Linda Maio To Retire From Berkeley City Council

BERKELEY, CA — Veteran Berkeley City Councilwoman Linda Maio announced Monday that after 25 years on the council she won't run again in the November election.

"It has been a tremendous privilege to represent Berkeley's District 1 and the entire city for over 25 years," Maio said in a statement.

Maio, who served as the city's vice mayor for many years, said, "My career on the council has placed me in the forefront of all of Berkeley's exciting endeavors. I value the relationships I have across a broad spectrum of our wonderful, active, caring community."

She said, "We are proud of our schools, libraries and parks supported so faithfully by the Berkeley community."

Maio said, "Berkeley is dedicated to realizing our environmental priorities, to maintaining a diverse city both racially and economically, to affordable housing and to combating homelessness, to name a few."

Maio said among her accomplishments was improving the air quality in West Berkeley, creating the city's first watershed management plan, advancing plans to reconfigure the Gilman Street interchange off Interstate Highway 80, helping to pass the nation's first sugar-sweetened beverage tax and helping to stop hazardous and explosive crude oil shipments from coming through Berkeley.

In a statement to her constituents, Maio said, "Rest assured, for the next nine months I will continue to be on duty to focus on the health and well-being of our community."

She said, "I cannot adequately express my heartfelt appreciation for all of the support and trust I received these many years. It has been a tremendous privilege."

— Bay City News; Image via Patch