Manuel Perez (politician)

V. Manuel Pérez
Member of the California State Assembly from the 80th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 2008
Preceded by	Bonnie Garcia
Personal details
Born	June 18, 1973 (1973-06-18) (age 38) Indio, California
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Gladys Pérez
Residence	Coachella, California
Alma mater	Harvard University University of California, Riverside
Occupation	Former Director of Community Health

V. Manuel Pérez (born June 18, 1973)^[1] is a Democratic Assemblymember from California's 80th State Assembly district from Coachella, California, United States.

Biography

Manuel Perez was born in Indio, California 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.

2008 California State Assembly run

In June, 2008, Pérez won his party's nomination as the Democratic candidate in California's 80th State Assembly district, 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.

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.

References and external links

1. ^ Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez of California

• Marcel Honoré, "Jeandron, Perez Draw Contrasts in Debate", The Desert Sun, September 19, 2008.
• VoteSmart Bio Page for Manuel Perez
• Manuel Perez for Assembly 2008
• La Union Estudiantil de La Raza [1]

California Assembly
Preceded by Bonnie Garcia	California State Assemblyman 80th District December 1, 2008–present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Perez, V. Manuel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 18, 1973
Place of birth	Indio, California
Date of death
Place of death