About Me
Hello! My name is Jesse Perez, and I am running for the Merced County Board of Education! As a former student, I've experienced our schools firsthand and look forward to using my experiences to shape the future of education in Merced County.
I'm a product of our county's schools! I attended Miano Elementary, Los Banos Junior High, and Pacheco High School. At Pacheco, I was our FFA chapter's Treasurer, the Secretary of the Speech and Debate Club, and played varsity football.
I'm currently a student at Merced College, studying agriculture. My main focuses within agriculture are agroecology (combining agricultural/environmental/social sciences), agrochemistry, agricultural education, and agricultural policy. I was involved in agriculture since high school! During my time at Merced College, I have been Treasurer & Secretary of our LatinX Club and the Vice Chair of the Merced College Democrats!
I’m not a politician; I’m a community member who cares about practical solutions that make a real difference in our schools. From ensuring classrooms are safe and well-equipped to supporting teachers and staff, my goal is to put students first and give them the tools they need to succeed.
At the end of the day, the students truly feel the impact of our decisions, don't they deserve better?
— Jesse Perez
Priorities
Protecting students from ICE: Training educators on how to interact with ICE, promoting Know Your Rights workshops, and ensuring schools are ICE-free zones. When ICE shows up, students stay home, it's important to understand the public safety risk ICE poses in our communities.
Support for Agricultural & Career Technical Education: When it comes to agriculture, it not only plays a massive role economically here in the Valley, but also culturally. Being a former FFA chapter officer, I am aware of what these students face and what else needs to be done to support them. As trustee, I want to help local FFA chapters with membership drives, showing students that the FFA is for everyone. In addition to agricultural education, we must invest in Career Technical Education. From healthcare to IT to culinary arts to welding, we must understand that students have passions elsewhere and support them beyond high school.
Partnerships with Merced College & UC Merced: As someone who has attended both Merced College and UC Merced, I see the potential it has on Merced County students. Our county has higher education in mind, with two Merced College campuses (Merced & Los Banos) and UC Merced, it's important to show students that education can remain local and affordable. As trustee, I will keep my ears and eyes open on any new opportunities that come from these two insitutions.
Promoting Environmental Education & Further STEM Investments: The Central Valley is bearing the brunt, here in California, when it comes to climate change. We must educate our students on ways help mitigate climate change through piquing their interest when it comes to the environment! Regarding STEM education, it goes beyond just "Science" or "Technology" or "Engineering" or "Math", but rather various fields that pull from all four. For example, agricultural/environmental science often pulls from all four categories. Getting students excited about fields such as Biotechnology, Meteorology, Data Science, and Aerospace Engineering, will motivate students to keep going on their education track!
Strengthening Public Education, Teachers Unions, and Collective Bargaining: I believe public education dollars should strengthen our traditional public schools. As trustee, I will ensure further accountability and transparency when it comes to charter schools. Unions are a part of the American tradition, ensuring that workers are paid and treated fairly in a time where companies took advantage. As trustee, I will ensure that the unions have a seat at the table, working with them to ensure that their voice gets heard.
Promoting American Grown Produce & Expanding Farm to School: Many students live in food deserts with limited access to fresh produce. As trustee, I will actively take a role in talking with local farmers and districts to promote local produce in our schools. It's important to fuel our students with healthy local options that keep farmers farming!
Opposition to AI in classrooms: My concerns come from student privacy, environmental impacts from data centers, and over-dependence on tech companies. Students shouldn’t become a blank check for big tech. I oppose partnerships with Big Tech, as we are using our classrooms as their playgrounds! Even as trustee, I will actively compaign against data centers in the Central Valley!
Bringing Grants to County Schools: As trustee, I will actively work with the California and U.S. Department of Education to help county school districts identify and secure grant funding.
Support Proposition 3 & Proposition 40 (2026): Proposition 3 would help provide stable funding for California’s schools and community colleges, while Proposition 40 would support essential public services. As your trustee, I will ensure that our parents, students, educators, and schools have the resources they deserve!!
Opposition to AB 715: AB 715 only seeks to censor free discussions in classrooms, while censoring students and educators. I will fight to ensure that free speech is allowed in Merced County schools!
Endorsements
| Democratic Municipal Officials |
| Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte |
| Alberto Velarde — Principal and Former Candidate for Merced County Superintendent |
| Isaac Gudino — California Democratic Party Regional Director, Region 5 |
| Nichelle Henderson — Teacher and Los Angeles Community College Board Trustee |
| David Tejeda Gallegos — Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Personnel Commissioner |
| Eric Robinson — President of the Mesa College Democrats |
| Gary Blenner — Teacher and former Center Joint Unified School District Trustee |
Know Your Rights
Do not open the door if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.
Do not answer any questions from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent!
Do not sign anything without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer!
Contact Me
Want to send an endorsement, want a bumper sticker, or just wanna talk? Email me: jessedominickperez@gmail.com
Resources
- Register to Vote! — https://registertovote.ca.gov
- Merced County Office of Education — https://www.mcoe.org
