measurable goals, scrutinize spending, oversee district leadership, and keep attention fixed on student progress. OUSD would benefit from her combination of classroom knowledge and organizational experience.
Alexandra (and LeAna Powell, another strong candidate running in the race) are challenging incumbent School Board Director Valerie Bachelor, who has been a consistent vote for the underperforming Board majority over the past two years. Support for Alexandra can help build a more effective and pragmatic majority on the OUSD School Board.
Support key races here and Govern for California’s East Bay Chapter here.
