Veteran journalist Casey Pratt has had the pulse of Bay Area sports for years. Pratt now steps into a new arena as the Chief of Communications for the office of Mayor Sheng Thao, an individual in serious need of some good PR, following an FBI raid of her house involving an alleged corruption scandal, Oakland's ranking as the #2 worst managed city in the country, and calls for Thao to step down from all directions, including the NAACP. Thao hopes that Pratt's acumen from behind the news desk will translate to a position of civic discourse, as well as a strategic messaging shift, the mayor's office announced earlier today.
Pratt, an East Bay native with a familial lineage deeply rooted in Oakland since the 1870s, expresses a profound connection to the city that has been his family's home for generations; his enthusiasm for this new role is palpable "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve them," Pratt said in a statement obtained by the city's official announcement, acknowledging the honor of both his heritage and professional endeavor.
Mayor Thao echoed the sentiment of mutual respect and anticipation of Pratt's impact on her administration. "We are honored to welcome Casey as part of our team," she told the city's news site, "I look forward to his contributions and his expertise as a talented journalist to help tell the story of our impact and the communities we serve."
With a story that began as an intern at ABC 7 in 2006 before climbing the ranks to a Senior Sports Producer and Anchor, Pratt's career has been distinguished by a commitment to the Bay Area's spirited sports culture, covering momentous events from the Warriors' NBA championships to the A’s gameplay, evidenced by his recognition as a recipient of two Emmy Awards and an Edward R. Murrow Award. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University, armed with a BA in Journalism.
Nonetheless, Pratt's task ahead — changing public perception of a mayor mired in everything from potential legal battles to claims of mismanagement and beyond — will certainly be a challenge.
Editor's Note: Additional background information and context was added to this article.
