SANTA ANA — Calling him the leader we need to stand up to the special interests in Sacramento, former State Senator Joe Dunn, who represented several of the communities of the newly-drawn 69th Assembly District for eight years, today announced his early endorsement of Julio Perez for State Assembly.
“Julio has demonstrated a commitment to jobs, education and a well-prepared workforce” said retired State Senator Dunn, whose State Senate district overlapped a large portion of the newly-drawn 69th Assembly District.
Senator Dunn was elected to the California State Senate in 1998 and served until 2006. He is best known as “The Man Who Cracked Enron” for his leadership as chair of the Senate Investigation Committee into the 2001 California energy crisis, which was instrumental in uncovering Enron’s market manipulation.
“And he’s smart enough to listen to all sides before making decisions. This is the kind of thoughtful, principled leadership we need in the State Capitol,” added Senator Dunn.
Julio’s candidacy has already scored early endorsements from Anaheim City Councilwoman Lorri Galloway, Anaheim City School District Trustee Dr. Jose Moreno, Santa Ana Unified School District Board Trustee John Palacio, North Orange County Community College District Trustee Mike Matsuda, Los Amigos president emeritus Amin David, and LULAC State Director Benny Diaz.
Julio began his career as a policy analyst for the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) where he successfully worked in collaboration with local civic leaders to strengthen procurement policies to select responsible contractors and implement workforce training standards. Julio currently works as a policy analyst for the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 324 and serves on the Orange County Workforce Investment Board, fighting for job training programs that meet the needs of local businesses and job seekers.
Julio graduated with honors from the University of California at Irvine, earning degrees in International Studies and Sociology. He later served as president of the UCI Student Alumni Association. Julio earned a fellowship to complete a masters degree in public policy at the University of Michigan – one of the nation’s top public policy programs.
Congrats Julio!!
The only real leader to ever been elected in OC is now on your side.
Dunn really earned my support, and did a terrific service for his constituents. With a vrtually nonexistent democratic edge in registration in the 34th SD at the time, Dunn was reelected with a 22 pont margin – Solorio can’t do that in the 69th AD with a massive democratic registration edge. Part of this is his obvious aim at self preservation as opposed to public service, shilling for big business interests, the chamber, and other corporate fat cats. Martinez and Daly are just going to cannibalize each other for Big Business money and endorsements. Solorio will be caught in the middle, and he will betray one or both – it is only a matter of time. Just the same way he betrayed hs OC constituents voting for the $48 million dollar cut to OC that may result on the BK of some cities such as Santa Ana.