Don Perata

Don Richard Perata (born April 30, 1945) is a California lobbyist and former Democratic politician, who was President pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2004 to 2008.

He taught English, History, and Civics from 1966 to 1981 in Alameda County schools.

Perata has a daughter and a son.

Perata began his political career when he ran for Mayor of Alameda in 1975 but was narrowly defeated.

In 1986 he was elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and was re-elected to a second term.

As Supervisor, Perata worked to shut down problematic liquor stores, ban cigarette advertising, and lobbied the state legislature for an assault weapons ban and funding for the mentally ill.

Having served eight years representing Oakland as an Alameda County Supervisor, Perata's first attempt at state politics came in the 1994 democratic primary for controller, aged 49.

He was unsuccessful, capturing 27.27% of the vote.

Afterwards, Perata served as a staff assistant for then Senate Pro Tem Bill Lockyer.

In 1996, Perata was elected as a California State Assemblyman for the Oakland, Alameda, and Piedmont district.

In 1998, Perata ran for the State Senate for the 9th District which currently includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, and San Pablo.

Perata's run (and election) to the State Senate in 1998 was part of a series of five special elections that were held in the East Bay within less than 12 months, as Perata and other East Bay politicians vied for different political offices.

For a detailed account of events, see Special election musical chairs.

In 1999, Perata successfully drove legislation that updated the California "assault weapons" ban by adding a ban of generically described semi-automatic firearms.

He obtained a concealed weapons permit to legally carry a loaded handgun in public.

He claimed this was necessary for self-defense due to threats on his life and the well-being of his family from some individual opponents of his pro-gun control legislative activity.

Perata has been an advocate for the rights of the elderly, the mentally ill, and the disabled.

He supported legislation to create a discount drug program and legislation to require HMOs to pay for mental health treatment.

He supported legislation that secured $27 million annually for ovarian and prostate cancer and legislation that increase access to breast cancer screening for low-income women.

He has authored legislation requiring California utilities companies to contract for cleaner energy sources and supported tougher penalties on oil refinery emissions.

Don Perata was selected by his peers in the California Democratic Party to lead the party in the California State Senate in 2004, becoming the California State Senate President Pro Tempore and leader of Senate.

The position is the highest-ranking leader and most powerful member of the Senate.

In early 2005, Perata introduced a bill to repair California's flagging infrastructure including highway improvements, housing reform and levee repairs.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger began to speak out in favor of improving state infrastructure after Schawarzenegger's November 2005 special election ballot initiatives were defeated.

While Schwarzenegger's plan included fixing transportation problems, his infrastructure plan was drastically more costly and advocated more prisons and did not address the housing problem.

Perata worked with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to gain passage of five infrastructure related bond measures in 2006.

Prior to serving in the State Senate, Perata served in the California State Assembly, as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County, and as a high school teacher.

Born in Alameda, California, Perata is the son of Italian immigrants.

During his childhood, he helped his father, Dick, to deliver milk door-to-door for the Lakehurst Creamery in Alameda.

Perata graduated from Saint Joseph High School and earned his degree from Saint Mary's College of California.

In a rare occurrence for Sacramento politicians, in early 2006 Perata and Schwarzenegger began to work together to piece together a bipartisan infrastructure plan that both sides of the legislature could embrace.

They were successful and five bond measures were approved by California voters on the November 2006 ballot.

These measures are aimed at improving roads, mass transit, affordable housing, levee repair, and upgrading educational facilities.

In July 2007, during state budget negotiations, Perata ordered the Senate to remain in session for 19 hours in an attempt to reach an agreement on the budget.

California requires two-thirds of both legislative houses and the governor's signature to pass a budget.

Perata needed two Republican votes in the State Senate to pass the budget and the lock down aimed to get those two Republican votes.

The California State Senate Republicans presented a revised budget that aimed to reduce state spending and included tax credits to some Fortune 500 corporations, cuts to transportation and welfare, and eliminating cost-of-living pay raises to the blind, elderly, and disabled.

The state Democratic Party re-elected Perata as President pro Tem until his retirement from the State Senate in 2008.

Perata is a staunch advocate of gun control.

He came in second place in the November 2010 election for Mayor of Oakland.