Kern County Supervisor has made the plight of homeless animals a top priority
WASHINGTON (July 17, 2013) – The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Leticia Perez in California’s special election for the 16th Senate District’s open seat on July 23.
Troubled by what she has called a “massive” pet overpopulation problem in Kern County’s fifth district, when Perez was elected to the Board of Supervisors, she dedicated her entire discretionary fund – $25,000 – to holding five spay/neuter events in high poverty areas of her district where animals and people need assistance with services. Perez is quoted by the media as saying, “I told my staff I wanted to spend every dime of it” on spay and neuter clinics.
Thanks to Perez’s generosity and leadership, hundreds of cats and dogs have been spayed, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped in her district – helping to persuade the remaining county supervisors to hold similar events to assist their residents. She has worked collaboratively with Kern County Animal Control and the Bakersfield SPCA to put on these events and to promote and protect the human-animal bond.
Outside special interest groups are falsely claiming that Perez supports animal cruelty because of a criminal case she handled while serving as a public defender. The Humane Society Legislative Fund is setting the record straight and wants voters to know about Leticia Perez's positive and forward-thinking record of helping animals.
Sara Amundson, HSLF executive director, said: “Leticia Perez is a leader and a problem solver who has stood up for helping pets and their families in her community. We are pleased to endorse her, and we urge voters to send a humane leader to the state legislature.
HSLF urges voters in the 16th Senate District to support Leticia Perez in the special election.
Media contact: Heather Sullivan: (240) 477-2251, hsullivan@hslf.org
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HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.
The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.
Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.
