Empower Oakland Voter Guide
Your best source for carefully-researched, fair and honest information for the April 15, 2025 Special Municipal Election in Oakland.
OUR 2025 ENDORSEMENTS
Oakland Mayor
Loren Taylor
(Barbara Lee)
City Council, District 2
Charlene Wang
(Harold Lowe)
Sales Tax Increase
Vote Yes
OUR 2025 ENDORSEMENTS
Mayoral and Tax Proposal endorsements coming soon
Explaining Our Endorsements
While making our endorsements and creating this voter guide, we strived for thoroughness and inclusivity, and we share the materials we based our decisions on freely. Learn more about Empower Oakland’s endorsement process.
Member of City Council, District 2 (# 1 Choice)
Vote for Charlene Wang
Charlene Wang brings a unique combination of passion and policy expertise that will be an incredible asset to the Oakland City Council. She consistently pairs thoughtful analysis of Oakland’s problems with innovative, practical policy fixes and a detail-oriented approach. Wang’s energetic approach to community engagement could dramatically improve the ailing relationship between City Council and District 2 residents.
We encourage you to watch Charlene Wang’s in-person interview and read her responses to our questionnaire.
We urge all District 2 residents to rank Charlene Wang #1 on their ballot.
Member of City Council, District 2 (# 2 Choice)
Vote for Harold Lowe
Harold Lowe is a staunch community advocate in District 2. He brings decades of diverse civic experience, and would be one of the few Oakland politicians with business experience.
Lowe comes from a long line of union members and has held over 30 positions in the Oakland community during his long period of community service. His stances on public safety and the budget could be critical voices in Oakland.
We encourage you to watch Harold Lowe’s in-person interview and read his responses to our questionnaire.
We recommend District 2 voters rank Harold Lowe as #2 on their ballot.
Member of City Council, District 2 Candidate Information
| Candidate | Profession | Questionnaire | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paula F.L. Thomas | Commercial Property Manager | Did not return questionnaire | No Interview |
| Rev Kenneth Anderson | Pastor | Did not return questionnaire | No Interview |
| Kanitha Matoury | Proprietor/Chef | Read It | Watch It |
| Charlene Wang | Civil Rights Advisor | Read It | Watch It |
| Kara Murray-Badal | Housing Policy Director | Did not return questionnaire | No Interview |
| Harold Lowe III | Financial Planner/Consultant | Read it | Watch it |
Ad Paid for by Empower Oakland Committee, PO Box 7669 Oakland FPPC ID# 1466279. Ad Committee’s Top Funders/Major funding provided by:
Gagan Biyani
A Better Bay Area
Ryan Graciano
in the amount of $150,500.
Not authorized by or coordinated with any City candidate, committee controlled by a candidate, or election official. Funding details are available on the Oakland Public Ethics Commission’s website. Total cost of the communication is $142.96.
