FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         December 1, 2017

Contact: Gregg Fishman, Communications Coordinator
916-327-7500, ext. 516
916-342-9508 mobile

SACRAMENTO –The California State Association of Counties® (CSAC), the statewide organization representing all 58 California Counties, elected Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez to serve as its President for the next year. She was officially installed Thursday night at the CSAC Annual Meeting in Sacramento County.

“CSAC and California’s 58 counties play a vital role in partnering with the state on public safety, roads and bridges, health care and the environment, just to name a few issues,” said Supervisor Perez. “California’s 39 million residents rely on counties for many essential services. Serving as CSAC’s President for the year is an exciting opportunity to extend my commitment to Kern County and the Central Valley to all 58 California Counties. We have to be on top of our game in Sacramento to make sure we have the resources and flexibility to do this important work effectively and efficiently. CSAC is already a highly effective organization and I look forward to working even more closely with the team to advance county positions on key issues.”

“Supervisor Perez brings a wealth of experience to the job as our President,” said CSAC Executive Director Matt Cate. “She has a background in the administration of justice and five years on the Kern County Board. She has been a thoughtful and deliberate member of our officer team and we are grateful to have her expertise as our President. We have a lot of big issues to tackle this year, including cannabis regulation, protecting revenue for transportation infrastructure and ensuring counties maintain local flexibility to deliver the essential services that communities rely on. Supervisor Perez will play an invaluable leadership role as we work through these issues in 2018.”

Supervisor Perez has also served as President of the Latino Caucus of California Counties, co-chair of CSAC’s Poverty Working Group and on the National Association of Counties Opioid Epidemic Task Force.

Humboldt County Supervisor Virginia Bass was elected to serve as First Vice President and Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett was elected as Second Vice President. Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson becomes CSAC’s Immediate Past President.

The California State Association of Counties is the voice of California’s 58 counties at the state and federal level.

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