Oakland Mayor Wilson Wins Third Term in Light Turnout

Lionel Wilson, the city’s first black mayor, easily won reelection to a third term Tuesday, defeating a much younger opponent who waged an aggressive campaign.

Wilson, 70, received 32,396 votes, or 60% of the total, and his principal opponent, 36-year-old Wilson Riles Jr., who also is black, collected 17,578 votes, or 32.5%. Five other candidates, including a television producer, a painter and a Socialist Workers Party candidate, shared the remaining votes.

“I look forward to the next four years with a great deal of anticipation,” said Wilson, who spent four times as much money as Riles on the campaign. “I expect to go on doing the things that I have been doing for the city.”

Low Voter Turnout

Only 23% of Oakland’s 204,382 registered voters went to the polls.

Wilson speculated that the low turnout was a sign of satisfaction with his performance as mayor and the fact that the off-year election featured only a few local issues.

Riles is a former Peace Corps volunteer and city councilman. His father, former state superintendent of public instruction, was the first black elected to statewide office.

Riles waged a fierce campaign with $60,000 in campaign funds, accusing Wilson of helping business and wealthy Oakland Hills residents at the expense of the city’s low- and middle-income residents.

To Seek More Jobs

On Wednesday, Wilson said his goals for the next four years are more jobs for the young and an improved business climate.

“The main goal of this administration,” Wilson said, “will be finding a way to deal with unemployment. There are thousands of our young unemployed on our streets.”

Wilson said he will ask the City Council to provide more money for neighborhoods, especially to help upgrade businesses.