Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who is currently running for state treasurer, has agreed to pay $21,000 to settle claims she violated city election laws as mayor.
On Friday, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission accused Schaaf of secretly working to defeat two incumbent city council members plus a ballot measure without disclosing her involvement.
According to the Commission, Schaaf covertly led an independent expenditure committee that helped unseat Desley Brooks from Council District 6. She was also behind a committee that promoted Measure AA and another committee that sought to defeat Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan. In addition to failing to disclose her involvement, the Commission says she received contributions from city contractors and took in more than the legal amount of contributions.
The violations, which occurred between 2018 and 2020, were part of a “pattern” of campaign rule breaking by Schaaf as well as others. As The Oaklandside reports, “multiple other Oakland residents, political groups, city contractors, and campaign consultants are also facing thousands in penalties, all stemming from investigations carried out by the ethics commission’s staff into political committees run by Schaaf several years ago.”
The ethics commission initially recommended that Schaaf pay $40,000 in penalties. You can read the proposed settlement agreement here.
Schaaf has denied knowingly breaking any laws. In a statement, her attorney said the following:
“Mayor Schaaf sincerely and reasonably believed she was following the law. Her actions were motivated by improving Oakland and helping its children."