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Mayoral candidates not far apart

By Judith Scherr
Saturday November 02, 2002

Tuesday voters will choose between two seasoned politicians vying for mayor. Both incumbent Mayor Shirley Dean and former state Assemblymember Tom Bates are Democrats and claim many of the same goals: the creation of housing for all income levels built along transit corridors; standing up to UC Berkeley to make it pay costs the city incurs on the university’s behalf; creating a sustainable city, including support for solar power and reduction of the use of fossil fuels. Both candidates want to address the gap in health and education between flatlanders and hills residents.  

The candidates, however, differ in their strategies and alliances. Bates supports rent control; Dean supports rent control but wants it tied to need. Dean demands more parking downtown; Bates says the city must ascertain whether it’s needed before building it. 

Bates wants to create a Rules Committee to streamline council meetings; Dean calls the proposal undemocratic. 

Each tout local, state and national allies, ties which they say gives them clout to get their programs implemented. Dean’s nationwide ties include people from the Conference of Mayors where she chairs a committee on cities and universities; and she has developed a close working relationship with state Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland. Her supporters include the three council moderates, the Berkeley Democratic Club, the police and firefighter unions, and the dog aficionados’ organization, Bark. 

Bates touts ties from his 20 years in the Assembly, including Attorney General Bill Lockyer and, of course, his spouse, former mayor Loni Hancock who is assemblymember elect from Berkeley. He also has a close working relationship with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland. Bates is supported by four of the five progressive councilmembers and backed by Berkeley Citizens Action, the Green Party, and the Alameda Central Labor Council. 

The Daily Planet was unable to reach a third candidate, John Patrick Bouchell, who, on the statement filed with the city clerk, says he’s 47 and a graduate of Princeton University. He writes: "In my lifetime I have been primarily a student, a teacher, and an absolutely astounded witness to the human drama and, at times, comedy."  

On this page, the Daily Planet looks at ways in which Dean and Bates differ.