Ignacio De La Fuente
has complications becoming Oakland's first Latino Mayor
The
local Oakland Tribune newspaper, which had virtually anointed Ignacio De La Fuente
heir apparent to Mayor Jerry Brown as the next mayor of
Oakland, printed a series of articles about his family troubles and complications
to his becoming mayor.
First, and most the important, and what most fathers dread the most, is that of family matters implosion for all the city to see--De La Feunte's son was arrested, charged, and is being held in jail without bail for two serious charges. The raping a 15-year girl and the raping of a 21-year woman. Ignacio De La Fuente, Jr., is being held in jail with bai; that tends to indicate that the weight of evidence is strong, and this matter may consume quite a large segment of his time and his campaign for mayor.
The second item the Oakland Tribune newspaper reported was the possible entry of former Congressman Ron Dellums into the run for mayor of Oakland; indeed, he would be the 800-pound gorilla in this mayoral race and would reshape the dynamics of race entirely, were he to accept the challenge.
One of the Oakland Tribune's good writers, columnist Peggy Stinnett, wrote an intriguing column, speculating on the reconfiguring of political dynamics were Dellums to actually become a candidate for mayor of Oakland. Her speculations did not paint to favorable a picture for De La Fuente.
Already, Jerry Brown, a useless and self-serving mayor if Oakland has ever had one, has indorsed De La Fuente for his job, as he attempts to put himself on the State as its next Attorney General. And that endorsement has helped De La Fuente raise more money than anyone else. He has slavishly followed Jerry Brown's dictates.
The current two factors that De La Fuente has to confront are not miscues by De La Fuente, but they pose serious complications for his effort to become Mayor of Oakland. He has to focus on his son's case, giving him support, and campaign at the same time. And if he is campaigning against Dellums, that makes his effort more difficult.
Sometimes, the best laid plans can go awry and you have nothing to do with them. For the last two years, Councilman De La Fuente, Sr., has cultivated an image as a strong mayor type, a bit in the image of Jerry Brown, but with a little difference from traditional mayors: he rides a Harley Davison motorcycle, which we all know, is more than a machine!
While Senior De La Fuente was out courting donors, votes, and favor to become the first Latino Mayor of Oakland, Junior De La Fuente who is now charged with having been out committing statutory rape on a young girl and forcible rape a grown woman. This will not help Senior De La Fuente become mayor of Oakland.
Unfortunately for Senior De La Fuente, the legal case against his son is being pushed back through continuances, and it is coming closer to the time that the campaign for mayor heats up. Will Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente's campaign to become the first Latino Mayor of Oakland falter because of these complications? That is anyone's guess.
But even without the legal issues of his son and Ron Dellums stepping into the mayoral race, many Oaklanders see De La Fuente as little more than a nuisance and only a brown Jerry Brown. His brownness is quite okay, but his Jerryness is not okay.
Simond
Griote
7.18.05
