Latinos, Supervisor Perez, Urge Gov. Newsom On Harris Senate Seat

Palm Desert CA

13 November, 2020

3:00 PM

Description

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A coalition of Latino elected officials, community leaders and organizations from across the state are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a Latina or Latino to the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by California Sen. Kamala Harris in January when she takes over as vice president of the country. In an effort to bring the message to the governor, the coalition will hold a series of press conferences around the state starting Monday. Among those advocating for a Latino or Latina appointment is Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chair V. Manuel Perez, whose Fourth District includes the Coachella Valley. He is also vice president of the Latino Caucus of California Counties. Perez is scheduled to take part in an 11 a.m. Nov. 20 press conference on the west steps of Los Angeles City Hall, where he will be flanked by a half dozen other Latino and Latina leaders. According to a joint news release from the office of state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-LA), who also chairs the California Latino Legislative Caucus, the state has never had a Latino in the U.S. Senate. "With Latinos now comprising nearly 40 percent of the state population and growing, Latino leaders say now is the time for Governor Newsom to act in appointing a Latino," the news release stated. "Dozens of Latino leaders will gather at press conferences in Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Jose, and they say there is no shortage of highly qualified candidates for Governor Newsom to choose from." Durazo is scheduled to be alongside Perez during the Nov. 20 briefing. California allows its governor to appoint a senator to fill a vacant seat until the next statewide general election. Harris was elected to the six-year U.S. Senate seat in 2016. Newsom told reporters this week, "We are working through the cattle call of considerations. I want to make sure it's inclusive. I want to make sure that we are considerate of people's points of view." According to the news release, the upcoming press conferences are being organized by the California Latino Legislative Caucus, Latino Caucus of California Counties, League of California Cities Latino Caucus, Chicano Latino Caucus of the California Democratic Party, California Latino School Boards Association, NALEO, Unidos US, California LULAC, Latino Community Foundation, Mi Familia Vota, Communities for New California, SIREN, CHIRLA, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), United Latinos Sacramento, Central Valley Latino Roundtable, Latino Equity Council (San Diego), Latino Leadership Alliance, Central Valley LEAP Institute and Central Coast Citizenship Project VOTA, along with Latino elected officials and individual community leaders.