Elihu Harris
Encyclopedia
Elihu Mason Harris is a former U.S. Democratic Party
politician
and college administrator. He served as the 46th mayor of Oakland, California
from 1991 to until 1999. He served for 12 years (1978 through 1991) as a member of the California State Assembly
before his election as Oakland mayor. He was the Chancellor
of Peralta Community College District
.
He earned an undergraduate degree in political science from California State University, East Bay
. Harris received a Master of Public Policy
from University of California, Berkeley
in 1969 and law degree
from University of California, Davis School of Law in 1972.
He was the Mayor of Oakland from 1991 until 1999. He has also served as a California Uniform Law Commissioner since 1981.
Harris co-owns Vallejo, California
radio station KDIA
along with former California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown
.
Harris was the first major party politician to lose a state legislative race to a Green Party
candidate, when he lost a race for California State Assembly
to Audie Bock
in 1999. In the 1999 election, Harris, an African-American, sent targeted mailers to households in selected precincts, mostly African American
, urging voters to vote for him and receive a fried chicken
meal if they presented a voting stub at selected supermarkets. There was voter backlash because of the perception of vote buying and had a subtext of racism. In his losing effort Harris outspent Bock better than 16 to 1 ($550,000 to $33,000).
His legacy in Oakland includes the naming of the Elihu M Harris State Office Building
after him, which was built in downtown Oakland near the pre-existing Federal Building and City Hall. The three proximate structures form a large triangle of massive government buildings in a larger business redevelopment area.
From 2003 to 2010, Harris was Chancellor
of Peralta Community College District
. He had been interim chancellor from 2003 until receiving the post on a permanent basis. Following news coverage that raised questions about Harris' leadership, his contract was not renewed by the Board of Trustees when it expired on June 30, 2010.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and college administrator. He served as the 46th mayor of Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
from 1991 to until 1999. He served for 12 years (1978 through 1991) as a member of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
before his election as Oakland mayor. He was the Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of Peralta Community College District
Peralta Community College District
The Peralta Community College District is the community college district serving northern Alameda County, California. The district operates four community colleges: Berkeley City College, Laney College and Merritt College in Oakland, and College of Alameda. From 1968 to 1988, non-contiguous Plumas...
.
He earned an undergraduate degree in political science from California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
. Harris received a Master of Public Policy
Master of Public Policy
The Master of Public Policy , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the...
from University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1969 and law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from University of California, Davis School of Law in 1972.
He was the Mayor of Oakland from 1991 until 1999. He has also served as a California Uniform Law Commissioner since 1981.
Harris co-owns Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
radio station KDIA
KDIA
KDIA is a radio station in Vallejo, California. It is a separate entity from the station at 1310 AM that held the KDIA call letters for many years. The 1640 AM frequency was licensed as part of an extension of the AM band in 1998, and adopted the abandoned KDIA call letters then.-KDIA 1310...
along with former California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown
Willie Brown (politician)
Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its Speaker, and afterward served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first African American to do so...
.
Harris was the first major party politician to lose a state legislative race to a Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
candidate, when he lost a race for California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
to Audie Bock
Audie Bock
Audie Elizabeth Bock is an American film scholar and politician who served in the California State Assembly from 1999 to 2000....
in 1999. In the 1999 election, Harris, an African-American, sent targeted mailers to households in selected precincts, mostly African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, urging voters to vote for him and receive a fried chicken
Fried chicken
Fried chicken is a dish consisting of chicken pieces usually from broiler chickens which have been floured or battered and then pan fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. The breading adds a crisp coating or crust to the exterior...
meal if they presented a voting stub at selected supermarkets. There was voter backlash because of the perception of vote buying and had a subtext of racism. In his losing effort Harris outspent Bock better than 16 to 1 ($550,000 to $33,000).
His legacy in Oakland includes the naming of the Elihu M Harris State Office Building
Elihu M Harris State Office Building
The Elihu M. Harris State Office Building is a high-rise located in downtown Oakland, California. It has 22 stories and stands at 328 feet tall. The building is named for Elihu Harris, a former mayor of Oakland who is still living.-External links:*...
after him, which was built in downtown Oakland near the pre-existing Federal Building and City Hall. The three proximate structures form a large triangle of massive government buildings in a larger business redevelopment area.
From 2003 to 2010, Harris was Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of Peralta Community College District
Peralta Community College District
The Peralta Community College District is the community college district serving northern Alameda County, California. The district operates four community colleges: Berkeley City College, Laney College and Merritt College in Oakland, and College of Alameda. From 1968 to 1988, non-contiguous Plumas...
. He had been interim chancellor from 2003 until receiving the post on a permanent basis. Following news coverage that raised questions about Harris' leadership, his contract was not renewed by the Board of Trustees when it expired on June 30, 2010.