East Bay Regional Park District director Ellen Corbett dies

Ellen Corbett, Ward 4 director for the East Bay Regional Park District and the former state Senate majority leader, died on Friday. She was in her late 60s.

Corbett served as a director for the park district since 2016, representing cities like Oakland, San Leandro and Alameda. Before that, she served in the state Assembly from 1998 to 2004 and the state Senate from 2006 to 2014.

East Bay Regional Parks General Manager Sabrina Landreth called Corbett a fearless leader for regional parks and a champion of the organization’s mission.

“Her time with us was the capstone to a long, decorated, and meaningful public service career in local and state government, including serving as the majority leader of the California State Senate and the Mayor of San Leandro,” Landreth said in a statement.

Flags at the park district’s properties will be flown at half-staff in honor of Corbett’s passing, the statement reads.