No Endorsement in the 80th AD

Manuel Perez may not have the money nor the local poohbah incumbency, but he definitely had the mojo this weekend.  I stand in awe of the union members who are my fellow delegates in Manuel’s corner.  Wizards with lists and cell phones, truly incredible.  

The endorsing caucus for the 80th AD was pretty intense, and the days preceding it packed with manuevering, accusations, threats.  Greg Pettis had put out press releases pre-announcing his endorsement after his March 13th PreEndorsement meeting victory, so he had a lot to lose here.  Greg managed to place every proxy he could, plus switching one of our votes.  But it wasn’t enough to reach 60% of the vote, as Manuel Perez also had strong support from delegates,  and Rick Gonzales found proxies for his folks, too.  So, no endorsement until the primary is over.  

The real winner is the district, as we have an abundance of Democratic  talent in this race.  Manuel Perez just won the endorsement of many more legislators, met with Karen Bass, the new speaker, won the endorsement of Alice Huffman- President of the California State Conference of the NAACP, also won the California Nurses Association (which is a huge plus), also the California Medical Association, the California Teachers Association, SEIU State Council.   I truly believe that Manuel is not only the best progressive in the race, but that he’ll win the primary and the general.  He’s a proven advocate for immigrants, students, and impoverished communities in the eastern end of the district, and a true progressive who stands up for gay rights, the environment, and a women’s right to choose, the major issues on the west end of the district.  Greg is great, so is Rick, but neither cover all the bases that Manuel does, nor do they have his charisma and passion for change.  He’s inspiring.

Here’s what David Dayen said, and I agree completely:

I continue to be very impressed with Manuel Perez; he is a transformational and not a transactional candidate, someone who doesn’t just check the boxes of the single-issue groups and vote the right way, but really changes the conversation and fights for progressive change.

I wish I were still there, but my son’s tenth birthday begins in a matter of hours, so that’s that.  It’s good to see the Calitics crew always, and particularly fun this time to talk to kid oakland and Caligirl, as I hadn’t had the chance before.

We have an exciting race ahead.  

Ron Oden, former Mayor of Palm Springs, is just starting his introductory remarks.  It’s a packed room here at the Palm Desert Library’s Community Room.  I recognize many faces here, the Democrats have been waiting for this for a long time.

I’ll do my best to transcribe below.

Oden:

Two elected offices:  Desert Community College District, and 80th AD.  She’s been elected here, not once, but twice.  She knows this area, and has history here.  Last Dem elected to the 80th, I remember how excited we were to win that seat, and I believe we’ll be excited again.

Elected Caucus Chair in her first term, ranked as the top legislator in her class in the Assembly.  Tapped by Gray Davis to head up Housing and Community Development.  Active, involved, will get the job done.

For the last ten years she’s run an affordable housing nonprofit.  Articulate, approachable, knowledgeable.

Great pleasure to introduce our rep for the CA-45th

Julie Bornstein (paraphrased):

Introduced Ralph Waite (Pa Walton, for those netroots folks who remember The Waltons).  Introduced other local leaders.

Built Ted Williams field with a grassroots group, made her realize how important it was to know the needs of your community.

Couldn’t sit comfortably by on the sidelines  at this time.  Call for the honorable traditions of our country.  Honor, accountability, fairness.

Why has government asked our military to serve repeated tours when

Why special benefits for corporations

Whey when affordable healthcare so hard to afford, leaders refuse to help.

Affordable housing.

Fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq.  For the killed, injured, loved ones of such, a notable day.  26th birthday of her son Ryan, serving in Iraq for the DoD.

Tactics on prisoners that are abhorred.

Properly care for our injured.

Diminished our credibility, capacity to address conflicts

Three trillion dollars, with CA carrying a disproportionate cost.

Cut taxes, borrowed overseas to pay for this.

Who isn’t fearful about the economy?  Food prices up, people can’t feed their children, jobs going overseas, healthcare out the window.

I have the expertise in housing and economy.

We can relegate the American Dream to the history books, or renew its promise.

Regain respect of community of nations, clean energy, affordable healthcare and decent, affordable housing.  Reestablish accountability in govt and responsibility to the taxpayer.

Ship of state is floundering, but this ship is ours to right.  

wanted to do that when she came here.  Children raised here, mother died here.  

California Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero and celebrated labor leader and civil rights champion Dolores Huerta endorse Manuel Perez, Candidate for the 80th Assembly District.

“I feel honored beyond words”, says Mr. Perez, “to have received this support from two of California’s most distinguished leaders.  Both Dolores Huerta and Senator Romero have worked hard for those who have been marginalized and underrepresented.  I will attempt the same.”

This is one of the few California state seats in play this year, and the demographics indicate it should be blue by now.  Manuel Perez is an organizer, a healthcare provider, and a powerful progressive voice for this region.  Good thing I listened to netroots nags and ran for state delegate, because now I’ll have the honor of endorsing him this Thursday at our Pre-Endorsement meeting, and caucusing for him at the State Convention.   For your people-powered politics fix, read more about Manuel Perez on the flip.

Crossposted at Daily Kos http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…

Coachella School Board Trustee Manuel Perez grew up in both Coachella and Calexico, graduated from public schools and then from UC Riverside before coming home to teach. He later earned a Masters of Education from Harvard, worked as an organizer and health researcher and now provides health care access to thousands of families as Director of Community Health and Advocacy for a Community Health Foundation.  He and his wife Gladys are raising their family in the same community where they grew up, teaching their sons the same values they learned from their parents. – from latest press release from Agxibel Barrajas

For those who’ve already read David Dayen’s excellent profile on Manuel Perez, you know that UFW is integral to Perez’s life story.  Manuel had a date to introduce Dolores Huerta to the folks at the 1st Annual Southern Region Promotor Conference a few weeks ago, but had to miss it when he returned to Harvard to accept a 2008 Harvard Graduate School of Education Alumni of Color Achievement Award.  Clearly she has forgiven him.  About that conference, one Perez has worked hard on for many months:

Hello everyone,

As you know, Promotores from the Imperial and Riverside Counties have been working diligently to organize the 1st Annual Southern Region Promotor Conference entitled, “The People’s Conference-Sharing, Teaching and Learning for Social Change and Well Being.”   It is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2008 at Desert Mirage High School.  There will be many great workshops offered and the keynote will be legendary UFW organizer Dolores Huerta.  This conference is strictly for Promotores and we expect approximately 200 from throughout our regions.  However, if you would like to participate in the conference by hosting an informational/educational booth please let us know asap.  Because of our target population, the conference will be entirely in Spanish, but there will be translation services in English.  Attached are the registration form, a map, and a list for housing accommodations in case you may need a place to stay.  The attachments are in Spanish, including the Registration form.  However, if you need some help with the form, please do not hesitate to contact Poder Popular at 760-398-5327.  We are very excited about the event and we look forward to building and organizing community health with you.

Thank You,

Manuel Perez, Ed. M.

Southern Region Promotor Task Force-Member at Large

Director of Community Health and Advocacy

Borrego Community Health Foundation-

Centro Medico Coachella, Oasis, Cathedral City

This region was recently a Republican stronghold, but thanks to Bush, the neocons, and the general failure of GOP policies, Democrats are coming on strong in this region.  We have a real chance to elect a powerful liberal in the 80th, one who can advocate for better schools, equal access to health care in the context of his own experience in the field, one who can advocate for gay rights in Spanish.  This is who we need representing a region from Palm Springs to Calexico.  We need Perez in Sacramento, and now Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero and UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta have joined John Conyers, Joe Cota, Esteban Torres, LIUNA Local 777, and host of others in support of his candidacy.  

More photos here

Manuel Perez has been recently announced as a recipient of the 2008 HGSE Alumni of Color Achievement Award….  Mr. Pérez is being recognized for his work, which addresses issues of race and education in ways that offer new frames of thought and practice, and evidences a commitment to promote meaningful strategies to affect change and to improve educational opportunities for people of color.

Manuel Pérez is running to represent the 80th Assembly District in California, a region that stretches from Palm Springs through Coachella to Calexico.   This seat is in play, and though Manuel has excellent company in the Democratic primary, he stands apart.  Manuel Perez represents the new crop of progressives in the Democratic party: a community organizer first/politician second, a scholarship student who came back to the old neighborhood to teach, the proud son of UFW parents who advocates for gay rights and a women’s right to choose.   Harvard Graduate School of Education has reason to be proud.  The volunteers on his campaign know how they feel.

Support Manuel Pérez for the CA 80th AD here.

Yet another reason to love Air America:  Stephanie Miller and Jim Ward are coming to the desert in support of Democrats of the Desert’s Annual Awards Dinner:

The money we raise supports Democratic candidates in the CA-45th Congressional district, the 80th and 64th California Assembly Districts, and the California 37th Senate District.  We’re making Democrats cool here, at last, as Julie Bornstein recently exhorted us to do.   KPTR is beloved of all Democrats out here, and they’re giving our sponsors one heck of a deal.  Tell your friends, and come out to the Palm Springs area this April to party with us.  Stephanie Miller!

Another major endorsement for Manuel Pérez, who already has the strong support of last term’s Democratic candidate, Steve Clute, CA Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Joe Coto, Coachella Mayor Eddie Garcia, Imperial County Supervisor Victor M. Carrillo, Rep. John Conyers and former Congressman Esteban Torres, among others.  Manuel Perez has the strong support of LIUNA 777.   

Here’s Eddie Garcia, Joe Coto, and Manuel Pérez at La Estancia (just down Hwy 111 in Indio, great food)

X-posted at dKos.  Much more below.  Flip it.

I was working as a field organizer in support of a ballot measure that would preserve SEIU-UHW jobs and benefits for the last several weeks (we lost, bad scene now for healthcare workers in Hemet and Menifee), so was out of the loop regarding the Pérez campaign’s day to day happenings.  Just as I get back from fighting the good fight for one union, here’s LIUNA 777 for Manuel.  Naturally.  Manuel Pérez worked the fields with his UFW parents.  Joe Mota, former director of UFW, endorsed Manuel’s campaign early on.  The CA Assembly needs an organizer, a teacher, a local hero like Manuel, and labor knows it. 

If you’ve just heard about Manuel Pérez, the best diary that introduces him is this one by David Dayen, who came out to Indio and talked with Manuel back in September.  He found, as I did, that Manuel is the real thing.  Yes, there are other Democrats in this primary, and many of the establishment in Democratic Riverside feel that Greg Pettis, Cathedral City councilman, deserves the nomination.  They say it’s his turn, he’s the most recognizable, etc.  He has the biggest warchest for the race.  Greg is a great guy, but I don’t believe in party poohbahs assigning our candidates for us.  I believe that the best representative of the people should go to Sacramento.  And for the California 80th Assembly District, Manuel Pérez represents us best, and presents the most compelling change for a district that’s had a Republican rep for far too long. 

I was bantering with a Republican from Palm Desert last month, and he was positively gleeful at the prospect of Pettis, with his money and establishment ties, getting the nod, and then losing to whomever the GOP runs.  I think that voters from Palm Springs to Calexico already recognize that we have a charismatic working class hero, a Harvard MA, a local teacher, and a community organizer who brings women’s health care to the least served communities in the 80th available to us, and we’re going to seize this opportunity to galvanize the district.  Support Manuel Perez for the California 80th AD at his Act Blue page:  Manuel Perez – Putting People First

From the campaign:

Laborer’s International Union of North America – Local 777 endorses Manuel Pérez for the 80th Assembly District; list of supporters continues to grow

Manuel Perez, Democratic candidate for the 80th Assembly District, has received the endorsement of the Laborers International Union Association, Laborers Local 777, as well as its umbrella organization, the Laborer’s International Union of North America.

‘He is a strong and clear voice for the communities he serves, and is willing to fight for fundamental rights; fair pay; fair treatment and justice; protections and security for our families; access to health care; better education and better working conditions for the residents of the 80th Assembly District,’ said Fred W. Lowe, Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer for Laborers’ Local 777.

Laborers’ Local 777 joins, a growing number of local, state and national leaders who have endorsed Manuel Perez for the 80th District, including Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Joe Coto; Imperial County Supervisor Victor M. Carrillo, Coachella City Mayor Eduardo Garcia, Former Assembly member and Candidate for the 80th AD Steve Clute, Former Congressman Esteban E. Torres and Congressman John Conyers, D-Michigan.

‘I am excited and honored to have received the endorsement of one of the most progressive and fastest growing Laborers’ Union in the United States.  LIUNA has been fighting for working families since 1903 and I want to be part of making history with them as we tackle the 21st Century,’ said Manuel Perez. ‘I will be an ally in the quest to create more opportunities for workers and will fight for better wages, good benefits and safe jobsites.’

Coachella Valley High School’s annual College VocTech night is on October 17th this year.  Here’s a clip from last year, featuring our region’s most stalwart advocate for youth, schools, and communities.  David Roth, Manuel’s ally in education and my candidate from last year’s CA-45th race, joins him at the end. 

Watch Manuel Pérez exhort parents to advocate for our kids at every level.  “Instead of the schools to jails pipeline, let’s look at the schools to universities pipeline.” 

Get this man to the California State Assembly with us here.

For an excellent overview of Perez’s life and candidacy, see David Dayen’s diary on Pérez here.

Also, Politics Begins at Home includes links to the previous diaries on Pérez.  This is a guy to watch.

My friend Carole, a terrific Democrat who knows how to work a room, had the ear of a Major Insider at the Magic Johnson party for Hillary this past week (I’m still listening to everyone and leaning Obama).  She was pushing for DC attention to the CA-45th, as she often does, because we have two Democratic candidates (so far) to challenge Mary Bono, and our Dem candidate will need some real support.  Mr. Major Insider thought our GOP/Dem breakdown was 80/20ish, a common misconception, and one which drives Carole right up the wall.  Our actual numbers are: 

Dem (35.85%) * Rep (45.53%) * Other (18.62%)

Not only that, the CA-45th has a high growth rate with newcomers trending Democratic, a weak Bushbot incumbent, a bargain media market (for California), and last year’s race was the first potentially competitive one in thirty years.  But the DCCC gave Roth no tangible support.  So why no love from Washington?  Follow me past the flip for the many reasons why the Democratic Party needs to start playing to win in the CA-45th.

The CA-45th is an ideal prototype for the Democratic Party to show how we can turn more red districts blue.  It’s time to take advantage of the national mood, our local demographic shift, and a laughably weak incumbent.  Once the playground of Presidents flips to the Democrats, just imagine the impact nationally.  It’s closer than you think.

The CA-45th got serious attention last election cycle, just not from the DCCC.  21st Century Democrats endorsed David Roth and sent a fantastic staffer to work the district.  Barbara Boxer’s PAC for a Change and the Blue America PAC endorsed Roth.  The Calitics team frontpaged several Roth diaries.  George Miller, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, and Loretta Sanchez stumped for Roth.

Roth raised over 700K, which was a universe apart from previous efforts.  He forced Mary Bono to raise twice as much.  Despite a virtual blackout from the GOP-owned local papers, he drew unprecedented crowds for a Democrat in the area, and heard from countless Republicans who craved a change.  But Mary Bono had the money she needed for a media blitz during the last two weeks of the campaign.  Roth got nothing from the DCCC but a late designation as an Emerging Race, and Cheesecake Factory cake on election night.  He had no media presence to speak of, despite the most dynamic campaign by a Democrat in this district in thirty years.  This simply can’t happen again, because the district is ripe to flip.  NB:  Barbara Boxer, recent addition to Rancho Mirage, received 49% in the CA-45th  in 2004. 

In DC, “everyone knows” that the CA-45th is a bastion of conservatism, with a presumed 80/20 advantage for the GOP.  The actual registration as of October 23, 2006 is:

Dem – 115,874 (35.85%)
Rep – 147,158 (45.53%)
Other – 60,214 (18.62%)

2.5% of the Other are registered American Independent/Green, so subtract that, you still have 16.12% unaffiliated voters.  The total of Democrats plus unaffiliated-  (51.97%).

That was last year, but what of the future?  The Press Enterprise says that Republicans are losing their grip on the Inland Empire.  According to the study last July by UC-Riverside researcher Karthick Ramakrishnan, Department of Political Science:

“The results from our survey reveal a roughly equal proportion of eligible voters who identify with the Democrat(ic) and Republican party..  ……

….Naturalized citizens, who have the least experience with the U.S. political system, are least likely to identify with either of the major political parties.  By contrast, second-generation immigrants (those born in the U.S. to immigrant parents) are more likely than the rest of the population to identify as Democrats. 

Finally, there are clear differences in party identification between newcomers and long-term residents in the Inland Empire. Newer residents are less likely than long-term residents to identify as Republicans (27% vs. 37%), and more likely to identify as Democrat or Independent.  Even taking into account those independents who lean towards either party, there is a noticeable difference between recent residents who favor Democrats and more established residents who split nearly evenly between the two parties.”

It would be sheer negligence to allow this district to remain Republican.  Current conventional wisdom on the CA-45th also overlooks the politically active gay population in Palm Springs, and the increasingly powerful generation of progressive leaders taking over in the East Coachella Valley.  Eduardo Garcia’s successful mayoral race in Coachella registered 15,000 new voters, and he is widely regarded as a rising star in local politics, as is Manuel Pérez, candidate for the California 80th Assembly District.  The political energy here is blue. 

Mary Bono has a solid Bushbot record, no capacity to face a serious challenger in a debate, and her sympathetic image as the widow of Sonny Bono is now one divorce and one engagement past its shelf date.  With a serious voter education effort (and there’s a lot of bang for the buck in this media market), Bono’s support among Republican environmentalists and moderates is vulnerable, and the potential support from middle and working class residents for a Democratic challenger is huge. 

The Democratic votes are here if we are willing to go get them.  And let’s not forget that even though the California Republican Party is in disarray, the 2008 presidential race is in jeopardy if the GOP dirty tricks/electoral votes grab initiative gets on the California ballot.  The Democratic Party needs to play to win in the CA-45th.  There is simply no excuse not to.

P.S.  As soon as I know more about our Democratic challengers, I’ll post it.  One is not ready to surface, and the other is still processing his FEC paperwork.  But hallelujah, they exist at last!

xposted to Daily Kos & OpenLeft

Some of Coachella Valley’s finest, from left to right: Steve Hernandez-City Councilman of Coachella, Manuel Perez-Candidate for State Assembly, Eduardo Garcia-Mayor of Coachella, and Mike Duran-President, Desert Sands Teachers’ Association. 

Last night, Eddie Garcia hosted a casual party to raise funds for the People’s Candidate for the 80th Assembly District in California.  Eddie talked about the inspiring example Manuel Pérez provided the future Mayor of Coachella:  Manuel went to UC Riverside, then came back and taught, then went on to Harvard for his MA in Education, then came back again to foster social justice.  We have a whole generation of bright, socially conscious leaders coming up in the Coachella Valley – all committed to our community and each other. 

Here’s where you come in:  my ActBlue page.  More after the flip.

Manuel Pérez is exactly the kind of candidate the netroots are talking about.  Here’s David Dayen’s (dday) take on Pérez.  Here is my latest account of the campaign so far.  Read and enjoy.  The national news still disappoints, but things are looking up here in the California desert.

Here’s Pérez and his campaign manager, the brave and beautiful social activist Amalia Deaztlan:

Here’s Pérez at work:

And at home:

{At the Mayor’s party for Manuel Pérez last night, I had the chance to show everyone the best thing that’s happened all week: the new Coachella Valley section of Calitics.  I can’t say it often enough, Brian Leubitz of Calitics is a national treasure.  Thank you, Brian!}

Crossposted to Daily Kos

(I think this diary could be considered a nomination diary. Thoughts? – promoted by Bob Brigham)

What a lovely family Manuel Pérez has.  Not a surprise, of course, and they throw a great party.  Great music, much dancing, and generous campaign cash raised in honor of Manuel’s birthday. 

It’s not too late to give him an ActBlue birthday gift, with love from the netroots nation.  Why you really want to, what is the latest from Sacramento re: Manuel, who’s getting festive with the Mayor of Coachella, and truly adorable pictures of tiny children watching the grown ups dance -after the flip.

Crossposted at Daily Kos

Previous CA 80th AD diaries:
Goodbye, Bonnie Garcia-Hello, Manuel Pérez
Pérez in the California 80th AD
(CA 80th) Honoring César Chávez in Coachella

Manuel Pérez is busier than usual these days.  Now that the Senate Republicans are done slashing services from the state budget, Borrego Community Health Foundation has to move fast to make up the time lost while their funding was on hold.  Otherwise, Pérez is on the phone and in the communities from Calexico to Palm Springs, listening to this district. 

Last week, Manuel Pérez was back in Sacramento with his colleagues allied with the California Endowment for the Agricultural Workers Health Conference.  Pérez was one of the authors of a past report funded by the California Endowment, In Their Own Words, Farmworker Access to Health Care in Four California Regions  (pdf): 

Authors
In Their Own Words: Farmworker Access to Health Care in Four California Regions is based
upon information gathered in the Agricultural Workers Health Study, a research project conducted by the California Institute for Rural Studies beginning in September, 2001.  When completed, the research study will have spanned six regions, the first four of which are profiled in this report. The Agricultural Workers Health Study reflects the collective effort of a professional cohort of dedicated researchers, field ethnographers, writers, and editors who have worked in teams to produce lengthy regional case studies. The compilers of this report gratefully recognize the extensive work and time devoted to the project by the following members of the East Coachella Valley, North Orange Belt/Tulare County, North San Diego County, and Oxnard/Santa Clarita Valley research teams:

Marisol Ayala
Marcus Clarke
Kenneth Kambara, Ph.D.
Natalie Karst
Heather Kun
Richard Mines, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Nancy Mullenax, Ph.D.
Kara Nygaard
Victor Manuel Pérez, M.Ed.
John Nagiecki, M.A.
Lisette Saca
Mireya Samaniego
Kurt Schroeder
Crispin Shelley
Xochitl Villasenor
Amy L. Wilson
Disha Zaidi, M.A.

The California Institute for Rural Studies is a nonprofit social science research organization that studies questions related to social justice, environmental balance, and economic sustainability in rural California.

The initial seed money for this project came from the California Program on Access to Care (CPAC), which is part of the California Policy Research Center (CPRC). CPRC serves as a research support arm of the Office of the President of the University of California. CPAC focuses on health care policy issues.

The California Endowment, a statewide philanthropic organization focused on improving the health status of all Californians, provided generous support for the Agricultural Workers Health Study.

Manuel Pérez was also the original program director for the Poder Popular program in East Coachella Valley, and caught up with his former colleagues after their presentation at the conference.  They are enthusiastic about his campaign, and Manuel had excellent meetings with Assemblymember Joe Coto, Assemblymember Richard Polanco, his friends at Verde Group, and others.  Manuel Pérez is the best candidate for the CDP to run in the CA 80th AD race against the GOPer, but he’s not the big money Democrat in the primary, and that’s still a huge factor.  Did I mention my ActBlue page for Manuel Pérez?

Yes, September is the time to make the fundraising equal to the mojo.  The next fundraiser for Manuel Pérez, the People’s Candidate for the 80thAD, is hosted by the Mayor of Coachella, Eduardo Garcia. 

OK.  As promised, and cuter than a pootie pic, here’s a little angel who watched Manuel and Gladys dancing last month at the family birthday party. 
She so looked like she wanted to be dancing, too.  So her sister stepped in:

thank goodness, because if that child didn’t get to dance I didn’t think I was going to be able to bear it. 

A word from our last staff meeting, from the wise and charming Dr. David Skinner, “Everyone is someone, and no human being is illegal.”  Let’s put some fuel in the campaign of a guy who works for human rights on the local level, and actually makes the difference that Democrats are all about.  (Click it.  Hey, man, I did it for Darcy Burner.)