We recommend ranking Mike Hutchinson #1 and Kathryn Camp #2.

Incumbent board member Mike Hutchinson has often been in the minority vote of the board’s 4-3 majority.

His record shows a clear understanding of the job he was elected to do. When the board majority wanted to approve cuts without naming what it was cutting, he moved to make them come back with a real plan first. When the board extended the interim superintendent’s contract in closed session, he told the public about their antics. He reads the material, asks for specifics before the vote, and is an unequaled voice of authority on OUSD’s budget.

He “goes hard in the paint” and at times we would like to see him be more collaborative with other pragmatic board members. But his passion for Oakland, and his willingness to lead on tough decisions warrant him keeping his seat.

Kathryn Camp is our strong second choice. She’s an OUSD parent and part of a wave of families who stopped waiting for the current board to invite them in. She has stood at the microphone at board meetings asking for something the district has never produced: a plain report on their priorities, what’s improved, where things are off track, and what’s being done about it.

District 4 is fortunate to have two candidates willing to do this work.

Source (https://www.empoweroakland.com/voter-guide#ousd-d4)