Mayoral candidate Ron Dellums, invoking the spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., called on the people of Oakland on Wednesday to help him eradicate poverty and make the city a place where everyone lives in health and prosperity.
In his first significant address since announcing his candidacy three months ago, Dellums delivered a rousing speech to some 250 enthusiastic supporters who gathered at BART headquarters to mark Martin Luther King Day in advance of Monday's holiday. The address was short on specifics but made clear that Dellums would move beyond the typical mayoral duties if elected, to address broader social issues.
"King said the poor are not bad, but society is bad for perpetuating poverty," he said. "Ending poverty is more than writing a check or filling a box of clothes. We have to deal with the issues that are leading 80,000 people in Oakland to live below the poverty level. We have to deal with the circumstances and find an end to poverty."
Dellums, 70, a liberal stalwart who served 28 years in Congress, joined the race in October to a groundswell of support. He joins Oakland City Councilmembers Ignacio De La Fuente and Nancy Nadel in the campaign to succeed Mayor Jerry Brown, who is termed out and running for state attorney general.
After announcing his candidacy to great fanfare, Dellums remained largely invisible in the months that followed and will not launch his campaign until Jan. 19, when he hosts a fundraiser in Oakland. He has not outlined his platform but is intent on addressing the nuts-and-bolts issues of city government while weighing in on issues beyond City Hall, such as education and health care.
:dem: Ron Dellums --- A Democrat's Dem :dem: 
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