Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism

Don Perata - Former Member of the California Senate from the 9th District
a native and life-long resident of the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay -- holds a distinguished record as a public servant, rising from the ranks of school teacher to become president of the California State Senate.

The son of immigrant parents who taught him the value of hard work, Don served on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors before the people of Oakland, Piedmont and Alameda elected Don as their representative in the State Assembly in 1996.

Don proved to be an effective leader who delivered results and over the next decade became one of the most influential Democrats in California. Don Perata was elected to the State Senate in 1998 to represent a vibrant and culturally rich East Bay district which includes the cities of Oakland, Alameda, Piedmont, Berkeley, Richmond, San Pablo, and El Sobrante.

As a leader in the State Senate, Don was unanimously selected on three occasions by his colleagues to serve as President Pro Tem of the Senate.

Throughout his career, Don Perata has been a fierce advocate for public education, social justice, environmental protection, public safety, public health and effective delivery of government services.

A life-long Alameda County resident, Perata was the first local legislator to organize a ban on assault weapons. His twelve-year effort was finally realized when, as a State Senator, he wrote the strongest assault weapons law in the nation. Throughout his career, Perata received the support and endorsement of many law enforcement officials and associations, including the California Correctional Peace Officers Association.

To see Senate President Pro Tem Perata's prison reform floor speech Click here.

Daniel Boggan Jr. - Retired Senior Vice President, the National Collegiate Athletic Association
Mr. Boggan served as the Chief of Staff of the Oakland, California Mayor's office from January 2007 through August 2007. He served as a consultant to Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC (a municipal finance firm) from September 2003 to March 2006. Mr. Boggan joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association in October 1994 as Group Executive Director for Education Services. He served as the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Chief Operating Officer from January 1996 to June 1998 and served as its Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from June 1998 until his retirement in August 2003. Previously, he was Vice Chancellor for business and administrative services at the University of California at Berkeley. Mr. Boggan is a director of Collective Brands, Inc. (formerly known as Payless Shoe Source, Inc.) and Viad Corp., a trustee of The California Endowment, the Chair of the Alameda County Medical Center, and serves on various local boards. Mr. Boggan has been a director at Clorox since 1990.

Boggan's commitment to public service is exemplified by his years of board service with national and local organizations. He served as chairman of the National Youth Sports Corporation, which administers youth development programs on 200 college campuses nationwide, from March 2000 through December 2007, and until November 2008, he chaired the National Writing Project, a nationwide professional development program for teachers, begun in 1974 at the University of California, Berkeley. He remains on their board. Locally, Boggan serves as the Chair of the East Oakland Youth Development Foundation, which offers courses in Computer Skills Literacy, General Education (GED), Performing and Visual Arts, Culinary Arts and Physical Development.

His community involvement also includes service as a board member of the African American Experience Fund, a subset of the National Parks Foundation; a lifetime member of both the NAACP and Black Coaches Association; and a member of the National Urban League.

Boggan also serves on the board of directors for Clorox, Collective Brands, Inc., and Viad Corp. A resident of Oakland, Boggan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Albion College, in Albion Michigan, and his M.S.W. at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.