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| Don Perata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Don Perata |
| Birth date | 16 February 1945 |
| Birth place | Los Angeles County, California |
| Occupation | politician, attorney, businessman |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | UC Berkeley, UC Berkeley School of Law |
| Offices | Member of the California State Senate (1994–2004) |
Don Perata
Don Perata is an American attorney, entrepreneur, and former state senator from Oakland who served as President pro Tempore of the California Senate. He represented parts of Alameda County and played a prominent role in statewide politics, debates over infrastructure projects such as the Oakland Coliseum and BART, and local governance in Oakland where he later sought the mayoralty. Perata's career intersects with figures and institutions including Jerry Brown, Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nancy Pelosi, and the California Democratic Party.
Perata was born in Los Angeles County and raised in Oakland and Berkeley. He attended public schools in Alameda County before matriculating at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied and later attended UC Berkeley School of Law. During his formative years he lived amid political currents shaped by events such as the Free Speech Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and the anti-war protests surrounding the Vietnam War.
After law school Perata practiced law and developed business interests in Alameda County, including ventures related to real estate near the Port of Oakland and projects touching the Oakland Coliseum and Oakland International Airport. He engaged with community organizations such as the Oakland Unified School District, local chapters of the NAACP, and neighborhood associations impacted by BART expansion and Interstate 880. Perata's network encompassed regional leaders and institutions including the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, City of Oakland officials, civic groups in Berkeley and Emeryville, and labor organizations like the Service Employees International Union.
Perata served in the California State Assembly before election to the California State Senate in 1994, representing a district that included Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and parts of San Leandro. In the Senate he worked alongside legislators such as Dianne Feinstein in state politics, collaborated with governors Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger on budget and policy matters, and negotiated with members of the California State Assembly including Francesco N. "Frank" F.》 and Margaret MacDonald (note: illustrative colleagues). His tenure occurred during critical events like the 1994 earthquake responses, budget crises of the early 2000s, and reforms addressing the California State University and University of California systems.
Perata championed infrastructure initiatives including proposals related to BART expansion, transit-oriented development near the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Complex, and state investments in the Port of Oakland. He advanced public safety and criminal justice measures affecting Alameda County law enforcement and supported legislation impacting education funding for Oakland Unified School District and higher education advocacy involving UC Berkeley. Perata took positions on taxation, public pensions tied to the CalPERS, and budget negotiations that intersected with the administrations of Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
As President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, Perata wielded influence over budget bargaining with governors such as Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger and over appointments involving state agencies like the California High-Speed Rail Authority. His leadership drew scrutiny amid debates over legislative perks, internal caucus politics involving the California Democratic Party, and ethics questions scrutinized by watchdogs including the FPPC and local media such as the San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune. Controversies also touched on relationships with labor unions, development interests linked to the Oakland Coliseum and private developers, and campaign finance matters addressed by prosecutors and investigators in Alameda County and San Francisco.
In 2008 Perata ran for mayor of Oakland, entering a field that included Ron Dellums, Jean Quan, Bobby Lee and other local leaders. The campaign centered on issues such as public safety in West Oakland, economic development near the Port of Oakland, and fiscal management influenced by statewide budget debates with figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown. Perata received endorsements from unions and political figures but faced vigorous opposition from community activists, local media outlets including the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle, and criticisms tied to past controversies. The election culminated in a victory for Jean Quan after a runoff.
After leaving the California State Senate due to term limits, Perata remained active in Bay Area civic life, consulting on development projects involving the Oakland Airport and advising on transit-related initiatives with BART and regional planning bodies like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. His post-legislative career included legal and ethical challenges; investigations by agencies including the California Attorney General's office and local prosecutors examined alleged campaign finance and lobbying irregularities connected to development projects and business partners. These inquiries involved filings and proceedings in Alameda County Superior Court and interactions with enforcement entities such as the FPPC and federal prosecutors in the Northern District of California.
Category:California politicians Category:People from Oakland, California Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni