V. Manuel Perez

• Biography:

  Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez was elected in November 2008 to represent the 80th Assembly District, comprising the communities of Blythe, Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Springs, and Westmorland.

  Born in Indio and raised in Coachella and Imperial County, Assemblymember Perez grew up in a close-knit family that taught him the value of hard work, determination, respect and service to others. He also learned that a good education can pave the path to success.

  Perez attended public schools and graduated from U.C. Riverside. He served as a school teacher, before earning his Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University.

  As a member of the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board, Pérez helped to secure $250 million in funding that created good jobs in the Valley and built new state of the art schools and modern classrooms. He also pushed to raise expectations for students and emphasized both academic achievement as well as character building and life skills in the classroom.

  As a community healthcare director, Perez worked tirelessly to provide healthcare for children, to ensure moms have access to prenatal care, and that seniors get the medicine they need.

  A lifelong resident of the district, Assemblymember Pérez knows first-hand that people in the district are still struggling with aspects of their everyday lives. Costs of living are soaring, healthcare prices are skyrocketing, and good jobs and economic opportunities are scarce and schools still need improvement.

  As a State Assemblymember, Perez is focused on bringing positive economic growth to the district, creating stronger schools for our children, expanding healthcare for everyone and protecting the environment.

  Assemblymember Perez and his wife, Gladis, live in Coachella, where their sons attend the same schools that Pérez attended as a boy.