Candidate for
Council Member; City of Oakland; District 2

ABOUT PAT KERNIGHAN City Council District 2

Pat Kernighan is currently Chief of Staff to outgoing District 2 Councilmember Danny Wan, who has endorsed her candidacy to ensure experienced, consistent leadership for District 2 and the City of Oakland. She previously served as a Policy Aide to then-Councilmember John Russo, on the PTA Executive Board of Crocker Highlands Elementary School, and as a past member of the Oakland Library Commission.

A well-respected community advocate and legislative expert, Pat has been serving the needs of Council District 2 (Grandlake, Eastlake, Bella Vista, San Antonio and Chinatown) for the past six years, working closely with neighborhood leaders and activists throughout the District and the City.

"Strong, active neighborhood-based organizations must continue to partner with our policy-makers to fight for the quality of life that our families and children expect and deserve," says Pat. "I'm grateful to be endorsed by Councilmember Wan and have the District 2 neighborhood association leaders who I've worked with, for years -- to improve our local parks, expand programs for kids, and protect our neighborhoods."

Pat led efforts to create a new Splashpad Park in the Grandlake district, working with the Splashpad Neighborhood Forum and the City to coordinate the community planning process to ensure that the project was completed on time, within budget, and most importantly, with the community's goals and vision in mind.

Her passion and commitment for parks, children's issues, and neighborhood improvement are also evidenced in Pat's leadership and legislative work on behalf of the Eastlake Streetscape project and the new soccer field and renovations to San Antonio Park. Through her direct efforts, Clinton Park and Lincoln Square Recreation area are in the planning stages for renovations. The groundbreaking of Bella Vista Park will take place in January, thanks to Pat's work with Bella Vista neighborhood stakeholders and the Trust for Public Land. Her vocal advocacy within the City bureaucracy addressed obstacles that had delayed progress in creating this community jewel.

Pat Kernighan is a 22-year Oakland resident and is married to Paul Gordon. They have two grown daughters, Hannah and Ariel, who attended local public schools. As a Crocker Highlands Elementary School parent, Pat chaired the first Crocker Walkathon, now a neighborhood institution, to raise funds for play structures on the playground and served on the PTA Board. During her tenure on the Oakland Library Commission, she was a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, increasing library hours, and appointing a children's librarian in every branch library.

She is a graduate of the University of Washington and received her J.D. at Hastings College of the Law and is a member of the California State Bar.