Berkeley Councilmember Jesse Arreguin

BERKELEY | MAYOR | His Facebook page may have spilled the beans earlier this week, but Berkeley Councilmember Jesse Arreguin made it official Thursday–he’s running for mayor.

Arreguin, who represents District Four on the Berkeley City Council, says the city’s growing affordability gap as the city’s most pressing challenge.

“We need a Berkeley that works for everyone,” said Arreguin in a statement announcing his candidacy. “That’s why I’m running for Mayor. As I’ve done on the City Council and throughout my career, I’ll bring our city together and get results, so Berkeley moves forward and carries on our tradition of strong progressive leadership.”

Most recognize Arreguin as the city council’s most progressive member. However, in recent years, Berkeley’s traditional standing as the most liberal cities in the country has been eclipsed regionally by nearby Richmond and Oakland.

Fellow Berkeley Councilmember Laurie Capitelli is also a potential challenger for the November 2016 election. Long-time Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates is not likely to seek re-election next year.