Election Section

Momentum Building for Councilman’s Campaign with Recent Backing from State and Local Leaders

Today, Berkeley City Councilmember Jesse Arreguin announced that his campaign for Mayor has been endorsed by California State Controller Betty Yee. 

“Jesse Arreguin is the Mayor Berkeley needs,” said Yee. “He is a true progressive who has fought incredibly hard for Berkeley’s working families for 15 years, as a Planning Commissioner, Rent Board Chair, and City Councilmember. And he has been a very effective legislator, passing over 300 laws that have made a difference on affordable housing, homelessness, and environmental protection. He has my full support.” 

“I am deeply honored to have the endorsement of California’s Controller Betty Yee,” said Arreguin. “She has always been a leader of incredible integrity, known not only for her financial expertise but also for her fairness, transparency, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of young leaders. We are fortunate to have her as California’s Chief Fiscal Officer.” 

Yee joins a expanding list of elected officials and community leaders backing Arreguin’s campaign for Mayor, including former California State Assemblymember Sandré Swanson, former Berkeley Mayor and civil rights leader Gus Newport, Berkeley Councilmember Max Anderson, Berkeley Rent Board Chair Jesse Townley and a super-majority of the elected Rent Board, Emeryville Mayor Dianne Martinez, AC Transit Director Mark Williams, former Berkeley Councilmembers Ying Lee and Carole Kennerly, and former Alameda County Board of Education President Jacki Fox Ruby, among many others. 

State Controller Betty T. Yee was elected in November 2014, following two terms of service on the Board of Equalization. She also chairs the Franchise Tax Board and serves as a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) Boards. These two boards have a combined portfolio of nearly $500 billion. Yee has over 30 years of experience in public service, specializing in state and local finance and tax policy. She previously served as Chief Deputy Director for Budget with the California Department of Finance where she led the development of the Governor’s Budget, negotiations with the Legislature and key budget stakeholders, and fiscal analyses of legislation on behalf of the Administration. Prior to this, she served in senior staff positions for several fiscal and policy committees in both houses of the California State Legislature. 

Yee currently serves on the board of directors for the Equality California Institute. She is a cofounder of the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project, which exposes California high school youth to the public service, public policy, and political arenas.