Campaign 2014: Kevin Perѐz-Allen Announces Candidacy for 32nd California State Senate Race

California State Senate Candidate Kevin Perez-Allen.

By Brian Hews

The race for an open California State Senate seat in South East Los Angeles County and West Orange County took on a new look this week with the announcement that Democratic activist and Non-Profit Executive Kevin Perѐz-Allen has decided to run in the newly created 32nd District.

Los Cerritos Community Newspaper learned about Perez-Allen’s decision to enter the race in a phone interview on Monday afternoon.

The 32nd State Senate District encompasses portions of Artesia, Bellflower, Buena Park, Cerritos, Commerce, Downey, Hacienda Heights, Hawaiian Gardens, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Lakewood, Los Nietos, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Rose Hills, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, and Whittier.

Political observers believe that the “open seat” campaign will be one of the most closely watched, and most expensive in the upcoming 2014 election cycle.

“I am excited to announce my candidacy for State Senate and look forward to this race. As someone who was born in Montebello, raised in Pico Rivera and currently resides in Whittier, I am acutely aware of the challenges we face as a community and the lack of action we have seen from our past and present elected officials. Others may see this seat as another step up the ladder in their career, but I see it as an opportunity to make substantial and tangible differences in the lives of the people in our communities,” said Perѐz-Allen.

In a statement to LCCN, Perѐz-Allen touted his roots as a strong asset for the upcoming campaign.

“I grew up in a large, single-parent, low-income family, went on to attend Whittier College and worked in the State Legislature as well as the non-profit world,” he said.

“In this experience, I have written and funded programs to improve dental hygiene for low-income children and provide permanent housing and supportive services for homeless families,” Perez-Allen said.

As a community activist, Perѐz-Allen serves on the Board of Directors for the Whittier Historical Society and Museum, the Whittier Cultural Arts Foundation and represents the 57^th Assembly District as a delegate to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. He also participates in “Read Across America” Day annually, most recently reading to 1^st and 2^nd grade classes at Durfee Elementary in Pico Rivera in 2013. In addition, he is a parishioner at St. Hilary Catholic Church of Perpetual Adoration in Pico Rivera.

The district primary will be held on June 3^rd, 2014 while the general election will be November 4^th, 2014.

Also expressing their public intention to seek the open seat are former California State Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, and former State Assemblyman Tom Calderon.

Perѐz-Allen has also launched a website to kick off his campaign at www.kevinforsenate.org or his campaign Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PerezAllenforSenate.