John Perez chosen Ca. Assembly Speaker (1st openly gay)

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Perez chosen Assembly speaker
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Buzz up!By Jim Sanders
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Published: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 - 8:24 am
Last Modified: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 - 2:29 pm

Assembly Democrats this afternoon chose Assemblyman John A. Perez as their new speaker, making the first-term Democrat the first openly gay man to hold the post.

Members emerged from a closed-door caucus at the historic Stanford Mansion to announce that Democrats had chosen Perez, of Los Angeles, on an unanimous vote

Democratic colleagues praised Perez, who has served this year as caucus chairman, helping steer the 51-member group through often bitter disagreement as California's reeling economy forced billions of dollars in cuts to education and other public services.

"He's fair, he's inclusive, he's articulate, he's focused, he's a team player, and he's friends with everybody," said Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Los Angeles.

Lowenthal said Perez's status as a first-year legislator was an asset because he can serve five years as Assembly leader before being termed out.

"I trust him," Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said of Perez. "If he says that he's going to do something, I believe that he will."

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2385536.html