I have people in line to give me money how Oakland councilmembers spent their officeholder funds

Oakland City Council recently tripled fundraising limits for officeholder accounts, increasing district council members' caps from $25,000 to $75,000 and the at-large seat from $30,000 to $100,000. The Public Ethics Commission opposed the changes, citing that officials rarely reached the previous limits and have alternative funding options available. Reports from the first half of 2025 show that most council members did not utilize their accounts significantly, with Councilmember Janani Ramachandran facing scrutiny for spending nearly $18,000 on a company linked to her romantic partner. Councilmember Kevin Jenkins also reported significant expenditures, primarily on meals and meetings. District 1 council member Zac Unger raised no new funds but maintained a positive balance in his account.

Charlene Wang, elected in April, raised $101,600 but spent $114,873, ending with a balance of $7,991. Carroll Fife raised only $860 and ended up with $73 after spending. These outcomes suggest a disconnect between the new fundraising limits and actual financial activity among council members.