Supervisor Perez Statement on Governor Newsom’s Historic Appointment of Alex Padilla to U.S. Senate

PALM DESERT – Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, president of the Latino Caucus of California Counties (LCCC), praised Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement today of California Secretary of State Alex Padilla as California’s next U.S. Senator, for the position that will be vacated as Senator Kamala Harris takes office as Vice President of the United States of America:

“The Latino Caucus of California Counties applauds Governor Gavin Newsom for his appointment of Alex Padilla as California’s next U.S. Senator. Alex Padilla is a bright and accomplished leader and I have full confidence he will represent all Californians very well indeed. In 170 years of U.S. statehood, California has never before had a Latino representative in the U.S. Senate. This is a historic first, that comes at a time where we need great leaders who can connect to the Latino population, and strongly needed in our nation as a whole. ¡Sí se pudo!”

In late November, Supervisor Perez spoke at a press conference in LA, one of five organized across the Golden State with Latino elected officials, community leaders and a coalition of organizations including LCCC advocating California have Latino representation in the U.S. Senate. Latinos comprise approximately 40 percent of the state population and 50 percent of the student population.

Video from the November 20 LA press conference can be found on LCCC’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/LatinoSupervisors.

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez is the chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, representing the- eastern two-thirds of Riverside County as the Fourth District Supervisor. Stretching from Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, south to the Salton Sea and east to Blythe and the Colorado River, the Fourth District is the largest geographical district in the county.

Supervisor Perez’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.