Senate President pro Tem Don Perata represents the vibrant and culturally rich 9th Senate District including the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, and San Pablo.

From an early age, Senator Perata understood the importance of public service. He worked long, hard hours at his father’s side delivering milk door-to-door. The son of immigrants, his parents taught the value of diligence and community.

After graduating from St. Mary's College of California, Don Perata began teaching. From 1966-1981 he taught a generation of students Civics, English, History, and a sense of civic responsibility. His former students include policemen and women, staff members to local and state elected officials, school board members, teachers, musicians and members of the Governor’s Cabinet.

Beginning in 1986, Don Perata was elected twice to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. He championed the causes of the poor and worked to ensure safer streets. With citizens, Don successfully shut down problem liquor stores, began lobbying the state legislature for a ban on assault weapons and fought for increased funding for programs assisting the mentally ill.

The residents of Alameda, Oakland and Piedmont elected Don to serve in the California Assembly in 1996. During his tenure, he fought to ban “Joe Camelâ€* and other marketing aimed at children. He introduced legislation (AB 23) to close the loophole in previous assault weapons ban legislation. He co-authored legislation for mental health parity, which became a model for the entire country.

Voters of the dynamic and diverse 9th Senate district (Oakland, Alameda, Piedmont, Berkeley, Albany, Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, El Sobrante and Kensington) elected Don Perata in 1998.

Senator Perata has twice been unanimously elected President pro Tem by the members of the 2002-2004 session of the California State Senate, and then again by the members of the 2004-2006 Session.

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