Election Day results: Unger leads Oakland City Council District 1

Oakland firefighter Zac Unger made a strong showing in early returns Tuesday, with more than three-quarters of the votes for the District 1 City Council seat at 9 p.m.

He is running against Len Raphael, an accountant and owner of a bicycle store and auto repair shop, and Edward Frank, a homemaker led early in the returns tuesday night in his efforts to represent the city council District 1 

The seat will change hands for the first time since Dan Kalb was elected in 2012. Kalb gave up his seat to run for state Senate, but was unsuccessful. The District 1 seat, which encompasses North Oakland, is one of five City Council seats up for election Tuesday night, and only two incumbents sought reelection. 

Unger, who still lives in the neighborhood he grew up in, said his priorities are to improve public safety, increase housing and constituent services, and make sure city government functions better.  

Unger has worked for the Oakland Fire Department for  25 years and is currently the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

 “We don’t have enough police officers,” Unger said.”I would like to build a force back up to 800 people and see if we need to go higher than that.”

Raphael, who considers himself a moderate, was trailing behind Unger in early returns Tuesday night. 

According to his website, Raphael said his main focus is addressing public safety concerns in the city. 

In response to Oakland North’s questions about his goals for District 1, Raphael responded by email, “I unequivocally and have always opposed government interference in marriage and women’s reproductive rights.”

Frank, who is a fifth generation Oaklander, listed as his top priorities reframing public safety conversation, investing in the youth and investing more in the department of parks and recreation development, Frank said. 

“One priority of mine would be to sit down with the newly elected council to have a budget recess or budget retreat,” Frank said.  “You know, get the city auditor, get all the council members together, anyone who can sit there and dissect the budget with us as a group and  we can all get on the same page about what’s going on.” 

Results will continue to be counted for weeks, as mail-in ballots reach the county. The vote will be certified on Dec. 3.

(Top photo of Zac Unger campaigning, courtesy of Zac Unger)

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