Former Oakland police Chief LeRonne Armstrong announced Wednesday his plans to run for a City Council seat in November.
"I felt like I had more to do in the city of Oakland and I could serve beyond law enforcement, beyond the police department, that I could continue to give back," Armstrong said.
Armstrong, who Mayor Sheng Thao fired in February 2023 after a 30-day suspension that followed an outside investigation into alleged misconduct in the police department, sued the city for wrongful termination earlier this year.
"I’m holding people accountable for wronging me, but I think that has nothing to do with my ability to serve the city of Oakland," Armstrong said.
He is running for the city councilmember at-large seat that is currently held by Rebecca Kaplan and in his campaign announcement said he "successfully managed the largest city department and is the only candidate with the understanding of how to efficiently prioritize precious city resources without sacrificing public safety."
Armstrong said his goals are to address public safety, clean up street conditions and work to balance the city’s finances as it faces an extreme budget crisis.
"The first chief to do that, to have a balanced budget, so I understand how to spend money and how to make sure the department actually takes care of the funding that it receives, but I also come with the experience of solving problems in this city," he said.
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Councilman Noel Gallo said Armstrong has the resume.
"He certainly knows not only the community but also the behavior and the attitudes that are here in the city," Gallo said. "He would be a good presentation for the city council, someone who knows public safety, which is the number one priority."
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Bishop Bob Jackson of Acts Full Gospel Church, a spokesperson for the NAACP, said he is one of many who encouraged Armstrong to run.
"He is still on his feet saying, 'OK, I’m not done. I've got more work to do in this city as a servant of the people,'" Jackson said. "I just think that's marvelous."
Armstrong's critics include the Anti Police-Terror Project, which questions his leadership abilities and his history with the police department.
"That is not someone we want as a city councilmember," Anti Police-Terror Project Deputy Director James Burch said. "That is not someone we want legislating on our behalf. That is not someone who has done a good job."
Armstrong served for 24 years with the Oakland Police Department. In March, Thao appointed Floyd Mitchell, a former police chief in Lubbock, Texas, as Oakland's new chief.
While Armstrong is running for city council, he was repeatedly asked Wednesday about running for mayor. He said anything is possible.
"I don’t know what the future holds, but I'm prepared to lead in any way that the city feels like they want," he said. "Right now, we'll start here."
