As Oakland's special mayoral election approaches, campaign rhetoric is intensifying with about 30 days to go before the April 15 vote.

The gloves first came off when moderator Dave Clark, a news anchor for KTVU, asked the candidates to address the specter of ex-Mayor Thao, who was recalled by 60% of voters last November and now faces felony charges of bribery and conspiracy.

The top two challengers for Oakland’s open mayoral seat got into a testy exchange Tuesday night after a former councilman said the people who supported the city’s disgraced mayor were now backing former Rep.