BERKELEY — Four candidates have entered the May 28 special election to fill a vacant seat on the Berkeley City Council, with each of them arguing they are the best suited to address the city’s most pressing issues.
In the race for the District 4 council seat are Rubén Hernández Story, chief of staff for District 2 Councilmember Terry Taplin; Rent Board Commissioner Soli Alpert; community volunteer Elana Auerbach and Igor Tregub, policy director at Reimagine Power.
District 4, which covers downtown and central Berkeley, was previously represented by Kate Harrison until she unexpectedly resigned in late January, citing concerns with the city process.
Harrison was the second council member to abruptly depart earlier this year. Councilmember Rigel Robinson stepped down just weeks before and suspended his mayoral campaign. Harris has continued her run for mayor.
The four candidates vying to replace Harrison say they are committed to addressing housing affordability and protecting renters, revitalizing downtown Berkeley, supporting small business owners and improving public safety, according to their candidate filing documents and campaign websites.
Before joining Taplin’s staff, Hernández Story worked for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and state Senator Cecil Thomas, both of Ohio, and Richmond Mayor Tom Butt. He’s listed his experience advocating for gun violence and criminal reform, transit-oriented housing, green policies and more.
“I’m a proud progressive, renter and transit rider committed to uplifting diverse voices,” Hernández Story said.
Alpert, who described himself as a “labor leader, tenant advocate, fighter for accountability” in his filing documents, currently serves as vice chair of the Rent Stabilization Board and previously worked as a legislative assistant for both Harrison and Robinson.
Auerbach served on the Berkeley Tenants Union steering committee, volunteers with the Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center and is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace and Berkeley Copwatch.
“I’m frustrated by the power given to developer and corporate interests, leading to policies that exclude our community’s needs,” read Auerbach’s questionnaire. “By leading with the courage of my convictions, we will re-energize our democracy so that all voices are valued and respected.”
Tregub has also served on a number of city commissions and boards including the Rent Stabilization Board, Housing Advisory Commission, Zoning Adjustments Board, Peace and Justice Commission, Environment and Climate Commission and various tax oversight committees.
“We need a councilmember focused on healing the divides in our city, helping people and solving problems,” Tregub said on his candidate questionnaire.
Eligible District 4 voters — U.S. citizens at least 18 years old living in downtown and central Berkeley — have until May 13 to register to vote. Mail ballot voting will begin April 29 and will extend through election day on May 28.
Ballots can be returned in the mail, an election drop box or in person at a vote center. Drop boxes will be located in front of and at a rear driveway behind Berkeley City Hall at 2180 Milvia St. The location of an in-person voting center will be announced closer to election day.
Meanwhile, an election to replace Robinson is underway. Ballots went out last month and are due April 16 in the District 7 race between Cecilia Lunaparra, a senior at UC Berkeley studying history and urban studies, and James Chang, chief of staff for Councilmember Ben Bartlett and a graduate student at the Haas School of Business.