OAKLAND, Calif. (June 11, 2012) – Oakland Mayor Jean Quan may be declaring victory in the recall battle, yet a Public Ethics Commission review of a complaint alleging she misused city-obtained information could, if substantiated, provide her with much more to contend.

Submitted to the PEC last month, the complaint asks the commission to determine how an email address provided to the city during its Block-by-Block organizing events ended up being used by Stand With Oakland, the political group behind anti-recall activities.

Contacted for a response, Quan’s staff was either out of the office or unable to respond by deadline; however, Susan Montauk with the Block-by-Block Organizing Network stated in an email that the address in question does appear in the BBBON network, but the group does “not give our list to other organizations,” Montauk wrote. “And, yes, BBBON is against the recall.”

Although the PEC has yet to make any determination or finding, several recall backers say they are not surprised to hear of the investigation and cite their own examples of what they consider Quan’s unethical misconduct. A divisive leadership style was frequently cited, with her interactions with former Oakland Chief of Police Anthony Batts and former Oakland City Attorney John Russo as two examples.

Oakland resident and businessman Steve Wilks wonders about the cost and purpose of a multi-page glossy brochure mailed in February to Oakland residents. Reading more like a public relations tool than anything, the piece was criticized for its cost and poor quality. Stand With Oakland, the group behind the anti-recall movement, paid for the brochure. And speaking of Stand With Oakland, Wilks reported seeing city workers at least one anti-recall table. “They were stupid enough to be wearing what appeared to be city safety vests,” Wilks said.

Quan says she’s “trying to be polite and nice”, noting some of the people who voiced a desire to become Oakland mayor have given in to rhetoric, hyperbole. Yet based on responses Wilks received from potential funders, Quan is regarded as neither nice nor polite.  “People didn’t want their names to be discoverable because they know how ruthless she is,” he said. “They didn’t want the heat of Quan coming down on them.”

Another Oakland resident and recall supporter, Dr. Jim Miller agreed. “One thing I don’t like: she had people from her office call and ask people for four figures” to help fund the anti-recall effort, Miller said. “Vindictive is a word that’s heard a lot of times.”

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