BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Ahead of the Nov. 5 general election, 17 News will profile candidates for federal, state and local offices. This week, we will feature the race for Kern District 5 Supervisor race. In this race, two candidates are battling to represent the county district of about 179,700 residents. 17 News political reporter Jenny Huh spoke one-on-one with one of the candidates, incumbent Leticia Perez. Meet the 2024 candidates for District 2 supervisor: Pete Graff Perez has held the seat since 2013 and is running for her fourth term. Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh and former state Senator Michael Rubio held the seat before Perez took over.The Kern County Board of Supervisors is a nonpartisan office. Below is a recap of 17 News’ conversation with the candidate. "Great schools, safe parks and good jobs," said Perez, noting that those will be her continued priorities for the district. Perez also repeated that District 5 is one of the poorest congressional districts and has one of the highest youth disconnection rates in the nation. "The culture is shifting at the county to recognize that parks are the center place of the community," Perez said. And so, Perez asked to meet at Belle Terrace Park in southeast Bakersfield for this interview. Across the street from the state-of-the-art Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, the park, has undergone millions of dollars in renovations since 2019. "We started pouring in multiple rounds of funding, of CDBG funding, which is unprecedented, we don't normally do that in the county," Perez said. "We normally spread it out as far as we can because the need is so great." Meet the 2024 candidates for District 2 supervisor: Dale Cisneros Perez, referring to the Community Development Block Grant. She said the goal with this specific park is to make the area the definition of a community space -- with a school, park and job center -- and mimic this development district and countywide. Thus, came the district's goal to establish a community calendar event, the incumbent said. The inspiration, Perez detailed, came from Chicago's Grant Park and New York's Central Park, in which communities gather for social, family-friendly events. "Every park in Kern County needs work," Perez stated. 17's Jenny Huh: "So how do you choose where you focus those cleanup efforts? Those remodeling efforts?" Leticia Perez: "Great question. We do it at actually all of them." On up-and-coming developments for the area, Perez explained, "When you show [the community] their taxpayer dollars are going to something meaningful that's going to impact their lives, they start paying attention. And more importantly, the private sector starts paying attention." Perez repeated what she called the importance of linking up the private sector and local community. "Government is not the answer to our problems," Perez said with a chuckle. "I'm sorry, it isn't." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 17 News Alerts SIGN UP NOW 17's Jenny Huh: "You're asking for four more years in that position, so what work do you feel remains undone?" Leticia Perez: "We need more members of the community to engage. The county can provide all kinds of resources, but as you know, we don't have the personnel to be here manning a park or any park 24/7." On the continued issue of lack of park rangers in District 5, Perez discussed the greater difficulty of county employees. She said her Board has had to change the pay structure of employees and reestablish the basic relationships with the much-needed park rangers. District 5 is the third largest in Kern in terms of population and houses the second largest Latino population. The majority of its residents are Latino -- about 79%. It includes only the city of Bakersfield, specifically its downtown, eastern and southeastern portions.District 5 is the only supervisorial race to not be decided outright in the primary election. Perez will face Kim Salas in November. "People vie for power all the time," Perez responded, adding that she's not bothered by a new face. She also stated, "It's really the voters that know what's being done. They're not easy to fool... "I trust them and accept the outcome." One of her proudest endorsements comes from Donny Youngblood. Perez is a third-generation Bakersfield resident and was a Kern County public defender. Perez has also served as Chair of the Kern County Planning Commission and was the first female president of Kern County Bar's Criminal Defense Section. In 2022, she unsuccessfully ran for State Assembly. And in 2018, Perez was charged with two misdemeanors for a conflict of interest between her role as supervisor and the California marijuana industry, after casting the lone vote against a motion banning commercial cannabis. Perez took a plea deal, paying $30,000 in fines, performing community service and taking an ethics course. On the future of local politics, Perez commented, "Kern County is an old-school culture, and we kind of have the same people been in power, been in charge for a long time." Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage 17's Jenny Huh: "What do you respond to critics that say the same of you since you have been in the same position since 2013?" Leticia Perez: "That's a great question. I say they need to vote their interests, whether it's me or someone else." Reflecting on her time on the Board of Supervisors so far, Perez stated, "I have really been alone up there," highlighting her difficulties as the lone female. "I don't have a partner, I don't have an ally or someone I can really work through issues and know that in good faith, we're going to do what's best for Kern." More specifically, she cited the Board's recent vote to approve TransWest over Allied Universal as the county's security service. The latter was originally favored more by county staff, and Perez had been the only supervisor in opposition to TransWest. Though, Perez missed the fateful final Board vote. She said had another conflict she couldn't avoid but added she wasn't surprised by the outcome. "[The other supervisors think] we're going to do what we want to do. That is the frustration," Perez said. Click here for the full interview with Perez.