Henry T. Perea represents the 31st District in the California State Assembly, which includes the Central Valley communities of Caruthers, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Huron, Kingsburg, Kerman, Laton, Lanare, Mendota, Orange Cove, Parlier, Riverdale, Reedley, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma and the city of Fresno. He was elected to California State Assembly in November 2010 and is currently serving his second term in the legislature.
Assemblymember Perea is a tireless advocate for working families and has authored several bills to improve the lives of people living in underserved areas of our state, including many pieces of legislation aimed at bringing clean drinking water to rural communities in California.
As a co-founder of the Latino Water Coalition, Assemblymember Perea is working to find an equitable solution to the water problems facing California that will benefit the Central Valley.
Assemblymember Perea is the Chairman of the Assembly Insurance Committee, whose primary jurisdictions include insurance (excluding health insurance), workers compensation, and unemployment compensation.
Some of Perea’s major accomplishments at the local level include: creating a $45 million dollar program for infrastructure repair and economic development for the inner-city; leading the city’s first solar energy project and “Green” homes initiative; passing a clean-burning fireplace ordinance for new residential developments; leading the council to build the city’s first downtown housings project in more than 30 years; creating a public-private partnership for the city’s first senior center; and establishing Creative Fresno, a group of young professionals dedicated towards evolving Fresno into a creative economy.
Perea was elected to the Fresno City Council in November 2002 at the Age of 25, becoming the youngest person ever elected to this position. He was re-elected to serve a second term in 2006, and served as the council president in 2007.
Assemblymember Perea began his career in public service with an internship in the Washington, DC office of Congressman Cal Dooley. He was then hired by Congressman Dooley as district representative and worked on defense spending, economic development, Latino outreach and helping both municipalities and non-profits secure federal funding. Perea continued his career in public service working with the Fresno Council President, contributing to the process of securing the city’s federally designated empowerment zone.
