Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao faces a November recall election with an unresolved FBI investigation hanging over campaign. Former FBI agent says the agency has guidelines about elections to appear non-partisan. One political expert says he would advise mayor to continue to tell the public she's innocent, if in fact she is.

The decision by Thao to sidestep the vote comes amid a last-minute change in how Oakland plans to pay for security guards at city-owned buildings.