Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert and his office has been on the hot seat in recent weeks.Vol. VI, No. 1,319
—Alameda County’s Board of Supervisors is facing an unusual wave of scrutiny. The type that has rarely cast a shadow over its day-to-day dealings.
State Sen. Aisha Wahab’s legislation to increase transparency over supervisors’ discretionary funds has thrust the board into an uncomfortable spotlight, prompting renewed questions about its long-standing spending practices, political culture, and accountability.
At the same time, rumors continue to circulate that federal investigators are examining one or more county supervisors. Whether those inquiries are tied to the public corruption cases centered on Oakland and San Leandro—or to other matters—remains unclear.
—Two chiefs of staff have connections to individuals or entities involved in the broader federal investigation.
Supervisor David Haubert’s chief of staff, Shawn Wilson, acknowledged accepting $10,000 from David Duong and California Waste Solutions for marketing work. Duong was indicted in 2025 on federal bribery charges connected to the Evolutionary Homes container housing project.
Supervisor Lena Tam’s chief of staff, Cesley Frost, previously worked for Evolutionary Homes while also serving in Tam’s office before becoming chief of staff in early 2024.
Frost has not been accused of wrongdoing, and her connection to the investigation remains unclear. Still, her employment with Evolutionary Homes and proximity to the Duong family have long prompted questions from political observers.
Tam also participated in the 2023 Vietnam trade mission hosted by the Duongs, a trip that included then-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, former San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo—who later pleaded guilty to federal charges—and dozens of other elected officials and business leaders.
—Against that backdrop, the Board of Supervisors is expected this week to formally adopt a policy governing how it fills midterm vacancies more than three years after its last use.
The timing is notable. The board has used the appointment process twice in recent years—when it selected Dave Brown to replace the late Wilma Chan in 2021, and Elisa Márquez to succeed the late Richard Valle in 2023—and there is no obvious indication that the process itself is changing.
Whether the new policy is simply a housekeeping measure or something more significant is unknown. But with the public disclosure of Wilson’s ties to the Duongs, continued speculation surrounding the federal investigation, and fierce resistance from some supervisors to Wahab’s transparency bill, the move is likely to fuel additional questions about what is unfolding behind the scenes at the county.
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