Republicans Join Democrats at 'Boot Camp' for Latino Legislators
National Journal

The only bipartisan training program for newly elected officials is living up to its billing more than usual this year. With a record-setting level of Republican victories on Nov. 2, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) drew a more politically-diverse group of elected officials than ever for its 8th Institute for Newly Elected Officials this weekend.

The training program, started in 1996, attracted a much-larger audience than previous "boot camps," according to NALEO executive director Arturo Vargas. While the biennial conference has typically drawn 50-60 attendees, this year's registration number reached nearly 400, including officials hailing from 13 different states. What’s more, Vargas said, the —stereotype that Latinos are all Democrats was seriously challenged for the first time, both in the midterm election results -- and participation in NALEO’s program, Vargas said that nationally, —we did really well [in this election], on both sides of the equation: As voters, and as candidates—particularly Republicans.

In Congress, the number of Hispanic Republicans increased from four to seven. Vargas noted, —It’s extraordinary, because it shows Latinos don’t have to be from a Latino-majority district to be elected. Our list includes the first Mexican-American woman from the state of Washington, and the first Puerto Rican from Idaho, who was here.

Congressman-elect Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, delivered the keynote address at Saturday’s breakfast and addressed how his heritage brought him into politics. Francisco Canseco, R-Texas, also spoke, establishing common ground among the newcomers by emphasizing that this election marks the first time he’s —ever walked the halls of Congress.

Although Vargas chalked the unusually large number of Republican newcomers up to "being in the right place at the right time for the GOP wave, he was also quick to point out Latinos’ success on the other side of the aisle. "While Latino voters played a role in helping elect a Republican governor in New Mexico and a Republican Senator in Florida," he said, "we also saw the impact those voters had in states like Colorado, Nevada, and California," where strong Hispanic turnout helped Democrats like Sen. Michael Bennett, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Sen. Barbara Boxer into office.

"We want to make sure that the Senate Democrats understand that they were able to retain their majority in the Senate because of the Hispanic vote," Vargas said, "and we’re going to remind them of that every single chance we get."

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NALEO Newly Elected Class of 2010

ARIZONA
Rosanna I. Gabaldon, Councilmember, Town of Sahuarita
Enrique “Hank” Gutierrez, Councilmember, Town of Superior
Araceli Juarez, Board Member, Somerton School District
Catherine H. Miranda, State Representative, Phoenix
Francisca Montoya, Board Member, Fowler Elementary School District
Macario Saldate, State Representative, Tucson
Anna M. Tovar, State Representative, Tolleson

CALIFORNIA
David E. Argudo, Councilmember, City of La Puente
Roberto E. Cruz, Board Member, El Monte City School District
Mario J. De La Torre, Councilmember, City of San Gabriel
Jack Duran, Supervisor, Placer County
Carmelita Garcia, Mayor, City of Pacific Grove
Sonia M. Heredia, Board Member, Greenfield Union School District
Roger Hernandez, State Assemblymember, West Covina
Sergio A. Infanzon, Councilmember, City of Bell Gardens
Ricardo Lara, State Assemblymember, Bell Gardens
Norma Macias, Councilmember, City of El Monte
EvaMarie Martinez, Board Member, Salinas Union High School District
Elizabeth Ruiz-Meza, Board Member, Riverbank Unified School District
Eileen V. Miranda Jimenez, Board Member, West Covina Unified School District
Luis I. Molina, Mayor, City of Patterson
Alberto Perez, Councilmember, City of Montebello
Margarita L. Rios, Board Member, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
Hugo A. Tzec, Board Member, Baldwin Park Unified School District
Alex T. Vargas, Councilmember, City of Hawthorne
John C. Vargas, Board Member, Hawthorne School District

COLORADO
Gabrielle V. Aragon, Councilmember, Town of San Luis
Crisanta D. Duran, State Representative, Denver
Leroy M. Garcia, Councilmember, City of Pueblo
Angela M. Giron, State Senator, Pueblo
Andrea E. Merida, Board Member, Denver Public Schools
Dominick A. Moreno, Councilmember, City of Commerce City
Dan Pabon, State Representative, Denver

FLORIDA
Robert Cortes, Commissioner, City of Longwood
Jorge R. Exposito, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach

HAWAI'I
Donovan M. Dela Cruz, State Senator, Wahiawa

ILLINOIS
Alyssa L. Hernandez, Board Member, Rich Township District 227

KANSAS
Jessica Ponka-We Victors, State Representative, Wichita

MICHIGAN
Harvey Santana, State Representative, Detroit

NEVADA
Lucy Flores, State Assemblymember, Nevada

NEW MEXICO
Robert A. Anaya, Commissioner, Santa Fe County
Pauline Jaramillo, Commissioner, Soccorro County
Joseph Lueras, Trustee, Village of Tularosa
Daniel “Danny” Mayfield, Commissioner, Santa Fe County
Jack A. Torres, Mayor, Town of Bernalillo

NEW YORK
Julissa Ferreras, Councilmember, New York City
Gustavo Rivera, State Senator, Bronx
Robert J. Rodriguez, State Assemblymember, Manhattan

OHIO
Dan Ramos, State Representative, Lorain

TEXAS
Ruben D. Cuero, Board Member, San Antonio Independent School District
Rudolfo “Rudy” Garcia, Councilmember, City of Leon Valley
Larry Gonzales, State Representative, Round Rock
Ed Gonzalez, Councilmember, City of Houston
Naomi R. Gonzalez, State Representative, El Paso
Eva L. Loredo, Trustee, Houston Community College
Sergio Muñoz, Jr., State Representative, Edinburg
Mary Ann G. Perez, Trustee, Houston Community College
Guillermo “Willie” Rios, Councilmember, City of Houston
José R. Rodríguez, State Senator, El Paso
Raul Torres, State Representative, Corpus Christi

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About the NALEO Institute for Newly Elected Officials

Now considered a "boot camp" among newly elected Latino officials, the NALEO National Institute for Newly Elected Officials
provides a comprehensive introduction to public service. The National Institute for Newly Elected Officials is a national training
seminar held every two years in November following the general election.

The NALEO Institute offers a comprehensive introduction to public service, with seminars addressing budgeting, staffing, policy discussions, and other key governance issues. Join elected officials from all levels of government and experts for this unique, non-partisan skills development program in the nation’s capital. Attendees include members from both major political parties, including newly re-elected Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado and Republican Congressmen-elect Raúl Labrador of Idaho -- the first Latino to represent the state in the U.S. House of Representatives – and Francisco “Quico” Canseco of Texas – the first Republican to represent his district in 20 years.

The NALEO Educational Fund provides selected applicants with transportation to and from Washington, DC, as well as room
and board, while at the Institute.