Appearing in ballot order, top row from left, District 6 candidates: Susan Wengraf, Fred Dodsworth, Isabelle Gaston. Bottom row, from left: Sophie Hahn, Stephen Murphy. Photos: Courtesy
Appearing in ballot order, top row from left, District 6 candidates: Susan Wengraf, Fred Dodsworth, Isabelle Gaston. Bottom row, from left, District 5: Sophie Hahn, Stephen Murphy. Photos: Courtesy

Berkeleyside wants to help you get to know your 2016 candidates for Berkeley City Council, School Board and Rent Stabilization Board. This week, we plan to publish questionnaires with the candidates daily at 11 a.m.

In coming weeks, we’ll have stories on all the key Berkeley races and initiatives that will be on the ballot, and hope to help readers make informed decisions about the potential leaders and policies that could help shape Berkeley’s future.

See all local 2016 coverage on Berkeleyside.

Q&As with the District 5 (North Berkeley) and District 6 (Northeast Berkeley) City Council races follow. We asked candidates why they were running, what sets them apart, what the city’s biggest challenges are and how they hope to solve them. Learn what each candidate thinks is her or his most inspired idea, and how each candidate plans to be accountable and accessible to constituents. Each questionnaire includes complete campaign info, including social media pages, to help readers connect.

Each race also includes a PDF grid to help readers compare responses side by side. The deadline to register to vote in Alameda County for the Nov. 8 election is Monday, Oct. 24.

Candidate descriptions below reflect the official ballot order and ballot designation. Berkeleyside is talking with all the candidates to bring you more District 5 and District 6 coverage.

DISTRICT 5: NORTH BERKELEY Two candidates are running for an open seat: Sophie Hahn (Zoning Board commissioner) and Stephen Murphy (family justice advocate). Candidate profiles are also in the works, slated for publication next week.

DISTRICT 6: NORTHEAST BERKELEY Three candidates are on the ballot: Susan Wengraf (incumbent), Fred Dodsworth (journalist/teacher/businessperson) and Isabelle Gaston (medical writer). Stay tuned for additional coverage.

Hungry for more? Watch the League of Women Voters Berkeley Albany Emeryville candidate forum for districts 5 and 6 from September.

YouTube video

Other resources

Berkeleyside’s Uncharted: The Berkeley Festival of Ideas is two days of provocative thinking, inspiring speakers, workshops, and a big party — all in downtown Berkeley in October. Read all about it, be part of it. Register on the Uncharted website.

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Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist...