BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez, currently charged with misdemeanor conflict of interest, was named Chairman of the Board of Supervisors during their special meeting on Monday.
Chairman Perez is currently facing two misdemeanor charges for conflict of interest. Prosecutors alleged Perez stood to gain financially from a vote on whether to allow the legalization of marijuana in Kern County in October of 2017.
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In August, a judge said the 5th District Supervisor was "discriminated against" for political reasons in the conflict of interest case.
In a 6-page ruling from Judge Thomas S. Clark , evidence was presented that appeared to show previous District Attorney Lisa Green targeted Supervisor Perez for her support of a political foe in the weeks following a special election in June 2016.
If convicted, Perez could face up to a year in county jail and be prohibited from holding elected office for four years.
A status conference in the case is scheduled for Jan. 17.
