Zusha Elinson/The Bay Citizen

Ken Bukowski outside of Emeryville Town Hall on his way to campaign

After 24 years, the colorful political saga of Emeryville City Council member Ken Bukowski has come to an end. He was voted out of office in Tuesday’s election as two incumbents, Ruth Atkin and Nora Davis, and a popular newcomer, Jacqueline Asher, swept into office.

A former nightclub impresario, Bukowski helped transform Emeryville from a polluted industrial backwater into a home for giant retail outlets like Ikea and innovative companies like Pixar. But personal troubles brought Bukowski low in recent years.

He fell into poverty and was fined for using campaign funds to pay his mortgage. He was later investigated for taking tens of thousands of dollars in loans from Emeryville developers — to whom he eventually lost his house. And in an interview last year with The Bay Citizen, Bukowski talked candidly about his past use of methamphetamine.

Through it all, Bukowski continued to win re-election — six straight times. But this year, his former supporters, including the Chamber of Commerce that he founded 25 years ago, turned against him. Some of them raised money for his opponents. 

Bukowski received 408 votes. The three winners received between 822 and 924 votes. (Emeryville's population is 10,080.)

It’s not clear what Bukowski will do now. He’s taking care of the house he once owned, where he now lives rent-free on the charity of an old friend. In recent years, he struggled to find work outside of his $1,100-a-month council post.