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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!

They can get away with saying things like this? If a Republican used the term ``mariachi politics,'' thye'd be history.

"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."

proverbial hammer hitting head of nail

Good luck to Mr Castillo!! Here in Florida, Al Cardenas, a native of Cuba, was state Republican Chairman until just recently. We all know what a great job Al did. It warms the heart to see foreign-born citizens serving this great nation so well.