Robert Reich Endorses Laurie Capitelli For Berkeley Mayor

BERKELEY, CA — UC professor and former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich has formally endorsed Councilmember Laurie Capitelli for Mayor of Berkeley.

“From the soda tax to his effective support of affordable housing; from his leadership on Berkeley’s landmark minimum wage to his life-long commitment to quality public schools - Laurie deeply understands the challenges facing working families and works to address them. I’ve worked with Laurie. Laurie is my councilmember. I’m looking forward to calling him my mayor.”

Professor Reich joins others who have endorsed Capitelli for Mayor this November, including State Senator Loni Hancock, former California Assemblymember and candidate for State Senate Nancy Skinner, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, UC Professor Karen Chapple, Daily Kos Founder Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, the Alameda County Building Trades, and the Berkeley Democratic Club.

Acknowledging Reich’s endorsement, Nancy Skinner said, "I watched Laurie Capitelli put together the coalition to support Measure D – Berkeley vs. Big Soda, making Berkeley the first city in the United States to beat Big Soda. We can also thank Laurie for his leadership with the Berkeley's Public Schools Fund directing millions of dollars to our teachers and students. He's delivered. That's why Laurie Capitelli is my choice for Berkeley Mayor."

“Bob was a strategic player in our Measure D campaign – the soda tax,” says Capitelli. “We have conferred on many of the critical economic issues facing Berkeley. I am honored to have his endorsement and look forward to his counsel in the future.”

Robert B. Reich is a professor of public policy at UC Berkeley's Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy. He served as secretary of labor in the Clinton Administration and was formerly a professor at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He has lived in Berkeley since 2006.