A dinner was held on Jan. 28 to honor California Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez at the Bakersfield Country Club. Proceeds from the event were to benefit the Center for Kern Political Education, a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation of Bakersfield College. It provides students the opportunity to learn about and participate in the government and political arena.
The idea in developing the CKPE was to influence and create the next generation of political leaders.
Founders of the organization include retired BC professor Jack Brigham, attorney Milt Younger, and Bakersfield City Mayor Harvey Hall.
The program has benefitted community leaders such as State Senator Michael Rubio and Bakersfield City Councilmember Rudy Salas.
Social time for the event started at 5:30 p.m. One guest who attended the event, and is one of the several advisers of the CKPE, was BC president Greg Chamberlain.
“I think this is a great opportunity to bring community members together to get together and support a great cause as well as honor Dean Florez,” said Chamberlain.
Other attendees were Chancellor of the Kern Community College District Sandra Serrano, California State University of Bakersfield president Horace Mitchell and retired Senator Art Torres.
Though the mayor was unable to attend, Bakersfield City Vice-Mayor David Couch was in attendance for the awards ceremony where Florez was honored for his efforts in supporting the CKPE program.
Florez received his master’s degree in business from Harvard University in 1993 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Los Angeles.
He was elected to the State Assembly in 1998, serving two terms and elected to the State Senate in 2002.
Florez’s mother, Fran Florez, once served as the City of Shafter’s mayor and currently serves as a commissioner on the California High Speed Rail Authority.
When approached for comment about her son, Mrs. Florez said, “I am very, very proud of all the work he has done. And to think about 12 years of hard work for the people in the valley and for the farm workers and just for the working people, it just makes me really proud.”
High school students involved in “We the People,” an event supported by the CKPE also attended.
Senator Florez said, “We are very thankful for everybody supporting the foundation. This is where the young leaders come from. There is probably the next Senator or Assemblyman or Congressman in the room,” in reference to the students attending.
Tables were full as Florez was presented the award. Speakers throughout the evening included Art Torres, Milt Younger, Horace Mitchell and Rudy Salas.
Seating for the event started at $100 per person or through group sponsorship.