Manuel Perez (politician)
Encyclopedia
V. Manuel Pérez is a Democratic Assemblymember from California's 80th State Assembly district
from Coachella, California
, United States.
and raised in Riverside
and Imperial
County by his parents who met working in the area’s agricultural fields. He attended public schools, including UC Riverside, then returned home to teach before earning a Masters degree at Harvard University
.
Pérez is 1 of 10 co-founders of an organization called La Union Estudiantil de la Raza (U.E.R.), established October 6, 1992. UER is located at the University of California Riveride(UCR).
As a Member of the Coachella Valley School Board, Perez secured $250 million to create jobs and build new facilities. As a healthcare director, he worked towards expanding health coverage for everyone in the district, with an emphasis on providing services for children, expecting mothers, and seniors in need of medicine.
, which includes the eastern portion of Riverside County
and all of Imperial County
. Notwithstanding an acrimonious campaign by Republican hopeful Gary Jeandron, Perez was elected to the Assembly in November, 2008, and took office in December.
Pérez has stated that his priorities as an assembly member will be economic growth, stronger schools, expanded healthcare, and environmental protection.
California's 80th State Assembly district
California's 80th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Manuel Perez of Coachella.-District profile:...
from Coachella, California
Coachella, California
Coachella is a city in Riverside County, California; it is the easternmost city in the region collectively known as the Coachella Valley...
, United States.
Biography
Manuel Perez was born in Indio, CaliforniaIndio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
and raised in Riverside
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
and Imperial
Imperial County, California
Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
County by his parents who met working in the area’s agricultural fields. He attended public schools, including UC Riverside, then returned home to teach before earning a Masters degree at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Pérez is 1 of 10 co-founders of an organization called La Union Estudiantil de la Raza (U.E.R.), established October 6, 1992. UER is located at the University of California Riveride(UCR).
As a Member of the Coachella Valley School Board, Perez secured $250 million to create jobs and build new facilities. As a healthcare director, he worked towards expanding health coverage for everyone in the district, with an emphasis on providing services for children, expecting mothers, and seniors in need of medicine.
2008 California State Assembly run
In June, 2008, Pérez won his party's nomination as the Democratic candidate in California's 80th State Assembly districtCalifornia's 80th State Assembly district
California's 80th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Manuel Perez of Coachella.-District profile:...
, which includes the eastern portion of Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
and all of Imperial County
Imperial County, California
Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
. Notwithstanding an acrimonious campaign by Republican hopeful Gary Jeandron, Perez was elected to the Assembly in November, 2008, and took office in December.
Pérez has stated that his priorities as an assembly member will be economic growth, stronger schools, expanded healthcare, and environmental protection.
Policy Issues
- More government oversight and regulation to prevent further property foreclosures and increased educational programs to promote financial responsibility among those looking to purchase a home.
- Attract local jobs by increasing investment in the district's enterprise zones of Coachella, Brawley and Calexico.
- Universal health care as a long-term goal, plus immediate increases to Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for doctors and the state’s Healthy Families program.
- Change the federal No Child Left Behind accountability standards and hire more school counselors.
- Pro-choice in regards to abortion rights. Discourages government intrusiveness in the matter and emphasizes pro-family policies.
- No on Proposition 8. The California Supreme Court’s ruling to allow same-sex marriage should be upheld.