CITIZEN EXCLUSIVE 

ELECTION ‘12//ALCO SUPERVISOR | Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi is not only testing the waters for a run for Alameda County supervisor, but the licentious legislator is already calling local public officials around Hayward asking for their endorsements.

According to two well-connected Hayward politicos who have spoken with the unknown officials on Hayashi’s phone list, her interest in supervisor far more along than previously known. Another source, confirmed Hayashi have been making the rounds in search of support from multiple well-known officials. Her desire to be District 2 supervisor is “serious,” they said.

Hayashi’s accelerated interest, at this time, in running for the last two years of former Supervisor Nadia Lockyer’s first term is no surprise. Even though, Lockyer’s replacement, Richard Valle, was only appointed to the board last week, most observers believe the time is now for potential candidates to show their cards in this unusual and truncated special election season.

“I guess I can let the cat out of the bag,” Valle said last Tuesday, “Mary is running for supervisor.” He later said his information came from “a very good source that I trust.” Valle, who is also running for re-election in the fall says, if Hayashi were to defeat him, it is his understanding she will serve only two years and then run for state Sen. Ellen Corbett’s termed out seat in 2014.

Hayashi’s office did not respond for comment and has not spoken to the press or constituents since her Oct. 25, 2011 felony arrest for shoplifting $2,450 in clothing from Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. She eventually plead no contest to misdemeanor grand theft.

Outside of Valle and Hayashi, there is very little speculation over any other potential candidates in the Hayward, Union City, Newark area. One name that repeatedly comes up is Union City Mayor Mark Green, who has not yet made a determination about his political future. You might remember, Green suffered a double whammy on June 5 when he lost out for the appointment to the Board of Supervisor in the afternoon and suffered an electoral loss in his race for the 20th Assembly District seat later the same night. Green finished third to Hayward Councilman Bill Quirk and Jennifer Ong.

It is not known whether Green’s appetite for losing is still strong, however, most believe his entrance into a race for supervisor featuring Valle and Hayashi would be a death knell for Valle’s chances. Both hail from Union City and regardless of Green’s recent futility, he has shown a consistent ability to draw around 20 percent of the vote in each race. Said one East Bay insider: “If Mark gets in the race, Mary wins.”

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