Feinstein endorses Perata in mayor’s race
on April 21, 2010
Dianne Feinstein, California’s U.S. Senator and the former mayor of San Francisco, has declared her support for former State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata’s bid to become Oakland’s mayor in November’s election.
“Don delivers results,” Feinstein said in the press release announcing her endorsement. “Whether it’s increased funding for urban schools, or securing $27 million annually for cancer research, he holds an extraordinary record in California for making things happen. That’s the kind of leadership Oakland needs now.”
Feinstein, who served as San Francisco’s mayor from 1978 to 1988, is the highest-profile California public official to have endorsed a candidate in Oakland’s mayoral race. Perata has also received endorsements from the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) and the Oakland firefighters union (IAFF Local 55).
“I am honored by Senator Feinstein’s endorsement of my run for mayor of Oakland,” Perata said. “As mayor, Dianne led San Francisco during tough times and knows what it takes to manage a large city. I look forward to working with her to revitalize Oakland’s economy, grow jobs, and strengthen our partnership with the federal government.”
Perata represented East Oakland and other parts of the East Bay in the California State Assembly and State Senate from 1997 to 2009, serving as the Senate’s president from 2004 to 2008. He previously represented East Oakland in the Alameda County Board of Supervisors from 1986 to 1996.
In addition to Perata, City Council representative Jean Quan has officially declared her intention to run for mayor, and City Council Member Rebecca Kaplan has formed a mayoral exploratory committee. Incumbent mayor Ron Dellums has not announced whether he intends to run for re-election.
Oakland North will publish a story about Perata’s campaign next week.
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Oakland North is an online news service produced by students at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and covering Oakland, California. Our goals are to improve local coverage, innovate with digital media, and listen to you–about the issues that concern you and the reporting you’d like to see in your community. Please send news tips to: oaklandnorthstaff@gmail.com.
This story is incorrect. Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan has not declared candidacy in the Mayor’s race. She announced last week that she was going to form an exploratory committee – the two are very different.
Thanks for this helpful correction, Vsmoothe. We have changed the wording in the story to reflect the fact that Kaplan has announced that she has formed a mayoral exploratory committee, but not officially declared herself a candidate at this time.
[…] an agent of active government and accountability. People supporting Perata—including U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and the Oakland police union—point to his record of surviving state budget negotiations with […]
[…] an agent of active government and accountability. People supporting Perata—including U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and the Oakland police union—point to his record of surviving state budget negotiations with […]