Quan's reliance on relatives taints administration {oakland mayor}

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/25/BAGM1M3J4L.DTL

Nepotism is nothing new in Oakland City Hall - or anywhere else, for that matter. But Mayor Jean Quan has added a new twist to an old game.

The traditional system involved pulling strings and using influence to get jobs for friends and relatives. That's happened in Oakland City Hall for eons and is a custom that has been followed by the last three mayors.

Former mayor and now-Gov. Jerry Brown made longtime friend Jacques Barzaghi a personal aide even though the man was a walking, talking sexual harassment machine. Brown finally fired his buddy in 2004 after Barzaghi's sixth wife called police to say he pushed her during an argument.

Mayor Ron Dellums gave his wife, Cynthia Dellums, an office in City Hall and allowed her to direct, discipline and fire staff members.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/24/BAGM1M3J4L.DTL#ixzz1ejps17fh