Oakland County, Michigan, Thursday, November 1, 2007 -- Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk/Register and Chief Circuit Judge Wendy Potts were honored Thursday by a member of Peru's Congress.

Juan David Perry presented friendship awards to the two leaders, thanking them for hosting members of a delegation from Peru in August. Perry and Dr. Gloria Charca, president of Andina University in Cuzco, were among members of the delegation who visited the United States to develop business and educational opportunities between the two countries.

Dr. Jose Aliaga of Clarkston presented the awards on Perry's behalf during the Oakland County Board of Commissioners meeting. Aliaga has been working to expand trade relations between the United States and Peru.

"We need leaders who are willing to reach out to others and contribute to understanding and goodwill," Aliaga said.

"We were happy to host Congressman Perry and other members of the delegation," Johnson said after receiving the award. The group, she said, spent hours in the Clerk/Register of Deeds Office and in the Circuit Court, learning about the latest technology used in elections, document processing and the e-filing of court documents.

The awards came on the heels of a vote Tuesday by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee that cleared the way for a free trade agreement with Peru. The agreement is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives next week. The Peruvian Congress ratified the agreement a year ago.