In 1982, when Former First Lady Nancy Reagan visited an Oakland Elementary School, she was asked what to do if she was offered drugs. Nancy replied, “Well, you just say no.”

On this year’s Mayor’s ballot there are plenty of candidates to consider and vote “No” for, but Former Councilmember and current School Trustee Kathy Watanabe should be a “No” brainer. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, a newspaper, a convicted felon, or former Councilmembers to raise questions about Watanabe. Just look at her record.

Watanabe is going around town raising issues about the stadium, warning about funding and maintenance. Yet during her decade on the Council, minus the year and a half she served on the school board, Watanabe failed to address long-term maintenance funding. Similar issues were ignored on her watch from the swim center to other infrastructure needs, which grew from $60 million in 2012 to $600 million in 2024. 

Watanabe supported City Hall’s high salaries, opposed efforts involving the Voting Rights Act and single-member Council districts. In court records Watanabe admitted under oath disclosure of a confidential report to her husband, while her former colleague was convicted of leaking the same report. Watanabe refused a Korean Councilmember’s request to speak at a Stop Asian Hate that later got her censured.

Just say No to District 2 candidate Yvonne Inciarte who does not have the integrity for the job. Inciarte is just another Gillmor machine candidate that was corralled and vetted. Inciarte has shown political immaturity and lack of transparency while calling out special interests despite getting similar support. 

The bottom line is this: Just say no to Watanabe, Inciarte, any police union candidates. Just say No to the Gillmor Machine. The time has come to evict the Gillmor machine from the city council.

Roger Kint