In tight race to lead Oakland, Loren Taylor gets unexpected endorsement from Bay Area mayor

OAKLAND — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has endorsed Loren Taylor in next month’s Oakland mayoral election, bucking the trend of near-unanimous support among Bay Area politicians for Taylor’s opponent, Barbara Lee.

“I want a leader who’s going to be honest and direct with the community when he’s campaigning,” Mahan said Thursday at a news conference in Oakland’s Laurel neighborhood.

“Not just the ‘bad news later’ when he’s forced to do something he doesn’t want to do,” Mahan added, “but to say upfront...