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Councilmember Jim Prola
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SAN LEANDRO//2014 ELECTION/MAYOR | San Leandro’s most liberal city councilman says he is not interested in running for mayor next year. However, if the city’s notorious Mayor Stephen Cassidy upsets him, he might change his mind.
“I have no intention to run,” said Prola during a break in the action at Tuesday night’s council meeting. “I know it’s a weasel answer.”
Prola, the District 6 council member representing the city’s marina west side, is one of the most progressive voice in the East Bay. In fact, his support for labor is so strong, most union shops readily admit they save resources by simply “allowing Jim to handle it for us” in San Leandro.
On Tuesday, Prola voiced support for the possibility of adding two public security cameras in San Leandro. However, he pushed for language potentially limiting the retention of video and license plate reader data to just 90 days. Such restraint for privacy concerns was noted by some in contrast to a belief Oakland council members last July voiced little pushback to a citywide surveillance system.
For months in San Leandro, there has been chatter urging Prola to challenge Cassidy, a moderate Democrat who won the mayor’s race in 2010 on a rigorous platform of reducing city employee pensions. The potential to attract large amounts of campaign fundraising from labor, eager to fight Cassidy, makes Prola a significant threat. Prola acknowledges he can raise “significant dollars” if he runs, but he’s not interested.
With Cassidy standing in the background Tuesday night, Prola added if Cassidy “gets him upset” over an issue in the future, he might reconsider.
In the meantime, the list of possibly challengers for mayor include: Bal Theatre owner Dan Dillman, who ran for city council last year; Cynthia Chandler, an attorney; and possibly Mike Santos, the son of former Mayor Tony Santos, who was defeated by Cassidy in 2010.
Earlier this year, there was also some indication current Councilmembers Diana Souza and Michael Gregory, both termed out next year, might mount a challenge. Sadly, San Leandro’s perennial candidate, Lou Filipovich, passed away last year having never won an election.
ebcitizen.com 
They attend more events in San Leandro than other elected officials and volunteer their time to actually work at some of these events, instead of just showing up for the photo-ops.
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Many folks participate fundraising for all of the above, so what made this couple special.
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I'm not in a union so the causes and fundraisers I've seen them at were for the poor, battered women and children, education, non-profits and other charitable events. I've also seen them volunteer their time and work at some of these events. I don't know how they pay for all of the events, but the few times I saw them pay, it was with a personal check.
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If he didn't shill for the unions as his religion, then maybe your sentiments above would count.
I question the 'worthy causes and fundraisers.' Obviously only for the unions at the taxpayers' expense.
Nice try.
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I was born and raised in San Leandro and Jim Prola and his wife Diana are very well respected here. They give generously of their time, energy and money to worthy causes and fundraisers. They also attend more events in San Leandro than any other elected officials. What have you done for San Leandro beside call people names?
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What rhymes with ass-hola?
You get it.
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Prola is far more popular in San Leandro than Cassidy.
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Lets get even with Prola after the '14 election, Timmy quoted to Cassidy… rumor or not… go figure…
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So sayeth Big Jim PrHOla!
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Cassidy's priority is to win the re-election! Bully returns after 2014 election!
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Cassidy and Prola make strange bedfellows, but both are smart and will move our city forward if they play nice and listen to each other. It would be divisive if they ran against each other and commend Prola for doing what's better for San Leandro and putting politics aside.
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Prola did the right thing, yes on public security cameras!
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I talked to Prola in early July at the San Leandro downtown Farmers Market and encouraged him to run. Jim told me that it was his intent to try and work with Cassidy and not run against him unless working with him was impossible. He also said he felt Cassidy was making an effort to work with him, and he felt our city was on the move. Further, he said having the Vice Mayor run against the Mayor would be divisive and not be beneficial to San Leandro. Good luck to both.
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Wish the anti-union troll would not do multiple posts on every topic. He's already admitted he resides in Weickowski and Swallwell's Districts. Why are you now posting about San Leandro? You are so boring and predictable. zzzzzzzz
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Big Jim PrHOla. Says it all.
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Our family and neighbors would not vote for any candidates do not concern or against public safety+readers+public safety cameras.
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Cassidy betrayed public safety over who would help his re-election.
He lost many votes after he said “no” to security cameras.
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Former CM Bob Glaze's name has been floated for some time, but his interest doesn't seem strong. Tony Santos has been pushing him to run for months, apparently to no avail.
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I live in San Leandro. Prola is well liked by almost every group and organization. Cassidy is not well liked by most because he tries to bully people. I wish Prola would run. He won his two races by large margins. Cassidy barely squeaked by in his race.
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Cassidy gets reelected. You could have an 8 person race. Cassidy Souza GRANT LaCabe/Chandler Dillman Ehrlich Mestas Santos. The key is under San Leandro's limited instant runoff system you only get 3 preferences so most of the fractured anti incumbent vote will die before transferring to whomever is in 2nd place. Advantage mayor
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Prola's like the biggest whore for the unions ever. He couldn't win on his best day, and boy does he know it.
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Mike Catz-TheCrap will be the biggest loser in 2014 election.
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Union support = money
Can money buy votes
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Is that why Prola yes on public security cameras…hoping support from conservative and yes on marijuana… progressive supporters?
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Prola is probably the only one who could beat Cassidy. Cassidy ran 3 people he supported in 2012 and all 3 of his candidates lost. Prola trounced Cassidy's candidate and many of us hoped he would run for Mayor. He had union but he also had business and the Chamber's support, as well as many other groups both conservative and progressive. Hope he changes his mind. Remember Cassidy barely beat Santos in an extremely close race. I think Santos got more first place votes but lost because of second and third place votes.
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Not a bad idea!!
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what about bob glaze?
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None of these people can beat Cassidy. Prola is a union hack
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