Incumbent mayorElihu Harris opted against running for a third term.[10]
Brown entered what was already a crowded mayoral field in late October 1997, instantly becoming the race's frontrunner.[10] A poll published in The Montclarion right before he formally entered the race had shown Brown garnering 47% in a hypothetical race.[10]
Brown identified himself to be an independent, having declared himself to have left the Democratic Party.[11]
Brown ran under the campaign slogan "Oaklanders First".[11] He campaign actively, holding many events.[11]
Brown was the onlywhite candidate running in the race.[11] Oakland was and still is amajority minority city.[12] Brown won a majority of the black vote.[8]
Brown was heavily anticipated to win the election.[11]
While Oakland had aweak mayor form of government, Brown was also campaigning to change this. He supported Measure X, ameasure on the ballot in November 1998 which would change the city's model of government to a strong mayor for a period of 6 years. Ultimately, in November, Oakland's electorate voted by a landslide margin of 3 to 1 in support of Measure X, switching the city to a strong mayor system of governance prior to Brown taking office.[13][14] Years later, in 2004, a referendum permanently extending Measure X later was passed, after failing to pass in 2002, making permanent the city's shift to the strong mayor model of governance.[14]
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