Today, September 1, I am suspending my campaign for Alameda City Council in 2022. To all who have expressed their support, I apologize for disappointing you. To those who have generously contributed to my campaign, I will be returning your donations in the near future.

The reason is because of an incident which occurred on August 24, which resulted in the APD coming to my home. I will state categorically that the charge is completely false, and that I am 100% confident it will be dismissed soon. However, when it comes to the campaign cycle the timing could not have been worse and so I am withdrawing.

I entered this race primarily because I realized many important policy decisions are upcoming for the City Council and I felt I had something to contribute to the discussion around them. While some may feel they can have no impact on the policies which govern our city and state, I feel that notion is wrong and self-defeating. We should conduct ourselves as if the circumstances of our lives and communities are matters we can influence, and to have that belief and act on it is to be most authentically alive.

I also had a secondary goal of demonstrating through example that political discourse can be conducted in a civil manner. It is fashionable today for many to claim those who feel differently about policy choices are not only wrong but also evil, corrupt or stupid. This tendency, so prevalent now in our politics across the nation, debases the conversation and can create long-lasting bitterness which then hampers consensus.

I remain committed to advancing the policies I believe will best ensure a Livable and Safe Alameda while not engaging in personal attacks or impugning the motives of others. I believe that politics does not have to be a blood sport, at its best it can be a noble enterprise which advances the public interest. Thank you.

Editor’s note: This editorial is published on Bill Pai’s former campaign website, www.billpai4alameda.com.