In an upcoming vote, the Oakland City Council may settle a lawsuit regarding ex-Mayor Sheng Thao's eligibility for the 2022 mayoral election. The lawsuit claims that the City Clerk's office incorrectly communicated candidate submission deadlines, allowing Thao and others to submit applications late, which allegedly compromised the election's fairness. The Alameda County Taxpayers' Association, who filed the lawsuit, argues this mismanagement resulted in fewer candidate options for voters. The proposed settlement of nearly $208,000 includes a range of reforms, though the city avoids accepting liability while maintaining secrecy over its legal strategy.
The lawsuit asserts that the City Clerk's office miscommunicated the deadline for candidate applications for the 2022 mayoral election, allowing late submissions that undermined the election's integrity.
The Alameda County Taxpayers' Association argues that the late submission of applications not only gave an unfair advantage to some candidates but also limited voter choices, ultimately skewing the results.
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