Oakland voters choose Shane Taylor as new Mayor

Image via City of Oakland Facebook.

Oakland has a new Mayor. Voters elected  a political newcomer, Shane Taylor, to succeed retiring Mayor Kathy Stark in the Orange County municipality.

Taylor defeated Town Commissioner Salvador Ramos for the job.

He won with nearly 72% of the vote, based on only vote-by-mail and early voting results, according to unofficial results from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Ramos received more than 28% of the vote.

Taylor had run as a strong conservative, and local Republican leaders cheered his victory.

“During these local elections, voters emphatically endorsed common-sense Republican candidates, propelling conservative, community-focused leaders into multiple elected positions across Orange County,” said Erin Huntley, Orange County Republican Executive Committee Chair.

Taylor has served on a number of city boards, including the selection committee for the Chief of Police, and he chairs the town Planning and Zoning Board.

Ramos founded Empire Finish Systems and was first elected to the Commission in 2015.

Of note, no one qualified for Ramos’ seat as he ran for Mayor. The Commission will have to appoint a successor when his term ends.