Study: More Latinos get elected to office

AP on Yahoo ^ | 6/21/06 | Anabelle Garay - ap

[NormsRevenge]

DALLAS - Latinos have increased their presence at all levels of government over the last decade, with more than two of every five serving in Texas, a Hispanic political group reported.

At the start of this year, 5,132 Hispanics were in elected office around the country — a 37 percent increase from 1996, when 3,743 Latinos held elected posts.

The results were part of a study announced Wednesday in Dallas to kick off the annual convention of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

"It's in everyone's interest, it's in every party's interest, to cultivate the number of Hispanic elected officials," said Adam J. Segal, director of the Hispanic Voter Project at Johns Hopkins University.

Latino elected officials now hold office in 43 states, but a whopping 42 percent of them call Texas home. Most other Latino officials represent areas with large Hispanic populations, such as California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Illinois, the study said.

Twenty-five Latinos serve in Congress and seven are statewide officials, including New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. A decade ago there were no Hispanic U.S. senators, but now there are three: Republican Mel Martinez of Florida and Democrats Ken Salazar of Colorado and Bob Menendez of New Jersey.

"I think Americans are getting used to voting for Hispanics. It was a novelty before," said Simon Rosenberg, president of the New Democrat Network.

Georgia and New Hampshire had no Hispanics in elected office in 1996, but now have seven and three, respectively, the NALEO Educational Fund study found. Antonio Villaraigosa, meanwhile, became Los Angeles' first Latino mayor since 1872.

Hispanics commonly hold education-related elected positions, such as seats on school boards, the study found.

[misterrob]

Hispanic (R) beats White (D) any day of the week...

[NormsRevenge]

New Democrat Network
http://www.ndn.org/

National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
NALEO
http://www.naleo.org/

[LauraleeBraswell]

It's not that hard to be a Latino. Seriously, how many ethnicity's qualify you as a Latino.

[NormsRevenge]

NALEO at a glance

NALEO is a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan membership organization whose constituency includes the nation’s more than 6,000 elected and appointed Latino officials.

In 1976, the late former California Congressman Edward R. Roybal founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, creating a national forum for Latino issues and opened doors for a new generation of Latino leaders.

A devoted public servant for 43 years, the Honorable Edward R. Roybal was at the forefront of efforts to advance civil rights, protect civil liberties, establish mental health programs, fund AIDS research, and improve support services for veterans and the elderly. 

Congressman Roybal served as President of NALEO from 1976 until 1991, when the NALEO Board of Directors named him President Emeritus. He also served as Chairman of the NALEO Educational Fund from 1981 until 1994, and remained on the Board until 1999, when the Board named him Founder Emeritus. In 1999, the NALEO Board of Directors established The NALEO Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service, an award that provides an opportunity for Latino elected and appointed officials to recognize the exemplary leadership provided by their colleagues in communities throughout the United States. Congressman Roybal guided the organization from being an idea to becoming the nation’s premier civic participation organization. Executive Directors who worked with Congressman Roybal included Mr. Edward Avila, Dr. Harry Pachón, Karen Escalante (acting), and current Executive Director of NALEO and the NALEO Educational Fund, Arturo Vargas.

FACTS ON LATINO ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES

	1996	2000	2005
Members of Congress	17	19	25
Governor	0	0	1
State Officials	6	8	8
State Legislators	156	190	232
County Officials	358	398	498
Municipal Officials	1,295	1,469	1,651
Judicial and Law Enforcement	546	465	678
School Board Members	1,240	1,392	1,760
Special District Officials	125	119	188
Total	3,743	4,060	5,041

• In 1996, there were no Latinos serving in the U.S. Senate. In 2006, there are three Latinos serving in Congress’ upper chamber.
• In 1996, there were 17 Latinos serving in voting positions in the U.S. House of Representatives.  In 2005, there are 23 Latinos serving in such positions.  Other Latinos in Congress include the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico and the Delegate from Guam.
• In 1996, there were no Latino governors.  As of 2006, there is one Latino, Bill Richardson, serving as Governor of New Mexico.
• In 1996, there were six Latinos serving as state officials.  As of 2005, there are nine serving as state officials.
• In 1996, 156 Latinos served as state legislators.  In 2005, there are 232 Latinos serving as state legislators.  In 2005, three states, California, New Jersey and New Mexico, have Latinos serving as Speakers of the State Assembly or House of Representatives.

[NormsRevenge]

In 1976, the late former California Congressman Edward R. Roybal founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, creating a national forum for Latino issues and opened doors for a new generation of Latino leaders.

---

Hispanic Americans in Congress 1822-1995

In 1978, when disciplinary action was recommended for Roybal and two other California Representatives in connection with a House investigation on vote-buying by Korean lobbyist Tongson Park, he received support from fellow Representatives and leaders of the Hispanic community. The House Ethics Committee recommended a reprimand for the other two Members, and censure -- a more serious punishment -- for Roybal. Representatives Ronald V. Dellums (D-CA) and Phillip Burton (D-CA) spoke on Roybal's behalf. After Hispanic leaders requested the penalty be reduced to a reprimand, the House agreed. Roybal saw this not as a personal triumph, but as a victory for the nation's Hispanics, showing their strength when they united behind a cause.

[cll]

The "Latino" label can be just as generic as the "Roman" brand. It's just another manufactured "us vs. them" brand and has no real consequence.

I could claim that my family is of "Roman" heritage (and it is), just as I can claim that we are (take your pick):

Canary Islander

Arawak Native American

West African

Spaniard

Puerto Rican

etc.,

But in the end, I am an American.

[NormsRevenge]

I would be curious to see the results were the 5600 plus elected Latinos polled and asked if they support Amnesty for illegal immigrants.

[NormsRevenge]

5600 5,041

[hispanarepublicana]

I don't often spam threads, but I'm going to repost something politically important. Sure, I call myself hispanarepublicana, but that's a shout out to my heritage and ancestry, aka "the past" and not the culture I live today (kind of like FReeper "Irish Mike"). That said, politically-speaking when it comes to "Latinos", (here's the re-post part):

The issue is that studies that look at ethnic voting patterns, especially among hispanics, are flawed to begin with. To "pool" hispanics in a voting bloc for the purpose of analysis or strategy is like pooling apples, oranges and grapes in a voting bloc. And even if you get all the fruit classified as grapes isolated in a voting bloc, you'll have to seperate out the "raisins", so to speak. When I say grapes vs. raisins, I mean that there can be (and generally is) a world of difference in the voting patterns, philosophies, tastes, etc., between a hispanic of Mexican ancestry who's been here for 6 generations versus one who's been here for 2. And then among the 6th-generation ones, there's likely to be some vegetarians, some hunters, some treehuggers, some chemical salesmen, etc. It would be like trying to analyze the voting patterns and preferences and therefore form a strategy for guys with size 9 shoes. Too much diversity in that population to make it worthwhile.

[cll]

I defer to hispanarepublicana in post # 10. But...

As a further example, you cannot bundle all so-called Puerto Ricans in one bunch (e.g. Neuyoricans vs. actual Puerto Ricans), just as you cannot bunch "Latinos" of Mexican and Tex-Mex, or straight Americans of Hispanic heritage, or Americans that have been on this land for far longer than Anglos, etc.

Bottom line: the rule of law applies. Or at least it should.

[Altura Ct.]

National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

I don't understand why we have such organizations in the first place. How is this organization not "racist"?

[hispanarepublicana]

you cannot bundle all so-called Puerto Ricans in one bunch (e.g. Neuyoricans vs. actual Puerto Ricans),

LOL...for some reason, your post reminded me of the raised eyebrows and disapproving looks from the uber-Texan great-aunts when my uncle married a nice 5th generation American girl of Mexican ancestry from......horror of horrors....New Mexico! The Tias didn't know if she'd ever fit in, let alone learn to cook "the right way".

[skeeter]

Latinos have increased their presence at all levels of government over the last decade, with more than two of every five serving in Texas, a Hispanic political group reported.

As long as they're American first, latino second (or third, or fourth) who cares.

Will we never be rid of the race/gender bean counters.

[hispanarepublicana]

As long as they're American first, latino second (or third, or fourth) who cares.

In my family, it's always like this: American first, Texan second, Methodist third, West Texan fourth, Red Raider/Aggie/Longhorn/ fifth (Aggie and Longhorn for the black sheep), Hispanic sixth.

[skeeter]

We used to consider ourselves Californian second but lately have been inclined to keep that to ourselves:)

[Texas_Jarhead]

""It's in everyone's interest, it's in every party's interest, to cultivate the number of Hispanic elected officials," said Adam J. Segal, director of the Hispanic Voter Project at Johns Hopkins University."

Too bad Mr. Segal didn't tell us why that is. What a bunch of bunk.

[misterrob]

I would suggest American Conservative first.......

;-)

[Kimberly GG]

"I don't understand why we have such organizations in the first place. How is this organization not "racist"?"


My fav:

"Speaking at the Latino Coalition’s 2005 Latino Small Business Economic Conference today, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Ken Mehlman announced the formation of the RNC’s Hispanic Advisory Committee. This group of respected community leaders will meet monthly with RNC officials to assist in the strategic implementation of the RNC’s Hispanic outreach efforts."

The RNC Hispanic Advisory Committee’s members include:

* Hon. Ruben Barrales, Currently serving as White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
* Hon. Hector Barreto (DC), Currently serving as Administrator, Small Business Administration
* Hon. Henry Bonilla (TX), U.S. Representative
* George P. Bush (TX), Associate, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Field
* Hon. Josefina Carbonell (DC), Currently serving as Assistant Secretary on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services
* Al Cardenas (DC), Principal, Tew Cardenas and Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman
* Alex Castellanos (VA), National Media, Inc.
* Hon. Victor Carillo (TX), Currently serving as Texas Railroad Commissioner
* David Casas (GA), State Representative, Georgia State House of Representatives
* Dr. Pedro Celis (WA), Senior SQL Architect, Microsoft, Board Member, President’s Information & Technology Advisory Committee and Director, Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
* Linda Chavez (MD), Chairman, The Latino Alliance and Columnist/Radio Personality
* Sharon Castillo (DC), Chlopak, Leonard, Schecter and Associates
* Hon. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL), U.S. Representative
* Hon. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), U.S. Representative
* Hon. Cari Dominguez (DC), Currently serving as Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
* Rudy Fernandez (DC), Former RNC Grassroots Director and Bush-Cheney ‘04 Southwest Regional Political Director
* Zoraida F. Fonalledas (PR), RNC National Committeewoman for Puerto Rico
* Hon. Luis Fortuno (PR), Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
* Joe Fuentes (DC/PR), Partner, Reed Smith and Former Attorney General of Puerto Rico
* Marco Gonzales (NM), Partner, Modrall Sperling and Bush-Cheney '04 Viva Bush NM Chair
* Hon. Carlos Gutierrez (DC), Currently serving as Secretary of Commerce
* Hon. Rosario Marin (CA), Currently serving as Chair, California Waste Management Board and Former U.S. Treasurer
* Bob Martinez (CO), Colorado GOP State Chair
* Hon. Mel Martinez (FL), U.S. Senator
* Xavier Neira (TX), Vice President, Rooney Holdings
* Lilly Nunez (CO), RNC National Committeewoman for Colorado
* Honorio J. Padrón III (DC), Chairman, Hispanic Business Roundtable
* Hon. Richard Pombo (CA), U.S. Representative
* Mario Rodriguez (CA), CEO, Jonathan Grey and Associates and Bush-Cheney ‘04 Regional Campaign Chair
* Raul Romero (DC), CEO, Alliance Consulting Group
* Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL), U.S. Representative
* Hon. Marco Rubio (FL), Speaker, Florida State House of Representatives
* Dr. Ramon Tallaj (NY), St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital
* Hon. Gaddi Vasquez, Currently serving as Director of the Peace Corps
* Massey Villareal (TX), Chairman, Republican National Hispanic Assembly


Or, this one:
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus:
109th Congress
OFFICERS
CHAIR
Grace Flores Napolitano (CA-38)
1st VICE CHAIR
Joe Baca (CA-43)
2nd VICE CHAIR
Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7)
WHIP
Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)
 MEMBERSHIP
Xavier Becerra (CA-31)
Dennis Cardoza (CA-18)
Jim Costa (CA-20)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20)
Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-4)
Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15)
Robert Menendez (NJ-13)
Solomon Ortiz (TX-27)
Ed Pastor (AZ-4)
Silvestre Reyes (TX-16)
John Salazar (CO-3)
Linda T. Sánchez (CA-39)
Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
José Serrano (NY-16)
Hilda Solis (CA-32)
Nydia Velázquez (NY-12)

And not to be forgotten is the importance and influnce of this organization:

The United States Hispanic CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

[Altura Ct.]

Absolutely Kimberly! This double standard stuff has got to go.