Oakland North, December 5, 2013
Nicknamed the “Girl Scout barracuda” by an unnamed colleague in City Hall, Schaaf can manage to seem disarmingly accessible, but said she doesn’t shy away from being aggressive in debates around key issues.
“I do like to keep it positive, but when people need to be held accountable, they need to be held accountable,” Schaaf said. “So I can be pretty persistent in a way that not everyone finds pleasant.”
A self-proclaimed “data nerd,” Schaaf has become known for pushing innovative technological solutions to long-standing Oakland problems, like crime. “She really was determined to figure out how we can add more police to our force,” Nosakhare recalls. “That was something she was more aggressive about when it came down to the budget back in June.”
San Francisco Chronicle, December 2, 2013
"I think that Oaklanders deserve to have the police come when they call, that the city can be safe and that Oakland is looking for some competent, strong leadership," Schaaf said moments after filing her paperwork in City Hall. "I have been very frustrated with the level of services and speed of progress in this city and as a lifelong resident, as a mom and as the daughter of parents that live here, I believe that Oakland can do better."
Oakland Tribune, December 2, 2013
Councilwoman Libby Schaaf made it official Monday. She's running for mayor.
"I'm very excited to take an optimistic, can-do message to the voters," Schaaf said after filing paperwork to raise money for next year's campaign.
Piedmont Patch, December 2, 2013
Speaking to reporters outside the Oakland city clerk's office late this morning, Schaaf said that reducing police response times and creating jobs will be among her top priorities.
"I'm very frustrated with the level of services and the speed of progress in this city," Schaaf said.
NBC Bay Area, December 2, 2013
Oakland City Councilwoman Libby Schaaf filed papers today to begin the process of running for mayor in 2014, saying that improving public safety and creating new jobs are two of her top goals.
Schaaf, who was born and raised in Oakland and was elected to the City Council in 2010, said, "I believe Oaklanders deserve to have a police force that responds quickly when they call" for help and promised, "I will have a relentless focus on having a city that is safe."
KTVU, December 2, 2013
Speaking to reporters outside the city clerk's office after she filed papers forming a campaign committee, Schaaf said, "I plan to run a positive campaign that focuses on issues, not on people."
But she strongly implied that she's unhappy with the job performance of Mayor Jean Quan, saying that, "Oakland can do better and its residents deserve to have basic services delivered."
CBS Bay Area, December 2, 2013
Oakland Focus, December 2, 2013
Libby Schaaf, my friend and Oakland City Counncil District Four Representative — who so scared the heck out of current Oakland Mayor Jean Quan when Libby openly talked about running that Quan sent supporters to talk her out of it — has officially filed papers to run for Mayor of Oakland.