This would do it and is easier to extend than the multiple ifs or an if/else cascade.

#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use Data::Dumper;

my @advocates = (
    { fld_title => 'Rec1', fld_type => 'National', },
    { fld_title => 'Rec2', fld_type => 'State', },
    { fld_title => 'Rec3', fld_type => 'Local',
    },

);
my $order = "\0local\0state\0national\0";

sub by_locale {
    index( $order, "\0" . lc( $a->{ fld_type } ) . "\0" )
    <=>
    index( $order, "\0" . lc( $b->{ fld_type } ) . "\0" )
}

my @sorted_advocates = sort by_locale @advocates;
warn Dumper("unsorted_advocates", \@advocates);
warn Dumper("sorted_advocates", \@sorted_advocates);
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