Democratic power lobbyist Tony Podesta, who is stepping down from the firm that bears his name after coming under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, has a political reach that extends to the Bay Area.

Oakland Unified School District records show that the financially strapped system paid $419,000 to the Podesta Group from 2010 to 2013 for lobbying work in Washington, D.C.

According to school records, the Podesta firm initially was paid $75,000 for a seven-month contract to help the Oakland district secure federal funds for youths who had been incarcerated in juvenile hall.

Jacqueline Minor, who was then Oakland Unified’s general counsel, told school board members at the time that she had initiated the proposed contract “to connect with a firm in Washington, D.C.” that could get “the attention of our federal elected officials.”

The Podesta Group was co-founded by brothers Tony and John Podesta. John left the firm in the 1990s and served in the Clinton and Obama administrations. Most recently, he was chairman of Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign.

It’s not clear how successful Tony Podesta’s efforts were for Oakland, but the firm itself certainly made out in the deal. It landed a succession of contract amendments from the school district that were worth up to $12,500 a month before its lobbying efforts ended in November 2013. They included arranging for site visits to Oakland for members of Congress.

As for what the school district got?

Given all the district turnover in recent years, district spokesman John Sasaki said, it’s not an easy question to answer: “So much of the staff here four years ago are not here.”

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross