Tom Bates

For the gunpowder plot conspirator, see Thomas Bates.

Tom Bates
Mayor of Berkeley
Incumbent
Assumed office December 2002-
Preceded by	Shirley Dean
Personal details
Born	(1938-02-09) February 9, 1938
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Loni Hancock

Thomas H. Bates (born February 9 1938) is an American politician and is currently serving as the Mayor of Berkeley, California. He previously served 20 years as a member of the California State Assembly before being termed out in 1996. Bates is married to Loni Hancock, a former mayor of Berkeley who currently represents the 14th District in the California State Assembly. Bates is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and was a member of the Golden Bears' 1959 Rose Bowl team. Bates was a Captain in the United States Army Reserves and served in Germany in the late 1950's. He worked in real estate prior to his service in the state legislature. Bates also served as a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

State Assembly

Bates served in the California State Assembly representing the 14th District (the East Bay Area) from 1976 to 1996. During those 20 years, Bates was known as one of the legislature's most liberal members. Under Republican governors, Bates authored over 220 bills that became law, including the creation of the East Bay Shoreline State Park, a number of progressive social policy laws, and the founding of the first Community Bank in the Bay Area. Bates authored the first legislation in the country allowing "brew pubs" - establishments that brew their own beer for sales on and off the premises and are typically combined with a restaurant.

After retiring from the Assembly in 1996, Bates taught at UC Berkeley and worked to ensure healthier foods in the Oakland and Berkeley school districts. In 2002, Bates was drafted out of retirement to challenge the two-term incumbent mayor of Berkeley, Shirley Dean. He won the race with 55% of the vote.

Mayor

Bates at a strike for UC workers in 2005.

Shortly after his successful 2002 campaign for mayor, he admitted to throwing away about one thousand copies of The Daily Californian on the day before the election after the student-run campus newspaper endorsed his opponent, then-Mayor Shirley Dean. He was charged with an infraction and was fined $100. During his term, Mayor Bates worked with the City Council to pass a law outlawing the stealing of free newspapers. Additionally, he took the opportunity to speak to Berkeley public school students about the consequences of his actions.

Mayor Bates' priorities include: expanding youth and education services, creating stronger environment policies, improving relations with the UC Berkeley campus, building more housing in the downtown, and restoring civility to Berkeley government [1]. He also supports zero tolerance in enforcing the legal drinking age, and in 2004 Berkeley police launched sting operations against many liquor stores and bars throughout the city, and found that 40% sold alcohol to minors and adults under age 21.

In 2004, Berkeley voters approved Measure I, amending the City's charter to change the date of mayoral elections to coincide with presidential elections and to adjust the mayor’s 2006 term to two years on a one-time basis to accomplish this result. Therefore, the next mayoral election will take place in 2008.

In November 2006, Mayor Bates won re-election in a landslide, defeating former City Planning Commissioner Zelda Bronstein 63% to 31% - the largest margin of victory in a Berkeley mayor's race since 1967. (Native American and community activist Zachary Runningwolf and Christian Pecaut won 5% and 1%, respectively.)

In January 2008, Berkeley drew national attention when the Berkeley city council passed a motion to send a letter to the US Marines to tell them they were "unwelcome intruders." Bates voted to approve the motion. He voted to amend the letter on February 12 to remove language like "unwelcome intruder" from the letter. On 13 February 2008, Bates said: "I think it stands (that) we didn't want them here and they came here. And (they are) unwelcome, you know we'd like them to leave voluntarily. So I don't think an apology is in order."

RECALL TOM BATES

Tom Bates is a traitor to this country and a disgrace to Berkeley. If anybody in that looney city has any sense, they would recall this guy right away. This man hates our soldiers and hates America. Any other city's citizens would have chewed him up and spit him out in two seconds. Any council members who voted for that traitorous resolution should be recalled as well. There has been calls for a boycott of Berkeley until these traitors are removed from office, and any good Americans should heed that call. This is a tragedy. Never before has an entire American city shown such hatred toward those who are fighting for their freedom. RECALL TRAITCOAT COMMIE TOM BATES NOW!

External links

• City Of Berkeley Mayor's Office
• Re-Elect Mayor Tom Bates website