Henry T. Perea represents the 31st District in the California State Assembly, which includes the central San Joaquin Valley communities of Cutler-Orosi, Dinuba, Firebaugh, Fowler, Kerman, Mendota, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma and the city of Fresno. He is serving his first term, having been elected in the November 2, 2010 election.

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.

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; passed a clean-burning fireplace ordinance for new residential developments; led the council to build the city’s first downtown housing project in over 30 years; created a public-private partnership for the city’s first senior center; and established Creative Fresno, a group of young professionals dedicated towards evolving Fresno into a creative economy.

Perea is a co-founder of the Latino Water Coalition and believes we need to find a fair and equitable solution to the water problems facing California that will benefit the Central Valley.

In 2005, he was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) to join eight other people on a 17-day political exchange to Egypt and Jordan where he met with royalty and numerous dignitaries in both countries. Assemblymember Perea has served on the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which allowed him to bring valley law enforcement concerns to the state level and he was named one of “The New Guard” by Fresno Magazine in its May 2005 issue. Perea also completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2006.

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 with Council President Brad Castillo, contributing to the process of securing the city’s federally designated empowerment zone.