Mayor Barbara Lee Initiates Efforts to Reform Oakland’s Charter
July 23, 2025
News from: Mayor's Office
NEWS RELEASE
Mayor Barbara Lee Initiates Efforts to Reform Oakland’s Charter
Oakland, CA – Addressing a key component of her 100-day Plan, Mayor Barbara Lee convened a working group to review and provide recommendations for reforming Oakland’s Charter – specifically to better define the role of elected officials, address responsible city financial planning, and improve government accountability and transparency.
Mayor Lee has engaged the League of Women Voters of Oakland and San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) to co-chair the working group, including engaging a broad spectrum of community, Business, Labor, and government reform experts, to provide input with a goal of presenting a reform package with clear options for governance to Oakland voters.
“In living rooms and listening sessions I’ve convened across the City, our residents are demanding greater accountability, transparency, and effective service delivery,” said Mayor Lee. “This working group has been tasked with engaging the public, stakeholders, and subject matter experts with the goal of developing recommendations for Charter Reform in the areas of elected officials decision-making, responsible city financial planning, and government accountability and transparency. I am looking forward to putting my national record on ethics reform to work, here in Oakland.”
“Oakland’s charter is the foundation of how our local government functions. We’re proud to help lead a process that educates people about the importance of the charter and expands public participation in this important conversation,” said Ernestine Nettles, President of the League of Women Voters of Oakland and Sean Elsbernd, President and CEO of SPUR. “This is an opportunity to increase the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of Oakland’s government for generations to come.”
The Working Group will be convened by Mayor Lee and City Council President Kevin Jenkins and begin meeting in August. It will provide recommendations to the Mayor and City Council by January. Any amendments to the charter must be approved by Oakland voters.
Working Group Members
Besides the organizational co-chairs, the following members have been selected for the Mayor’s Charter Working Group:
Fred Blackwell, CEO San Francisco Foundation. An Oakland native, Mr. Blackwell’s extensive government experience includes previously serving as Interim City Administrator and Assistant City Manager for the City of Oakland, and as Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Development in San Francisco.
Hon. Barbara J. Parker, former Oakland City Attorney. A graduate of Harvard Law School and resident of Haddon Hill, Ms. Parker was Oakland’s City Attorney from 2011 to 2024, advising the City Council extensively on matters . pertaining to good governance. A practicing attorney for more than 40 years in the private and public sectors, she also served previously as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Corey Cook, Vice President and CEO for Cal Poly (Solano). A former Saint Mary’s College professor, Mr. Cook has taught classes on environmental politics and policy, urban politics and policy, data analysis and visualization with policy research expertise on electoral reform, alternative voting systems, political geography, and political representation.
Ben Rosenfield, Public Finance Expert. Mr. Rosenfield has 25 years of experience in local government, including 16 years as San Francisco’s City Controller where he managed the City’s $14 billion budget through some of its most challenging periods including the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and multiple leadership transitions.
Zach Goldman, Policy and Labor Leader. Mr. Goldman is an Oakland resident, policy advocate and labor leader with two decades of experience working in local government, community and labor advocacy. He currently serves as a staff director of SEIU Local 1021 an organization representing 60,000 public sector and nonprofit workers many of whom provide direct services to Oaklanders.
Ahmed Ali Bob, Board Chair, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Bob has dedicated his career to reducing barriers to opportunity for underserved communities through work in local government, the nonprofit sector, and the tech industry. At Block, Inc., he directs efforts to increase economic empowerment and expanding opportunities for vulnerable populations.
Mark Morodomi, former Counsel, Oakland Public Ethics Commission. Mr. Morodami, former Supervising Deputy City Attorney at the Oakland City Attorney's Office, served as counsel to the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, the Oakland City Auditor, the San Francisco Ethics Commission, and as Chief of Enforcement for California’s Fair Political Practices Commission.
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