Who is Julio Perez?

Who is Julio Perez?  He is the virtually unknown Democrat and labor consultant running to replace Jose Solorio in the 69th Assembly District.

His endorsers are a Who’s Who of failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Al Amezcua’s backers and other lame Democrats.  However Perez could affect this race by handing the primary election to Tom Daly, a truly terrible Democrat who is as bad as most Republicans when it comes to immigrants and the working poor.  If Perez takes enough Latino votes from leading candidate Michele Martinez, who is a Santa Ana Council Member, the vote split could put Daly on top.

I don’t think Perez has ever had a real job, in the private sector.  Here is what I found on his Facebook page:

• Julio began his career, as a policy analyst for the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE).
• Prior to his current position as senior policy analyst for the United Food and Commercial Workers, Julio served as political director for the Orange County Labor Federation.

Yep, no real jobs.  Just a bunch of labor posts.

Julio says that he “understands that a well-qualified workforce can help drive business growth in our communities.”  Seriously?  When was the last time that unions drove business growth?  LOL!  They usually kill jobs and hurt businesses.  Remember that stupid grocery strike a few years back?  I reckon Julio was all over that.  How many union supermarkets were permanently closed as a direct result of that strike?

Vern Nelson, over at the Orange Juice blog, asked Perez a few softball questions recently.  When asked about pension reform, Julio said:

Orange County employees have led the effort to reform pensions and have saved taxpayers millions.  Bringing all sides to the table and hammering out reforms that protect both taxpayers and employees is the way to go.

What a joke!  OC Labor leaders are responsible for the early cop and firemen retirements that are bankrupting all California cities.  Nick Berardino, in particular, screwed us all.  Nice try Julio.

Vern asked Julio about crime and Julio hemmed and hawed but he did not take any strong positions.  Typical.  He said “I want to learn more about the best ways to prevent crime, reducing recidivism and ensure we do not waste taxpayer money on any project.”  This guy is running for the Assembly – shouldn’t he already have the answers ready to go?

Julio did this again when asked about healthcare.  The guy has NO ANSWERS at all.  Just like Amezcua last year in his lame campaign for Mayor of Santa Ana.  How did that work out for Amezcua?

Perez told the O.C. Register that “the major themes of his campaign will be creating jobs and investing in education.”  What does a union hack know about creating jobs?  What a joke!  And the problem with education isn’t a lack of investment but rather a lack of choice – and accountability.

Julio also says that he will find “creative ways to increase government revenue” such as raising taxes on the top 1 percent of earners.  That isn’t creative.  That is class warfare and it will discourage the wealthy from investing in companies and creating jobs.  Increasing taxes is a sure way to KILL jobs!

Perez recently told the Liberal OC that he is going to bring business and labor together.  How can that be?  Perez is clearly going to be yet another labor hack in Sacramento – exactly the sort of politicians who have bankrupted our state! If you don’t believe it, check out the website of the organization he first worked at, LAANE.  Truly scary stuff – their solution is to unionize every business sector.  Are you ready for higher prices across the board?  No bueno!  There is a reason NOT ONE business organization has endorsed this guy!

Perez told another blog that his job ideas include  including high speed rail and green technologies.  Are you kidding?  High speed rail is a complete boondoggle and green jobs – is he going to give our millions to failed companies like Solyndra?

California has the highest unemployment in the country.  Our state economy is a mess.  The current Assemblyman in the 69th District, Jose Solorio, recently got punked by Governor Jerry Brown when he tried to pass a bill that would have forced building service contractors to hire the employees of other contractors who lost their bids to perform their services.  If you think that bill was a great idea, then Julio is your man to replace Solorio.

If you actually want an Assembly Member who has real, practical business experience and who is progressive without being a far-left goon, then your only choice is Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez.  And if you want a Democrat who may as well be a Republican, then Daly is your man.