The California 80th Assembly District has the affluence of Palm Springs and La Quinta, where the well-off winter, and the Grapes of Wrath poverty of Duroville.

Manuel Perez:  “For too long, the 80th Assembly District has been ignored and neglected by politicians.  Growing up the son of farm workers, I know the struggles of working families.  I will fight locally and in Sacramento to bring new opportunities and prosperity to all our communities.”

Manuel Perez focuses on parents as well as students as a School Board Trustee, recruiting them to work with him to reverse the schools to jails pipeline in our poverty burdened communities.  But it’s not enough to educate, we need jobs in California, and specifically a green tech business plan from Palm Springs to Calexico.  Check the plan on the flip.

NOTE:  I originally gave Indian Wells to the 80th when posting this, and I’ve sinced remembered that it’s in the 64th.  I’ve edited the first sentence of this post (above the flip) to correct it.

Crossposted at Daily Kos

The Manuel Perez Plan for New Jobs and a Stronger Local Economy



As our next Assembly Member, Manuel Perez will be a leader in creating new jobs and stimulating our local economy.

*Bring new green technology businesses to the Valley creating green collar jobs by tapping into the alternative energy resources within the district.

*Create higher education opportunities, workforce development and job training sites.

*Build partnerships between tribal governments, resorts, golf courses, hotels and the tourist industry with local schools and community colleges to create internships, apprenticeships and job training opportunities.

*Strongly support family farmers and farm workers to ensure prosperous yields.

*Promote small business economic development, encourage the California entrepreneurial spirit, and expand and promote of “enterprise zones.”

I live for Al Rodger’s excellent photo diaries at dKos, so here’s a tribute to that great man- the photo diary about Manuel Perez.

In this diverse and challenging district, Manuel Perez is the only Latino Democratic candidate to support gay rights and gay marriage, the only Democrat in the race fluent in both English and Spanish, the only teacher, the only promontore, and the one with the full backing of the healthcare, education, and labor unions.  But there are four candidates, three weeks to go, and nothing is guaranteed. ActBlue action here.

Some links:

Politics Begins at Home

dday’s A Movement Rises in the Desert (AD-80)

Manuel Perez LIVE at school (Where else?)

People Powered Assembly Candidate

Gloria Romero & Dolores Huerta Endorse Perez

Harvard to Honor Alum Manuel Perez

Some pics:

The IEs are here at last, like Santa in the summer.  Running a grassroots campaign with a base of working people, some of whom live in the poorest parts of California, means the campaign’s funds are always tight.  The majority of the staff work for little or nothing.  But oh, how sweet it is when the unions start to do their thing.  Our website has an excellent photo gallery.  Behold, I receive in the mail my candidate teaching my kids.

The latest endorsements are United Auto Workers Region 5, the California Faculty Association, the San Diego/Imperial County Labor Council, and the Border Patrol.  Education, healthcare, labor, UAW, and now law enforcement. Nice.  

Crossposted at dKos



I’ve received four positive Perez mailers from Opportunity PAC, “a coalition of Educators, Health Care Givers, Faculty Members and Other School Employees,” and two negative ones on Pettis.  It can’t be any fun for a Democrat to find Opportunity PAC mailing oppo lit on him, but it’s odd to have a Democrat denounce unions as “Sacramento special interest groups” as the Pettis campaign’s latest email blast did.  Things do heat up in the final stretch.

Manuel’s schedule is insane, as this district stretches from east of Palm Springs to Arizona, from Desert Hot Springs to the border of Mexico.  Last Thursday he was in a candidate’s forum hosted by the Palm Springs Hospitality Association, and had the opportunity to address gay marriage (he’s for it), our education crisis, and his initiatives with vocational training – a boon both for local business and students.  He’s been walking precincts in every corner, including his main rival’s:

From (California’s) Capitol Morning Report, May 15th:

Manuel Perez for AD 80 campaign — About 20% of our walkers last Saturday canvassed Cathedral City, a presumed stronghold of Greg Pettis’, and it was simply amazing the amount of support out there for Manuel Perez. Dale Wissman was one of the volunteers and he walked a middle-class, mixed neighborhood of Latino, Anglo, and gay households. All the households were either openly in support of Perez before Dale knocked on their door, or were leaning Perez’s direction before they answered the door.  ….

Today at the Democrats of the Desert meeting, our speaker was Carissa Carrera of the Coachella Valley Teachers Association.  She noted the CVTA’s endorsement of Manuel Perez, “a good person” as well as a strong leader in education.  Here’s something we all found shocking:  Sacramento looks at the test scores of third graders when sizing up the prison budget needs for the future.  California would be the 8th largest country, were we a country, and we rank near the bottom of the nation in school funding.  We spend 7K per pupil, and 25-30K per prisoner.  

I am looking forward to a 2/3 majority with Manuel Perez in our Assembly.   Manuel, with others, secured $250 million for new school construction in Coachella.  This is what we need now.

Manuel Perez is bringing a socially conservative, economically progressive county back to the Democrats.  Imperial County is one of the poorest in California.  It’s part of the California 80th  Assembly District, which reaches from Palm Springs to Mexico and Arizona.  dday gives the best brief of it here.   It’s not on the radar of some of the wealthy liberals in the west of the district, which is one of the reasons why we’ve lost this race to Bonnie Garcia over and over.  Imperial County has been voting against registration and handing victory to the Republicans, but it’s looking up in 2008.  Voters in Riverside and Imperial Counties have a winning progressive this year.

Manuel Perez was raised in both Coachella and Calexico, he does not dismiss the voters in Imperial County.  

“Manuel Perez has demonstrated the integrity, honesty and due diligence to bring forth the true representation of Assembly District 80.” — Victor Carillo, Supervisor District #1

  “I’m supporting Manuel Perez for State Assembly because he is the most qualified candidate and he is well versed in the Imperial and Coachella Valley.  I am confident that Manuel will keep the interests of the Imperial Valley at heart in the California State Assembly.” — Tony Tirado, Imperial County Democratic Central Committee Chair.

His healthcare priorities come from his binational research on the health of women farm workers, and his work with Borrego Community Health Foundation.  

The California Medical Association PAC and SEIU healthcare workers and nurses recently endorsed Perez, touting his healthcare advocacy and efforts to provide healthcare for all the residents in the 80th Assembly District.

Manuel Perez also earned the endorsement of the California Nurses Association.

“Manuel Perez is on the front line of the healthcare crisis, making sure kids see pediatricians and seniors receive needed medicine,” said Zenei Cortez, RN President California Nurses Association.  “He’ll provide fresh ideas and needed leadership in solving the state’s healthcare challenges.”

His education priorities come from his Schools not Jails experience and his budget battles on behalf of the students of the Coachella Valley Unified School District.  

The New River, and its toxic threat to the health of local residents, informs his environmentalism.   A grassroots organizer is running for state office, as a citizen, a teacher, a healthcare provider, and advocate for social justice.  The only Democrat in the race who speaks Spanish, the only Harvard graduate in the race who also knows poverty firsthand.  

Our most critical unions, key legislators, and advocates like Alice Huffman of the NAACP and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of UFW support Manuel Perez, which means he’ll actually get to take that information to the state legislature and get things done.  But it’s also going to take grassroots support of the currency persuasion.

On to the 2/3 majority.  Act Blue page for Manuel Perez -for California Assembly.  

Crossposted at dKos

Not only California Teachers Association, but the CSEA supports the CA 80th AD’s People Powered candidate:

The California School Employees Association has endorsed Democratic candidate Manuel Perez for 80th Assembly District, the campaign said today.

Perez, who is a Coachella School Board trustee, is vying to replace Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City. Garcia cannot run again because of term limits.



“Manuel Perez is clearly an education leader,” Ellen Soto, CSEA chapter president at Coachella Valley Unified School District, said in a press release.



“Manuel is rolling up his sleeves and working hard every day to improve schools and create educational opportunities for our kids. Manuel’s leadership has brought $250 million to the Coachella Valley to build new schools and modernize classrooms.”

Here is his ActBlue page, mijos.

This race is getting more interesting every day, with PolitickerCA.com starting to pay attention.  What Finnigan missed in his preliminary article is that Perez’s support isn’t dependent on his facility in Spanish, but his stellar grassroots work in the district.  

The 80th Assembly District in California is one of the best pickup opportunities this year, and we have just the transformational candidate to make it happen. Manuel Pérez is a hands-on, no bs, Harvard-educated community organizer from the heart of the Coachella Valley, a direct, unapologetic progressive with experience in building a just and healthy society.  He won’t promise loyalty in Sacramento in exchange for support, he’s getting his mojo the time-honored way:  walking precincts, meeting with more union review committees, and he just participated in a podcast on Calitics.  

I’ve been posting on this race since last May, and have yet to compile the best quotes nor list the endorsers adequately.  Let’s kick it off with the  California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

Manuel Perez knows first hand the struggles of working families and will be a champion of healthcare, education and creating new jobs in the State Assembly.

What Folks Are Saying About Manuel Perez, Democrat for the 80th Assembly District:

(Update, CA Federation of Teachers’ just chimed in)

Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers:

Manuel Perez is a real education champion – he’s a former classroom teacher, earned a Masters in Education from Harvard University and serves as a school board member helping struggling schools to succeed. Manuel fights every day to give kids the educational tools they  need to succeed in life and in the workplace.

Steve Clute, Former California State Assemblyman:

(Perez) has the heart – corazón – and passion to truly represent the people.

Fred W. Lowe, Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer for Laborers’ Local 777:

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.

Harvard Graduate School of Education, announcing Manuel Perez as a recipient of the HGSE Alumni of Color Achievement Award:  

Mr. Perez 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.

David Dayen, blogger at Calitics, Hullaballoo, and The Right’s Field:

This is someone who hasn’t waited around for higher office to make a difference in his community; he’s rolled up his sleeves and dived in.  As a director for the Borrego Community Health Foundation, he’s created one of the first diabetes resource centers in the desert region and has delivered health services to underserved regions.  As a researcher for the California Institute for Rural Studies, he put together a groundbreaking study on women’s reproductive health issues in Imperial County, where women have little opportunities and resources to manage their own health.  With Promotores, he’s part of a group of community-based leaders devoted to teaching  about health issues and making sure people in the community get the facts about programs at their disposal.  As a schoolteacher he started his school’s first ever Chicano Studies program designed to allow students to learn history from their perspective.  With the Eastern Coachella Valley Social Change Collaborative, he identified farm workers living in the area and trained them to be community leaders themselves.  Believe it or not, he’s only 34.

…

Manuel Pérez is not only a perfect fit for this district, providing an opportunity to retake this seat and get us closer to 2/3.  He represents a new generation of Hispanic-Americans who are dedicated to working for change from the bottom up.  He would bring to Sacramento a unique set of skills, as someone who can build coalitions and train a group of leaders far into the future.  There are primary candidates on the Democratic side for this seat who appear to be very nice.  I don’t think anyone combines the résumé and the hope for the future more than Manuel Pérez.

Joe Murillo, President,  Coachella Valley Unified School District Board:

(Perez) likes to see improvement. He is not a man for the status quo.

Partial List of Endorsers:



California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

United Domestic Workers

California Teachers Association

SEIU State Council

Laborers (LIUNA)

California Nurses Association

AFSCME

California Medical Association

Former Congressman Esteban Torres, 34th Congressional District, California

Congressman John Conyers Jr. 14th Congressional District, Michigan

Congressman Raul Grijalva, 7th Congressional District, Arizona

State Senator Gloria Romero

Joe Coto, Assemblyman and Latino Caucus Chair

Steve Clute, Former Assemblyman and 80th AD Candidate, 2006

Tony Cardenas, Former Assemblyman, current Councilman City of Los Angeles

Paul M. Rasso, Candidate, 64th Assembly District

Victor Carrillo, Supervisor, Imperial County Board of Supervisors

Ray Castillo, Former Mayor, El Centro

Joel Perez, Former School Board Trustee, El Centro Elementary School District

George Nava, Council Member, City of Brawley

Chuck Valenzuela, Former Mayor and Treasurer, Brawley

Joe Murillo, President, Coachella Valley Unified School Board

Eduardo Garcia, Mayor, City of Coachella

Steve Hernandez, Council member, City of Coachella

Tim Brown, City Manager, City of Coachella

Steve Brown, Assistant City Manager, City of Coachella

Carlos Campos, Attorney, City of Coachella

Jackie Lopez, Executive Director, City of Coachella Chamber of Commerce

Carlos Ortega, City Manager, City of Palm Desert

Mike Wilson, Councilmember, City of Indio

Maria Machuca, Former Chair, Mecca Community Council

Sal Alejo, Member, Mecca Community Council

Jennifer Baker, President, California Latino School Board Association

Alice A. Huffman, President, California State Conf. of the NAACP

Fred Lowe, Union Rep., LIUNA, Laborer’s Local 777

Jose Mejia, Director, Laborer’s International Union of North America

Antonio Tirado, Chairman of the Imperial County Democratic Central Committee

Michael Rosenfeld, Former President, CVTA

Richard Razo, Union Rep, CVTA

Bonifacio Hernandez, Union Rep, CVTA

Dale Wissman, Union Rep, CSEA

Don MacCready, CSEA

Joe Mota, Former Director, UFW

Juan Carlos Sanchez, DSCC Delegate & Community Organizer

Beth Caskie,  local Democratic activist / DSCC Delegate for the 80th AD

Ruben Gonzalez, President, Coachella Valley Voters League

Inez Cardoza Freeman, Volunteer of the Year, Democrats of the Desert

Amalia DeAztlan, Delegate, National Democratic Committee

Jose Carmona, Principal, Verde Group, Sacramento, CA

Rafael Aguilera, Principal, Verde Group, Sacramento, CA

Orson Aguilar, Associate Director, Greenlining Institute, Berkeley, CA

Hector Preciado, Health Policy Director, Greenlining Institute, Berkeley, CA.

Eric Reyes, Executive Director, Institute for Social and Economic Justice, Brawley

Jesse G. Enriquez, President, Hidalgo Society, Brawley

Lupe Quintero, CRLA Lawyer, Imperial

Jesus Perez, Former Candidate for Superintendent of Public Schools, Imperial County

Arturo Encinas, President, MAPA, Calexico

Bill Hodge, Union Rep, Calexico

Beatriz O. Zayas, Mana member at-large, Calexico

Danny Santillan, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Morris Reisin, President, Chamber of Commerce, Calexico

Ruben Gonzales, Former President, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, El Centro

Rodolfo Pinon, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Dan Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Mike Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Alfredo Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Rosalio Plata, Businessman, Cathedral City

Fred Deharo, Former President, Coachella Valley Rotary, La Quinta

Maria Deharo, Director RCOE Migrant Education Program, La Quinta

Gilberto Salcedo, CEO Que Crees Magazine, La Quinta

Greg Cervantes, Tribal Issues Consultant, La Quinta

Martin Martinez, CVMACC Co-Founder & Community Activist, Indio

Nadia Villagran, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Indio

Mike Walsh, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Indio

Roger Larranaga, Azteca America, Indio

Claudia Castorena, Co-Founder Martha’s Kitchen, Indio

Gloria Gomez, Co-Founder Martha’s Kitchen, Indio

Carlos Gonzalez, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

David Skinner, Educator, Indio

Chris Cuahape, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

Tony Rubio, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

Edgar Zendejas, Grassroots Organizer, Coachella

Lee Espinoza, Executive Director, Coachella Boxing Club, Coachella

Sal Velasquez, Community Activist, Coachella

Mirna Flores, Executive Director, CET, Coachella

Maria Arcos, Executive Director, Senior Center, Coachella

Elvira Murillo, Executive Director, Vocation and Rehabilitation, Coachella

Abby Figueroa, Community Activist, Coachella

Juanita Godwin, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club, Coachella

Emmanuel Martinez, Grassroots Organizer, Coachella

Jose Luis Huerta, Grassroots Organizer, Oasis

Anna Lisa Vargas, Grassroots Organizer, Thermal

Gina Chapa, Grassroots Organizer, Thermal

Roberto Palomino, Director, El Informador Newspaper, Indio

Leopoldo Trevino Sr. CEO, El Independiente Newspaper, Indio

Joe Beaver, Community Activist, Palm Springs

Freddy Nuñez, Grassroots Organizer, El Centro

Ron Amidon, Candidate for School Board, Calipatria

Dr. Gustavo Galindo, Professor & Grassroots Organizer, Calipatria

Antonio Ramos, Retired Probation and Grassroots Organizer, El Centro

Juan Arvizu, Probation Officer, Heber

Pete Salgado, Probation Officer, El Centro

Joe Arambula, Probation Officer, El Centro

Guillermo Niebla, Retired Probation Officer, El Centro

Alex Vasquez, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Jerry Grijalva, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Gilbert Grijalva, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Arturo Rioseco, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Margarita DeNecochea, Community Volunteer, Calexico

Guillermo Niebla, Community Activist, Calexico

Johnny Romo, Community Activist, Calexico

Last but not least, there’s a Binder poll out on the race, and it puts Manuel Perez as the strongest Democrat against the Republican opponent, beating him in the general.  May we see that come true this November.

After the 80th AD caucus in San Jose, which vacated the CDP endorsement of Manuel Perez‘s chief rival for the nomination, one of the delegates in support of Greg Pettis treated me to their latest talking point on Manuel Perez, namely that his only elected experience so far was that of a board member of a “failed school district.”  This is a bit shortsighted, as Perez’s experience is that of a teacher, healthcare access provider, grassroots youth organizer, researcher, and a successful advocate for millions of dollars for local schools and local jobs in Coachella.  The recent David Binder poll has, after positives and negatives are weighed in, both Pettis and Perez running even in the primary, with Perez winning in the general against (R) Jeandron, and Pettis losing.

But let’s address the fallacy of Democrats adopting GOP talking points on NCLB to attack the those who are in the direct line of fire from Bush’s policy:

(Hat tip to Dale Wissman, labor relations representative with California School Employees Association, who listed the following observations on this subject, with my minor edits.)

Coachella serves some of the poorest students in the entire United States, yet manages to create some of the most powerful tools to improve student achievement.  It is an amazing, activist, innovative school district dealing with massive budget and social issues, but somehow just found a way to pass a two hundred and fifty million dollar bond, which will be matched by state and federal funds, for the construction of state-of-the-art schools.  There might not be three other school districts in the U.S. that serve the population CVUSD serves:  64 percent English learners, 90 percent on free or reduced lunch.

That’s a massive amount of money to bring to bear on one of the poorest communities in the U.S. and Manuel Perez helped shepherd that through.   Nothing like that had ever been done before in Coachella, poorest area of one of the poorest states as far as education spending goes.  California is now 48th out of 50 in terms of state education funding.  If anyone knows intimately what that kind of funding problem looks like on the ground and how it affects achievement, especially in a poor area with lots “of second language speakers, it would be Manuel Perez.  Pettis and Gonzales have no comparable experience in education.  Incidentally, Perez graduated from local schools and he went on to Harvard Graduate School of Education, so it must be doing something right.  .  CVUSD has more than tripled its API score (a California measurement) in the past eight years.

Perez is against No Child Left Behind, perhaps the worst education law ever passed, which is soundly hated by Democrats.  NCLB provides the mechanism to take schools over from local communities, no matter their funding or challenges with poverty or second language learners.  Coachella is an example of a striving school district doing amazing things that nevertheless is punished because of NCLB.  The fact that Pettis campaign wants to use this as an issue says loads about Pettis’ inexperience in education.   Tacitly supporting NCLB because it hurts your opponent is very bad form for a Democrat, and indicates a disturbing and self-defeating opportunism.  Rather than one who parrots Republican NCLB talking points, the 80th AD deserves a representative who doesn’t buy into NCLB, advocates for appropriate funding and accountability for public schools, and can succeed in securing that funding, as Perez has.

Because of his work on behalf of students, parents, teachers and the community, and because of opposition to No Child Left Behind, the education community is endorsing Perez in droves, including the California Teachers Association, with strong local support from the 80th’s school districts.   Neither Pettis nor Gonzales have anyone from the education community endorsing them as yet.

Education spending is more than half the state budget, and Manuel Perez is the only candidate in the primary and general with direct experience here. Education combined with healthcare (another of Perez’s areas of expertise) make up the vast, vast majority of the state budget.  These are also the areas most in danger of being reduced and cut, simply because that’s where most the money is.  

Addendum:

(The other talking point is that noting Perez has a far stronger base than Pettis among crucial East Coachella Valley and Imperial County voters amounts to racism and homophobia, which is bizarre and desperate at worst, and at best misinformed.  The “Crashing the Gates” new Democratic delegates from the 80th AD who voted to endorse Manuel Perez included an openly gay man, an openly gay woman, the (Latino) County Chair of the Imperial County Democratic Central Committee, one Jewish woman, and a Coachella-raised union organizer.)  Manuel’s passion for and experience in providing healthcare, education, and labor reform in the 80th AD and statewide unites a diverse progressive support base.  

There’s a parallel to the Clinton/Obama dynamic here in the 80th-  The heir apparent veteran politician vs. the grassroots organizer.  Pettis had every expectation of sewing this nomination up by the pre-endorsement caucus, as he had the warchest, the connections, and the longtime familiarity of the local Dem clubs.  Manuel was not supposed to pose a real threat, but instead he has the endorsement of

*United Domestic  Workers

*California Teachers Association

*SEIU State Council

*Laborers (LIUNA)

*California Nurses Association

*AFSCME

and just today, the California Labor Federation voted for a dual endorsement of Perez and Pettis, overturning the local Central Labor Councils (both San Diego/Imperial and Riverside/San Bernardino) which had previously endorsed Pettis.  

“Manuel Perez knows first hand the struggles of working families and will be a champion of healthcare, education and creating new jobs in the State Assembly,” proclaimed Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.

Greg was supposed to be the default Dem here, but a grassroots challenger is upsetting the status quo.

This is my first time facing the wrath of those who got their gate crashed.  It’s a bit unsettling, as we were all in the same camp for Roth in the CA-45th, and now we’re at odds.  But we’ll be together after the primary, when we can send another people-powered representative to the California Assembly.  

Crossposted at dKos

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

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.’

(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.)