Alameda County 5th District Supervisor Keith Carson announced his support for John Bauters on Thursday, shaping the campaign to succeed him after 32 years in office.
Carson’s endorsement is considered one of the most valuable in the 5th District race between Bauters, an Emeryville City Council member, and his opponent Nikki Fortunado Bas, an Oakland City Council member. Carson was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1992.
In his recommendation speech, Carson emphasized that Bauters already has experience in combating unaffordable housing in Emeryville through effective and equitable allocation of resources.
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
“John Bauters’ leadership and unwavering commitment to the poor, homeless and disadvantaged are qualities I have deeply admired throughout his career,” Carson wrote in his recommendation. “John’s collaborative spirit and commitment to social justice will serve him well on the Board, and I am proud to support him.”
There was no vacancy in the 5th District, which includes Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and North and East Oakland, until Carson announced his intention to retire in December 2023, opening the door for a new face to represent Alameda’s Fifth District.
In a press release announcing Carson’s endorsement, Bauters praised Carson’s leadership of the 5th District over the past 32 years and said he will make Alameda County “more equal and equitable” through collaboration and prudent management of the district’s resources.
“Keith Carson’s leadership in Alameda County was a model of integrity and inclusivity,” Bauters said in a statement. “I am honored to have his support as I seek to build on his work and ensure our county remains a place where everyone is valued and every voice is heard.”
Bas received endorsements from numerous unions, including the Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, and Teamsters Local 70. She also received endorsements from political organizations such as the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, the Alameda Green Party, and the Working Families Party of California.
Bauters has also received support from local and state politicians such as State Senator Scott Wiener and former Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. In addition, he has the endorsement of various housing organizations such as California YIMBY and environmental nonprofits such as the Sierra Club. The East Bay Times’ editorial board, which is independent of the editorial board, has also endorsed Bauters.
In the race for District 5 presidency, Bauters and Bas are neck and neck, with polls by the Bauters campaign showing them statistically tied.
