Saturday, July 23, 2022

Rare Open City Council Seat in November: Councilman Scott Donahue to Step Down

 Council Member Donahue Will Not Seek Re-Election in November 

The bi-annual Emeryville City Council election season begins with a surprise announcement of a rare open seat for this November’s election by Council member Scott Donahue.  Mr Donahue, in a terse statement to the public, announced he will not seek a 3rd four year term on the Council. 
 

City Councilman
Scott Donahue
2014-2022
Council watchers have had to speculate as to why, after he did not offer a reason publicly at the surprise City Council announcement.  However, he privately told the Tattler only that he wished to concentrate more fully on his life-long vocation as a sculptor, leaving aside open speculation about disrespect shown to him by his Council colleagues.  As reported by the Tattler in December 2021, then Vice Mayor Donahue was skipped over for mayor in favor of current Mayor John Bauters after his colleagues refused to nominate him.  Leading the drive to overturn a normally mundane mayor selection procedure, Council member Ally Medina urged the rest of the Council to vote to skip Donahue, citing his lack of experience with budgetary issues. 
 

Council member Donahue, who first became a Council member in 2014 after receiving an endorsement by the premier community activist group Residents United for a Livable Emeryville (RULE), did not offer any comment on the snubbing by his colleagues as a factor in his decision to not seek re-election.  Mr Donahue's running mate in the last two elections, Council member Dianne Martinez did not comment on the surprise announcement. 

Council member Donahue will step down in December as his replacement is sworn in at a regular City Council meeting


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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 23, 2022 at 8:43 PM

    Thank you to Scot Donahue for so many years of community service with honesty and integrity. We hope you continue to bring Emeryville honor through your art.

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  2. AnonymousJuly 23, 2022 at 10:25 PM

    It is the Councilman's prerogative to change his mind, and if he does,
    I will still vote for him.

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  3. AnonymousJuly 24, 2022 at 6:05 AM

    An honorable man he was, while in office,

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  4. AnonymousJuly 24, 2022 at 8:14 AM

    Thank you councilman Donahue for bring the Mass Timber initiative to Emeryville as a giant step towards taking offsetting the carbon burden of retail, biotech and housing impacts. There is a company in West Oakland that is developing carbon neutral concrete called Brimstone.

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  5. AnonymousJuly 25, 2022 at 9:27 AM

    Thanksgiving this year is going to be awkward!

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  6. AnonymousJuly 25, 2022 at 9:51 AM

    This is a terrible news for Emeryville community. Thank you councilman Donahue for your years of service, you will be sorely missed. I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm to help the members of the community and be always available and ready to listen. Please, change your mind and stay, Emeryville needs you.

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  7. AnonymousJuly 29, 2022 at 9:36 AM

    Being mayor requires a lot of qualities and skills. Public speaking, financial savvy, bold vision, partnering with developers and community etc. Scott checks some but not all the boxes. Bauters pours his heart and soul into this job and he does a pretty great job. I think it's wise to keep him as mayor. He elevates Emeryville on a state and national stage and gets funding for projects that way. If we want what is best for the city and not pride we should keep him as long as he keeps performing

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