BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bakersfield City Council has appointed Connie Perez-Andreesen as the ninth member of the sales tax oversight committee, making her the second woman to be appointed to the high profile position.
Perez-Andreesen works as the Chief Administrative Officer for United Farm Workers of America.
During the initial selection process in February, the city selected eight men and one woman, five of whom were white and four who were minorities. After one of the members resigned, the council decided to request additional applications to fill the open spot.
A total of 10 people submitted applications for this round of voting.
Perez-Andreesen, who was passed over in the first round of voting said she hoped to empower Latina women to apply to be on boards and commissions and run for political office.
The nine-member committee has been tasked with overseeing the spending related to the city's 1-percent sales tax increase. The committee's job is to make sure the city's spending matches with at least one of 13 priorities for which the city promised voters the money would be used.
