County Sheriff’s Group Endorses Perez

INDIO – The Riverside Sheriffs’ Association (RSA) on Thursday announced its endorsement of Fourth District Supervisor Manuel Perez.

Jan Harnik, a member of the Palm Desert City Council, also sought the RSA’s endorsement.

RSA, one of the most coveted political endorsements in Riverside County, joins CAL FIRE Local 2811 in backing Perez.

In announcing their endorsement, RSA President Bill Young released the following statement:

“The 2,300 men and women of the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association are proud to stand with Supervisor Manuel Perez. Throughout his career in public service, Manuel has worked closely with law enforcement to advance policies that prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and ensure fast emergency response times. Manuel is no stranger to making the tough choices needed to effectively govern, and he has earned a reputation as an accessible leader who listens and works collaboratively to solve problems. Before making this endorsement, we examined both candidates’ records and their commitments to keep Riverside County’s neighborhoods safe. We believe Manuel Perez is the best choice for Supervisor.”

Founded in 1943, the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association represents more than  2,300 employees from the Riverside Sheriff’s and Probation Departments and the District Attorney’s Office.

Perez, the son of immigrant farmworkers Virginia and Manuel, was born and raised in the Coachella Valley. He attended local public schools and graduated from the University of California, Riverside. He taught at a local middle school and went on to earn a Master of Education degree in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University.

He served on the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2008. He served our region in the California State Assembly for three terms between 2008 and 2014, rising to the role of majority leader.

In the Assembly, Perez authored more than 60 pieces of legislation that were signed into law, including important bills that helped to keep neighborhoods safe, improve public schools, keep Riverside County residents in their homes, provide for our veterans, and jumpstart the local renewable energy industry.

Following his service in the State Assembly, Perez was elected to the Coachella City Council.

Perez was appointed to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in May of 2017. As Fourth District Supervisor, he has helped combat homelessness by dealing with the root causes of the crisis, fully funded services for veterans, introduced a plan to revitalize the Salton Sea, responsibly managed county tax dollars, and negotiated a balanced county budget that prioritizes public safety.

Perez resides in Coachella with Gladis, his wife of 20 years. They have two sons, Ruben and Alejandro, who attend UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara, respectively.