Latina appointed to the California Board of State and Community Corrections

First Latina elected County Supervisor in the Central Valley was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the CBBC.
 

Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez

SACRAMENTO, CA - Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez has been appointed to the California Board of State and Community Corrections (CBBCC) by Gov. Jerry Brown, and will begin as a member of the 13-member board in September. Perez, 38, is the first Latina elected County Supervisor for Kern County and the entire Central Valley, defeating an incumbent in 2013. Her appointment brings Central Valley representation to the CBBCC, which is responsible for the operations of correctional facilities, the training of correctional and probation officers, and implementing the state’s prison realignment efforts.

Perez is not new to the law enforcement environment, having served as an attorney for the Kern County Public Defender’s Office, and more recently, working with Kern County law enforcement agencies in implementing prison realignment at the local level. It’s her relationship with law enforcement that appealed to the Brown Administration.

“What I’ve learned from the (Kern County) Community Corrections Partnership is that collaboration and moderation make for great public policy,” Perez said in a recent interview.

In addition to her current role as a Kern County Supervisor and as an attorney for the Kern County Public Defender’s Office, Perez was a consultant to former State Senator Michael Rubio where she advised on economic development. Prior to that, she was a community banker for Wells Fargo Bank.

"This is an honor for Kern and an opportunity to promote the perspective of Central Valley counties who face some unique social and economic challenges in carrying out the mandates of realignment," Perez stated in a press release. "I look forward to the confirmation process and the opportunity to work in partnership with other Board members to make realignment work in California."

Perez, a Democrat, has worked along side of members from both parties in addressing Kern County’s economic and social issues. There is no compensation for the CBBCC position and it does require Senate confirmation, which will be scheduled as a hearing by the California State Senate for next year.