Alameda County voters have spoken and they voted overwhelmingly to recall District Attorney Pamela Price.
The latest results released Friday showed 63 percent voting in favor of the recall to oust Price. The county clerk said Friday there are not enough uncounted ballots to change the outcome of the race.
In the meantime, provincial supervisors are preparing to appoint a new prosecutor. Nate Miley, chairman of the board of trustees, said about 10 candidates have expressed interest in the job.
“We are looking for someone who can manage and run the DA’s office. It has a budget of over a hundred million dollars,” Miley said.
Supervisors take applications and interview candidates as part of the selection process.
Miley said he is personally looking for an experienced prosecutor who can strike the right balance between accountability and reform.
“We’re looking for someone who can work with all stakeholders, whether they’re victims, whether they’re prosecutors, whether they’re regular employees, who can work with law enforcement agencies, can work with the broader community,” Miley said.
Butch Ford publicly spoke out against Price. Now he wants to replace her.
“I am very familiar with the problems that existed in the office, past and present, and as a result, I am well positioned to solve those problems,” said Ford.
Ford had worked in the Alameda County district attorney’s office for 23 years. He left after Price took office.
Now he works for Brooke Jenkins as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco, where he leads the preliminary hearing team.
“When the victims in Alameda County contacted me, they contacted me for a reason. And I answered the call. And I answered the call again and again, obviously at great risk to myself. And even in the face of that risk, I continued to answer the call and I will continue to answer the call whether they choose me as district attorney or not,” Ford said.
Price filed suit against Ford, accusing him of misconduct. Those charges were later dismissed. Some called the accusations retaliation against Ford since he supported the recall and spoke at some recall meetings.
Carl Chan is one of the organizers of the recall. He said the recall organization plans to play a role in the search for the next district attorney by conducting some candidate interviews itself, independently of the provincial process.
“We love Butch, we love other candidates too, because we have to be fair to all other candidates if they want to apply. But again, we want to make sure the person has the background and experience to run an effective prosecutor,” Chan said.
CBS News Bay Area has learned that LD Louis and Venus Johnson are among 10 people planning to sign up. Johnson is the deputy and senior adviser to Attorney General Rob Bonta.
CBS News Bay Area emailed Johnson for comment but did not hear back from her as of press time.
Louis has been a former Alameda County prosecutor for 23 years. She currently serves as a deputy district attorney for Alameda County. She confirmed her interest in the job via text message, but declined to interview on Friday.
Ford said whoever gets the job, he will continue to support the province’s victims.
‘I’m a repairman. And Alameda County, the district attorney’s office, needs to be fixed,” Ford said.
Once the recall is approved on Dec. 5, Chief Assistant District Attorney Royl Roberts will likely serve as interim prosecutor until supervisors appoint a new one.
Miley said the board will discuss the nomination process at the Dec. 10 board meeting. The province will process the applications in December. He said supervisors will likely appoint a new district attorney in February.
Voters in Alameda County can vote on the position in 2026.
Da Lin
