Election Day results: Bauters leads Alameda County supervisors race

(Update: When the votes were certified on Dec. 5, Nikki Fortunato Bas was declared the winner, by 425 votes.)

Emeryville City Council member John Bauters was ahead of Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas in the Alameda County supervisors race, early vote tallies showed Tuesday night.

Both candidates promised to prioritize housing, homelessness, and public safety. They are running for the seat that Keith Carson has held since 1992. He announced in December that he would be retiring.  

The seat represents Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and much of Oakland.

“The position requires collaboration with local governments, community organizations, and residents to address the diverse needs of our district,” Bauters said by email. “It’s very important to me to be accessible and responsive to voters in Alameda County, and ensure the concerns of our community are heard and acted upon while providing transparent, accountable leadership.”

Prior to serving on the council, Bauters was an attorney for victims of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, and tenants facing eviction. He was also chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission and a representative on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors.

“I’ve seen firsthand how he’s able to reach out to the public, make the world they live in safer, the world they live in more supportive, especially marginalized communities, like the homeless population, people of color,” said Alexis Gould, 26-year-old voter. “And I just feel that going into a bigger position like supervisor, where he’ll have a more grand impact on our community, he’ll do great things.”

Carson endorsed Bauters, saying is commitment to “serving the poor, unhoused, and challenged communities are qualities I’ve deeply admired throughout his career.”

During the campaign, Bas highlighted her experience in pushing through affordable housing and violence prevention programs. 

“I have the experience needed to make positive, lasting change and can be trusted to bring diverse groups together in service of that change,” Bas said by email.

Prior to serving on the council, she advocated for fair pay, fair working conditions, and the student anti-sweatshop movement. She was an executive director of the Partnership for Working Families and East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy and was a member of the National League of Cities Reimagining Public Safety Task Force. 

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