Perez Anxious To Get Back To Work After Being Returned To Office

PASADENA, TX -- Newly elected Democratic lawmaker Mary Ann Perez has vowed to make education a priority when she is sworn in in January 2017, when the next state legislative session convenes.

Perez won in a landslide victory on Nov. 8, defeating Republican incumbent Gilbert Pena 16,258 to 10,736 for the District 144 seat.

"Many people told me they were unhappy with the school systems as a whole due to overcrowding and the condition of the schools," Perez told the Pasadena Citizen. "Voters were also very concerned about health care because we don't have enough doctors in this area."

Perez, who was elected to her first term in 2012, but lost to Pena in 2014, spent considerable time in the community meeting with people and talking with them about the concerns they have for themselves and their families.

Many of those concerns centered around the need to improve public education, state education funding reform and conditions at schools.

The families who live in her district have children who attend schools in Pasadena, Deer Park and Goose Creek school districts as well as portions of Houston ISD.

Perez said the strides to reform public education in 2013 were good, but the state still fell about $1.4 billion short.

Perez said she intends to focus in the next legislative session on restoring funding to school districts, improving Texas Child Protective Services and working to expand Medicaid services for residents.

"I am honored to serve in this capacity once again. The constituents of District 144 have spoken and I'm ready to get to work," she said.

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