Pitt County elects North Carolina's first Hispanic GOP county chairman

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Pitt County Republicans have elected the state party's first Hispanic county chairman, a man who fled from Nicaragua 23 years ago.

Javier Castillo, 52, was elected to a two-year chairmanship during the party's annual convention. Castillo served as the party treasurer for eight years and on its executive committee.

"For the next two years, we want to work as a team to get the Republican Party to grow. We see it as the party of opportunity for individuals who want to grow," he said.

Castillo came to the United States with his pregnant wife in 1979 after the government of Anastasio Somoza was overthrown by the Sandinista National Liberation Party. Castillo, who then worked for the Central Bank of Nicaragua, had close relatives who worked for both the Somoza and Sandinista governments.

Castillo became a U.S. citizen in 1986, joining the Republican Party that year. He became active in party politics during the 1988 presidential campaign.

"I am very honored the Republican Party in Pitt County has given me this opportunity," he said. "I became a Republican in 1988, and I was a dissenting voice at that time because that was when (television evangelist) Pat Robertson was running for president. I was for (George) Bush."

There are no definitive numbers on how many Hispanics are registered to vote in North Carolina. Prior to January 2002, Hispanic voters could only list their ethnicity as "other" on voter registration forms. Since January 2002, a Hispanic category has been provided on voter registration forms.

Election figures show there are 4,746 registered Latino voters in the state and 26 Latino voters in Pitt County. The 2000 U.S. census recorded 379,000 people of Hispanic or Latino origins in the state, with more than 4,200 living in Pitt County.

Two Hispanic males serve in the General Assembly, State Sen. Tom Apodaca of Hendersonville and Rep. Danny McComas of Wilmington. Dan Ramirez is a Republican county commissioner in Mecklenburg County.

There has been at least one Hispanic to serve as a county chairman for the Democratic Party, but none hold the position currently, Democratic Party spokesman Marc Siegel said.

Four Hispanics currently hold positions with the Democrat's State Executive Committee.

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Here's the rest of the article that was posted in the Greenville Daily Reflector:

Since January 2002, a Hispanic category has been provided on voter registration forms. Election figures show there are 4,746 registered Latino voters in the state and 26 Latino voters in Pitt County. The 2000 U.S. census recorded 379,000 people of Hispanic or Latino origins in the state, with more than 4,200 living in Pitt County.
"I'm absolutely positive it's in the tens of thousands, because we sent out mailers in that magnitude to (Hispanic) Democrats," said Ricardo Velasquez, president of the Hispanic Democrats of North Carolina, an auxiliary organization to the Democratic Party.
Throughout North Carolina, four county Republican parties are headed by blacks. Two Hispanic males serve in the General Assembly, State Sen. Tom Apodaca of Hendersonville and Rep. Danny McComas of Wilmington. Dan Ramirez is a Republican county commissioner in Mecklenburg County.
There has been at least one Hispanic to serve as a county chairman for the Democratic Party, but none hold the position, Democratic Party spokesman Marc Siegel said. Four Hispanics currently hold positions with the Democrat's State Executive Committee.
"It's no secret that Republicans have been trying to reach out to Hispanics, but we have to be very careful about being fooled by ‘mariachi’ politics. They trot someone out with a Hispanic last name, but all the while they are opposing affirmative action and nominating an ultra-conservative, Miguel Estrada, for the appellate court, which in my opinion he's as conservative as Clarence Thomas," Velasquez said.
Castillo said he is no token figurehead for the Republicans.
"I have earned my wings. I'm not allowing my name and face to be used as a decoy because I speak what I say," he said.
Castillo said he remembers attending a Pitt County Republican Party meeting where a group tried to select a state convention representative who would pledge a vote to Robertson. Castillo said he remembers the situation reminding him of politics in his country and rising to voice his displeasure at the unwillingness to have open discussion. Shortly afterward, he was invited to participate in Republican Party events.
While attracting Hispanics to the Republican Party is a goal of Castillo, increasing overall voter participation is a greater priority.
"When I see Costa Rica, where 90 percent of the population gets out and votes and has a big celebration, and then in Columbia, with all that goes on there, they still vote. Then, people here still don't vote," Castillo said. "We see places where democracy costs people their blood, and people here, where you don't even have to show ID, still won't vote."
In addition to Castillo, other officers elected Tuesday include first vice chairman Curt Hendrix, second vice chairman Cameron Evans, third vice chairman Leon Bonner, secretary Kim Hendrix and treasurer Charles Farley.
"I am very honored to be nominated and elected, and I'll do my best for the betterment of the Republican Party, not only in Pitt County, but on the regional and state level," Castillo said.

Mariachi politics! LOL!

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