10th Anniversary RILPAC Presidency 2004-2014

2004 - 20014

10th Anniversary of RILPAC Presidency

Tomás Ávila

Tomás Ávila Milenio Associates, LLC avilatomasalberto@gmail.com @avilatomas

[10th Anniversary to Tomás Ávila Presidency of the Rhode Island

Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) 2004 – 2014 documentary .]

Contents The Latino PAC Elects New Board......................................................................................................................... 6 Entrevista con Tomás Ávila .................................................................................................................................... 7 Membership Recruiting ........................................................................................................................................ 12 MISSION ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 GOALS ............................................................................................................................................................ 13 MEMBERSHIP ................................................................................................................................................ 13 Active Membership....................................................................................................................................... 13 Associate ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 Donor ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 COMMITTEES ................................................................................................................................................ 14 Board of Directors ............................................................................................................................................ 14 Reclutamiento de Mmiembros .............................................................................................................................. 16 MISIÓN ........................................................................................................................................................... 17 METAS............................................................................................................................................................ 17 OBJETIVOS .................................................................................................................................................... 17 MEMBRESÍA .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Membresía Activa......................................................................................................................................... 17 Asociados ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 Donantes ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 COMITÉS ........................................................................................................................................................ 18 Junta Directiva ................................................................................................................................................. 18 2004 Annual Work Plan ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Issue Policy Briefing ............................................................................................................................................ 20 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 22 RILPAC believes that this document will be useful to: ...................................................................................... 23 CIVIL RIGHTS.................................................................................................................................................... 24 Hate Crimes.................................................................................................................................................. 24 Racial Profiling............................................................................................................................................. 24 Sentencing Reform ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Voting Rights ............................................................................................................................................... 25 EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 Adult English-as-a-Second-Language Services .............................................................................................. 26 College Access for Immigrant Students ......................................................................................................... 26 College Outreach and Preparation Programs .................................................................................................. 27 Early Childhood Education ........................................................................................................................... 27 Education Budget ......................................................................................................................................... 28 ECONOMIC MOBILITY..................................................................................................................................... 29 Banking and Financial Services ..................................................................................................................... 29 HEALTH CARE .................................................................................................................................................. 30 Restoration of Immigrant Benefits................................................................................................................. 30 Access to Health Insurance and Medicaid Reform ......................................................................................... 31 Community Health Centers ........................................................................................................................... 31 Language Access .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention .................................................................................................. 32 Health Research ............................................................................................................................................ 33 HOUSING ........................................................................................................................................................... 34 Fair Housing ................................................................................................................................................. 34 Housing Counseling...................................................................................................................................... 35 IMMIGRATION .................................................................................................................................................. 35 Comprehensive Immigration Reform............................................................................................................. 35 Post-September 11 Immigration Policies ....................................................................................................... 36 Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security............................................................... 37

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State and Local Police Enforcement of Immigration Law............................................................................... 37 Driver’s Licenses .......................................................................................................................................... 38 SELECTED REFERENCES................................................................................................................................. 39 Civil Rights .................................................................................................................................................. 39 Economic Mobility ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Education ..................................................................................................................................................... 39 Health........................................................................................................................................................... 40 Housing ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 Immigration .................................................................................................................................................. 40 Membership Orientation Manual .......................................................................................................................... 42 2004 – 2006 Bi-Annual Work Plan ....................................................................................................................... 52 Strategic Planning Meeting January 17, 2004 .................................................................................................... 52 Latino Civic Fund’s Programs for 2004 ......................................................................................................... 52 RILPAC’s Proposed Activities for 2004 ........................................................................................................ 52 Other Issues .................................................................................................................................................. 52 Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee By-Laws .................................................................................... 55 2004 Bill Richardson Awards Final Report ........................................................................................................... 64 A coming of age: Latinos form PAC and pols zoom in .......................................................................................... 96 Comité Latino de Acción Politica de Rhode Island ............................................................................................... 98 A new Latino leadership paradigm ........................................................................................................................ 99 Latino Civic Participation Reshapes Political Climate ......................................................................................... 101 Board Committee Job Descriptions ..................................................................................................................... 104 Fundraising Committee................................................................................................................................... 104 Finance Committee ......................................................................................................................................... 104 Board Development Committee ...................................................................................................................... 105 Program Committee........................................................................................................................................ 105 Other Board Committees ................................................................................................................................ 106 Executive Committee .................................................................................................................................. 106 Audit Committee ........................................................................................................................................ 106 Personnel Committee .................................................................................................................................. 106 Public Policy Committee............................................................................................................................. 106 Management Oversight Committee for geographically distant boards .......................................................... 106 Temporary Committees .................................................................................................................................. 107 Latino Political Empowerment Through Headlines ............................................................................................. 108 2004 Meeting Minutes ........................................................................................................................................ 116 Annual Retreat ................................................................................................................................................... 131 2004-2005 Board of Directors......................................................................................................................... 133 ACTION COMMITTEES .................................................................................................................................. 135 Fundraising Committee ............................................................................................................................... 135 The Judicial Nominating Committee ........................................................................................................... 135 Political Education/Voter Registration......................................................................................................... 135 Members ............................................................................................................................................................ 136 Political Candidate Selection Committee ..................................................................................................... 136 United States Court of Appeals ........................................................................................................................... 137 HAROLD METTS, ET AL., ....................................................................................................................... 137 President’s Report....................................................................................................................................... 150 January 13, 2004......................................................................................................................................... 150 Tomas Avila Bi-Annual Work Plan .................................................................................................................... 155 Tomas Avila Initial Planning .............................................................................................................................. 161 Orienting Board Members to their Responsibilities for Strategic Thinking ........................................................... 166 Recruiting Strategic Thinkers ............................................................................................................................. 169 2004 Media Diary............................................................................................................................................... 172 Campaign journal: R.I. Latino PAC backs candidates.......................................................................................... 174 Rilpac Endorsements Under Fire......................................................................................................................... 177 Cuidadora de niños Grace Diaz gana en el Distrito 11 - Providence ..................................................................... 180 ‘We can really have an impact’ ........................................................................................................................... 183

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Cox rally aims to boost voting among Latinos ............................................................................................... 185 RILPAC otorgó “Premios Bill Richardson” a la prensa local .............................................................................. 187 Latino PAC takes heat for backing only 1 Latino candidate in 5 races.................................................................. 192 Candidates Discuss Key Issues At Forum ........................................................................................................... 194 New Senate district a win for minorities.............................................................................................................. 196 Presidente De RILPAC Aclara Endosos Del Grupo Político ................................................................................ 200 Inmadurez política .............................................................................................................................................. 203 Poder Fragmentado............................................................................................................................................. 205 Estación 88.1 FM organizó importante foro político ............................................................................................ 207 RILPAC endosa a 5 candidatos ........................................................................................................................... 209 PRESS RELEASE.............................................................................................................................................. 210 Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee endorses Pedro Espinal, Andrew Galli, Jeff Toste, Representative Thomas Slater and Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey. ........................................................................................... 210 Comunicado de Prensa ....................................................................................................................................... 211 El Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island anuncia su endoso de Pedro Espinal, Andrew Galli, Jeff Toste, el Representatne Estatal Thomas Slater y el Alcalde de Cranston Stephen Laffey ................................................ 211 No negativity allowed ......................................................................................................................................... 212 Democratic Convention journal .......................................................................................................................... 213 Latinos celebran Día en el Capitolio ................................................................................................................... 214 Redistricting accord expected ............................................................................................................................. 215 Metts v. Montalbano Settlement Request ........................................................................................................ 217 New Senate Map Settles Lawsuit Over Redistricting ........................................................................................... 218 Tomás Avila Redistrciting Settlement Statement ................................................................................................. 221 Redistricting Settlement Members Notification ................................................................................................... 222 Common Cause of Rhode Island Settlement Statement........................................................................................ 223 "Hay que estar atento con el partido demócrata".................................................................................................. 224 Entrevista con Tomás Ávila ............................................................................................................................ 224 Latino PAC gets new chief ................................................................................................................................. 228 THE LATINO PAC ELECTS NEW BOARD ..................................................................................................... 229 Endorsement Process Research An a l ysi s .......................................................................................................... 230 Critical Quotes ............................................................................................................................................... 232 What’ New with RILPAC’s Endorsement? ..................................................................................................... 233 RILPAC ENDORSEMENTS UNDER FIRE ................................................................................................... 236 Latino PAC Takes Heat For Backing Only ...................................................................................................... 239 One Candidate In 5 ......................................................................................................................................... 239 Presidente de RILPAC aclara endosos del ....................................................................................................... 241 grupo político ................................................................................................................................................. 241 Inmadurez política .......................................................................................................................................... 244 RILPAC Endorsement Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 246 Endorsement Of Candidates For Public Office .................................................................................................... 250 Minnesota NOW Political Action Committee ...................................................................................................... 252 Endorsement Guidelines ..................................................................................................................................... 252 2005-2011 Central Falls Political Power Strategic Plan ....................................................................................... 295 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 297 Central Falls ............................................................................................................................................... 297 The Goal ............................................................................................................................................................ 300 The Registrate para Votar Campaign................................................................................................................... 301 The Program................................................................................................................................................... 301 Candidate Recruitment Campaign ....................................................................................................................... 303 Central Falls Statistics ........................................................................................................................................ 304 Latina Leadership Institute ................................................................................................................................. 312 Mission....................................................................................................................................................... 314 To ensure that Latino women develop their personal and professional potential to serve as leaders in their communities, move into greater leadership roles and advocate for positive changes in the Latino community. .. 314 Program Structure........................................................................................................................................... 316 April 17, 2004 Retreat .................................................................................................................................... 321

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The Latino PAC Elects New Board Providence, RI November 28, 2003–At its schedule annual meeting on Monday November 24 the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) elected it’s 2004-2006 Board of Directors. RILPAC has been very effective in influencing the local political process, by endorsing candidates, mobilizing the Latino voters to get out and vote in support of its endorsed candidates to ensure their victory.

This was evidence during the recent mayoral race in Central Falls, where RILPAC endorsed underdog Charles Moreau who had lost the primary election by 46 votes. With a supply of 20 volunteers and an effective GOTV plan RILAPC galvanized the Latino community in that city to exercise their vote and helped Charles Moreau defeat the incumbent Mayor Lee Mathews. After votes were tallied, the new Executive Board of Directors is composed as follow: Tomás Ávila, President Melba Depeña, Executive Vice President Domingo Morel, Vice President Sylvia Bernal, Treasurer Ingrid Ardaya, Assistant Treasurer Johanna Petrarca, Secretary Claudia Cardona, Assistant Secretary Christopher J. Petrarca, Legal Affairs Advisor Also elected to the Board as At-Large Members were: Hon. Juan Pichardo (D) Providence Senate District 2 ; Nellie Gorbea, Director of Administration at the Secretary of State’s Office; Alberto Cardona, COZY Director, Central Falls School Department and Tony Affigne Professor at Providence College.

In his acceptance remarks, Tomas Avila acknowledged the hard work and many achievements of the outgoing Board of Directors, presided by Melba Depena and acknowledge his satisfaction that Depena will remain a part of his team. “I plan to take this organization to the next level by providing a transparent process and to continue to influencing the political process in our state” The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities.

For more information, please contact Melba Depena at 277-5202. ###

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Entrevista con Tomás Ávila Por Roberto Taboada Providence En Español viernes 9 de enero, del 2004 PROVIDENCE – El nuevo Presidente del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island dice que en su nueva posición buscará aumentar la membresía del grupo político, de manera que exista una fuente de talentos que llene las diferentes posiciones de la organización. Tomás Ávila empezó la entrevista comentando que RILPAC, desde su fundación, planeó distintas metas y objetivos que están por empezar a ejecutarse.

Durante la entrevista, el hondureño trató temas relacionados con los partidos políticos en relación a la comunidad latina, su apoyo por la reunificación familiar, y cuales son los representantes estatales que desempeñan una buena labor.

Providence en Español: El Instituto Mauricio Gastón de Boston llevó a cabo una reunión de varios institutos y organizaciones minoritarias, el pasado mes de octubre, identificando una agenda de siete temas comunes: la participación cívica y política, perfiles raciales, desarrollo de viviendas, desarrollo económico, servicios de salud, educación y políticas migratorias. Usted nos comentó su deseo de encauzarse en temas que le afectan a la comunidad latina, ¿qué temas específicamente?

Tomás Ávila: "Inmigración, educación, salud y desarrollo económico. He investigado algunas iniciativas, y las agendas nacionales y locales, una de las entidades fue el Mauricio Gastón Institute, y lo que encontré fue que esos son los temas principales de lo que podríamos llamar una agenda latina. Desde su fundación, RILPAC ha planeado trabajar en una agenda, y no se ha hecho, pero existe una gran necesidad".

"Dentro de poco se cumplirá un año desde que Providence en Español hiciera un llamado al liderazgo latino del estado a que establezca un agenda. Leerlo otra vez me ha reforzado mi creencia en que esta es una necesidad. Con respecto a ella, el plan que he preparado es sobre esos 5 temas".

PE: Algunos de los comentarios sobre el Comité Latino, de algunos de sus miembros inclusive, son que la organización ha dejado de lado muchos temas. Algunas veces parece que es un caso de "atraparon a Saddam Hussein y el público responde con ¿dónde está Osama?" ¿Se le puede culpar a RILPAC por lo que aún no realiza, cómo la falta de una agenda, por ejemplo?

Tomás Ávila: "Con respecto a la agenda, y puedo decirlo por que he estado en las trincheras, por decirlo así, desde que se fundó la organización hace cinco años se ha discutido bastante sobre lo que RILPAC debía hacer; si involucrarnos en la abogacía o no. La conclusión fue que la meta principal en los primeros cinco años era alcanzar un establecimiento dentro de la política.

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Entendimos que había dos grandes organizaciones ocupándose de la defensa de asuntos minoritarios, con servicios de los que no necesitábamos ser parte, más sino firmes contribuidores desde la arena política. En lo que concierne a una agenda, nosotros sabíamos que eventualmente entraríamos en esa parte del desarrollo de la organización".

PE: ¿Cuál es el punto de vista sobre inmigración? ¿Debería darse una amnistía general?

Tomás Ávila: "Diría que es la espina dorsal de todo lo que tiene que ver con la comunidad latina, y desarrollar estrategias sobre como RILPAC contribuiría de manera tangible con este tema".

"No creo que debería darse una amnistía general necesariamente, pero si una resolución migratoria que permita la reunificación familiar. Mi intención es la de reunirme con individuos que están trabajando en estos temas, no tanto lograr una agenda sobre esto. Decir que RILPAC tiene la solución sería mentirte".

PE: Hace unas semanas atrás nos comentó que usted personalmente no cree en la educación bilingüe, sino en la inmersión en el idioma, como fue su experiencia. ¿Apoyaría aún así la educación bilingüe?

Tomás Ávila: "Cuando llegué a los Estados Unidos no había educación bilingüe, y en mi experiencia pienso que fue algo positivo que me dio la oportunidad de aprender el idioma y procesar el aprendizaje de manera más rápida. La educación bilingüe es un debate actual y basándome en mi experiencia apoyaría la inmersión en el idioma".

"Se necesita el programa bilingüe. Una de las rea-lidades de nuestra comunidad es que hay, y es algo bien documentado, gente que llega a este país y es analfabeta. Decir que un analfabeto tendrá éxito en una clase en inglés es una farsa, con una persona que fracasará. Algunos individuos han sido educados avanzadamente en sus idiomas y no necesitan del programa".

Tomás Ávila reveló que, a pesar de haberse registrado como demócrata, se considera una persona independiente y conservadora en la política. "Cuando me hice ciudadano estadounidense, una de las primeras experiencias que quise tener fue participar del sistema político. Me registré como demócrata y me cuestione a mi mismo el por qué lo era", explicó, compa-rando los partidos políticos de Honduras con los de Estados Unidos.

De acuerdo con el presidente de RILPAC, el Partido Liberal es prácticamente como el Partido Demócrata, y el Partido Nacional es como el Partido Republicano.

PE: Podría decirse que hasta el año 1999, el Partido Republicano ignoraba a las minorías (sin medidas necesariamente en contra, más sino con una actitud de que harían lo que tenían que hacer y si los hispanos querían votaban por ellos), mientras que el Partido Demócrata prometía mejoras para los latinos, sin preparar a futuros candidatos latinos y sin ceder posiciones de poder. ¿Está de acuerdo con este análisis general?

Tomás Ávila: "Correcto. Mi envolvimiento político ha sido más a nivel comunitario, en lugar de enfocarme alrededor de los partidos políticos, y en gran parte es por el escenario que describe.

Mi creencia es que mientras nosotros confinemos a la comunidad a un partido político quedaremos ignorados".

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PE: Los demócratas piensan que tienen al voto latino comprado.

Tomás Ávila: "Si ves lo que sucede en el escenario nacional, porque el partido demócrata fue muy autocomplaciente con las minorías, y en particular con la comunidad latina, se ha visto un aumento en el reclutamiento del Partido Republicano, con atención a los latinos".

PE: Un gran primer paso de los demócratas en el estado ha sido el nombramiento de Melba Depeña. ¿Es una reacción local a lo que sucede a nivel nacional o es el comienzo del partido entrenando a futuros candidatos?

Tomás Ávila: "Tenemos que tener cuidado y alegrarnos del nombramiento. Es un gran cumplido y honor que se haya nombrado a Melba Depeña a esa posición. Hay que tener cuidado por que es un comienzo y tiene que tener un periodo de prueba. Tenemos que asegurarnos que será el comienzo de pasos futuros, y que se le darán las herramientas necesarias [a Depeña] para que logre lo que se espera de ella".

PE: Con posiciones firmes sobre representantes latinos e inmigración.

Tomás Ávila: "Exacto, especialmente por que [Melba Depeña] entiende el proceso político en la comunidad latina y americana. Una de las herramientas que necesitará, es un apoyo que incluya una agenda sólida de asuntos minoritarios. Por eso me alegra la nominación, aunque hay que tener cuidado con el partido demócrata".

PE: ¿Qué representantes estatales hacen un buen trabajo?

Tomás Ávila: "Creo que el alcalde David Cicilline está realizando un buen trabajo, aunque sé que muchos estarán en desacuerdo conmigo, y he escuchado ciertos comentarios contrarios.

Pero, está haciendo el trabajo que necesita realizar para lograr oportunidades para todos".

PE: ¿El Gobernador Don Carcieri?

Tomás Ávila: "Si. Y lo digo por que tanto él como el alcalde son agentes de cambios".

PE: ¿El Fiscal General Patrick Lynch?

Tomás Ávila: "Bueno, sí. Y cuando digo que sí, es por que soy una persona de mucha paciencia y entendimiento. Todos queremos cambios, y ese es un proceso".

PE: ¿El Secretario de Estado Matthew Brown?

Tomás Ávila: "Les doy a todos el beneficio de la duda. Yo vivo el cambio, aceptando que las mejoras consistentes no pueden suceder cuando recién entran en sus oficinas".

PE: La aprobación de los mapas de la redistribución distrital causó que us-tedes iniciaran un proceso legal contra el estado. Luisa Murillo, Yahaira Placencia y Alma Félix Green fueron parte de la junta de aprobación de dichos mapas y, aunque conocían los deseos de la comunidad con respecto a los mapas, decidieron aprobarlos. ¿Estuvieron equivocados estos miembros de la comunidad?

Tomás Ávila: "No diría que están equivocados".

PE: ¿Estuvieron en lo correcto?

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Tomás Ávila: "No necesariamente, pero mi posición en este asunto es que para lograr alcanzar cierto control en la comunidad, se debe seleccionar a personas que entienden el proceso y han participado de él".

PE: ¿No lo entendieron?

Tomás Ávila: "No lo digo por la comisión, sino a nivel organizador, porque la redistribución distrital es un tema complicado".

PE: ¿No estaban calificadas?

Tomás Ávila: "Yo diría que otros individuos, en mi opinión, hubieran hecho un mejor trabajo".

PE: Cuando llegó la hora de una demanda legal, ustedes perdieron el argumento, y ellas sabían que eso sucedería, porque se estaba discutiendo en la comunidad, y luego en seis audiencias públicas.

Tomás Ávila: "Si, ellas lo sabían, pero tendremos otra oportunidad en el 2010, y espero que hayamos aprendido de este proceso para el 2010".

PE: ¿Cree que fue injusto?

Tomás Ávila: "No diría que fue injusto, pero pudo haberse hecho mejor".

La Redistribución Distrital continúa siendo un tema importante dentro de la política local, con una demanda legal pendiente que permitirá se presenten testimonios y la posibilidad de realizar un juicio. La demanda, que arguye que los nuevos distritos senatoriales diluyen el voto afroamericano de manera ilegal, tendrá sus audiencias la primera semana de febrero de 2.004.

Tomás Ávila reveló que en sus preparaciones para la entrevista, hizo una pequeña lista de posibles preguntas. Entre estas, si él, como otros miembros del Comité Latino, planeaba aceptar una posición en el gobierno antes de concluir su posición como presidente de RILPAC. Ávila dice que no.

Por último, el Presidente de RILPAC declinó comentar sobre el breve periodo en que ocupó la dirección de Progreso Latino. Ávila emigró de Honduras a Boston en 1.969. En 1993 se mudaría a Rhode Island, involucrándose en la comunidad latina por espacio de 7 años. Tomás Ávila es casado, y tiene 3 hijos.

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Dear Friend: I would like to extend you a cordial invitation to become an active member of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC).

RILPAC members have committed efforts to insure that all Latinos in the state become stakeholders in the political future of Rhode Island It is our hope that through our efforts and that of our supporters, Rhode Islanders of all ethnic and racial groups will see the wisdom of advocating for the future of the Latino community as a way of improving their own lives. We bring to the political discourse of the state the hopes and aspirations of the state’s minority communities.

Our mission is to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities. Join us in the continuation of the empowerment of the Latino and urban communities.

The cost of membership is $25.00 annually, We look forward to your acceptance of this invitation, become a member of RILPAC and help us continue fulfilling our mission. Enclosed you’ll find our application and other pertinent information about RILPAC. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 401274-5204, or email at: rilpac@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Tomás Alberto Ávila President

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Membership Recruiting Dear Friends:

The future of Rhode Island is inextricably linked to the health of its youngest and fastest growing community. It is impossible for anyone to walk through the streets of Providence, Pawtucket or Central Falls and not be aware of the Latino presence in our state.

We, the members of this PAC have committed our efforts to insure that all Latinos in the state become stakeholders in the future of Rhode Island. It is our hope that through our efforts and that of our supporters, Rhode Islanders of all ethnic and racial groups will see the wisdom of advocating for the future of the Latino community as a way of improving their own lives. We bring to the political discourse of the state the hopes and aspiration of this state's newest family members.

Our mission is not to address past discrimination but to build a better future, not to demand justice, but to illustrate the benefits of fairness for all, and not to demand a bigger share of the pie, but to help bake a bigger one together. Join us in the continuation of the dreams of countless generations of immigrants whose journey ended where our future together begins. Let us continue 'Haciendo Historia".

Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) P.O. Box 23020 Providence, RI 02903 Phone (401) 274-5204 Email: rilpac@yahoo.com

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MISSION The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities.

GOALS ·

To increase political participation.

·

To support and/or endorse candidates from Rhode Island for state and local office who are committed to our mission.

·

To raise awareness on issues and/or candidates that could benefit or adversely impact the Latino community.

The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee focus on the following areas: ·

Voter Education/Assistance and improved voter turnout

·

Lobbying elected officials and securing public support for selected candidates

·

Advocacy and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts

·

Research and fundraising

·

Coalition building and networking

MEMBERSHIP Membership is open to Latinos and other persons who are at least eighteen (18) years of age and registered to vote.

Active Membership Active Members must attend all meetings and will have voting privileges.

Associate Associate members will receive a quarterly newsletter but will have non-voting status.

Donor Donors are supporters who contribute to RILPAC but are not active or associate members.

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COMMITTEES ·

Political Education/Voter Registration

·

Finance

·

Membership

· ·

Planning and Research Political Candidate Selection

·

Legal

Board of Directors Tomás Alberto Ávila President Melba Depeña Executive Vice President Domingo Morel Vice President Johanna Petrarca Secretary Claudia Cardona Assistant Secretary Sylvia Bernal Treasurer Ingrid Ardaya Assistant Treasurer Christopher Petrarca Legal Advisor Tony Affigne Alberto Cardona Nellie Gorbea Senator Juan Pichardo

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Apreciados amigos: El motivo de la presente es con el fin de extenderle una cordial invitación para que se haga miembro del Comite de Acción Politica de Rhode Island (RILPAC por sus siglas en Ingles).

Nosotros, los miembros de RILPAC nos sentimos comprometidos en asegurar que todos los Latinos de éste estado se conviertan en accionistas de nuestro futuro político. Nosotros traemos en éste dialogo politico; las esperanzas y aspiraciones de los miembros de las comunidades minoritarias de éste estado.

Nuestra misión es “influenciar el proceso político en el estado de Rhode Island para mejorar la calidad de vida de las Comunidades Latinas y Urbanas." Esperamos que acepte ésta invitación y se haga miembro y ayudarnos en la continuación del apoderamiento de las Comunidades Latinas y Urbanas.

El costo de la membresia es de $25.00 anuales.

Acompañenos en la continuación del apoderamiento politico de nuestra comunidad, y esperamos decida aceptar nuestra invitación y hacerse miembro de RILPAC y ayudarnos a continuar el logro de nuestra misión. Adjunto encontrara nuestra aplicación de membresia al igual más información sobre RILPAC.

Sinceramente,

Tomás Alberto Ávila Presidente

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Reclutamiento de Mmiembros Apreciados amigos: El futuro de Rhode Island está inexorablemente vinculado a la salud de esta comunidad joven y de rápido crecimiento. Es imposible para cada uno el caminar por las calles de Central Falls Providence, o Pawtucket, y no percatarse de la presencia Latina en nuestro estado.

Nosotros, los miembros de este grupo tenemos comprometidos nuestros esfuerzos en asegurar que todos los Latinos en el estado se conviertan accionistas en el futuro de Rhode Island. Esta es nuestra esperanza en virtud de nuestros esfuerzos y de quienes nos apoyan.

Residentes de Rhode Island de todas las razas veran nuestra sabiduria en la lucha por el futuro de la comunidad Latina como una manera de mejorar sus vidas. Nosotros traemos al discurso politico de este estado; las esperanzas y aspiraciones de los nuevos miembros de las familias de este estado.

Nuestra misión no es la de discutir la pasada discriminacion , si no la de construir un mejor futuro; no es la de demandar justicia, si no la de ilustrar los beneficios de la imparcialidad para todos; y no es la de demandar un pedazón más grande del pastel en la participación, si no la misión de demandar el poder hacer un pastel más grande entre todos juntos. Acompáñenos en la continuación del sueño de las innumerables generaciones de inmigrantes quienes al final del trayecto empezamos nuestro futuro juntos. Dejenos continuar "Haciendo Historia".

Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) P.O. Box 23020 Providence, RI 02903 Phone (401) 274-5204 Email: rilpac@yahoo.com

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MISIÓN El Rhode Island Latino Political Action Commitee es una organización no partidista formada para influenciar el proceso politico en el estado de Rhode Island para mejorar la vida a los miembros de la comunidad Latina y de otras comunidades urbanas.

METAS ·

Incrementar la participación politica.

·

Apoyar o endorsar candidatos de Rhode Island para las oficinas estatales y locales quienes se comprometán con nuestra misión.

·

Abogar sobre proyectos y/o candidatos que puedán beneficiar o impactar adversamente a la conmunidad Latina.

OBJETIVOS RILPAC se enfoca en las siguientes áreas: · Educación del votante/Asistencia y apoyo a los nuevos votantes. ·

Presionar a oficiales electos y asegurar apoyo público a candidatos selectos.

·

Abogar y obtener el esfuerzo por el voto.

·

Investigación y recolección de fondos.

·

Construcción de coaliciones y trabajo en cadena.

MEMBRESÍA Membresía Activa Los Miembros activos deben atender todas las reuniones y tendrán privilegios de voto.

Asociados Miembros Asociados recibirán circulares progresivas pero no tendrán el status de votante.

Donantes Donantes son aquellos que contribuyen a RILPAC pero no son miembros activos ni asociados.

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COMITÉS ·

Educación Política,/Registración de Votantes.

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Finanzas.

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Membresia.

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Planeación e Investigación.

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Selección de Candidatos Políticos.

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Comite Legal

Junta Directiva Tomás Albeto Ávila Presidente Melba Depeña Vicepresidente Ejecutivo Domingo Morel Vice Presidente Johanna Petrarca Secretaria Claudia Cardona Secretaria Asistente Sylvia Bernal Tesorero Ingrid Ardaya Tesorera Asistante Christopher Petrarca Legal Advisor Tony Afigne Alberto Cardona Nellie Gorbea Juan Pichardo

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2004 Annual Work Plan 1. Latino Civic Fund’s Programs for 2004 · Soy Mujer Breakfast, · Latino Voter Registration Project · Latinos On the Hill, · Latina Leadership Institute,

March 18 January 1-August 14 April 8 August

2. RILPAC’s Proposed Activities for 2004 · Declaration Of Candidate For Delegate To The National Conventions Jan 2-12 · Presidential Primary Elections, March 2 · Endorsement Committee Meeting July 2 · Endorsement Interviews July 12-16 · Democratic Convention, Boston, July 26-29 · Endorsement Announcement July 30 · Last date to Register to vote in statewide primary August 14 · Republican Convention, New York, August 30, September 4 · Bill Richardson Award, September 2 · Statewide Primary Election, September 14 · Last date to Register to vote in Statewide General Election October 2 · Statewide General Election, November 2 3. Other Issues § Providence 2002 Charter Review Commission Recommendations § Appointed & Employed Latinos Support Network § Review of Board & Commissions Latino participation § Latinos Resume Bank § Legislative Advisory Council § Candidate Training School § Issue Policy Briefing o Civil Rights o Economic Development o Education o Health o Housing o Immigration

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Issue Policy Briefing

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INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 22 RILPAC believes that this document will be useful to: ...................................................................................... 23 CIVIL RIGHTS.................................................................................................................................................... 24 Hate Crimes.................................................................................................................................................. 24 Racial Profiling............................................................................................................................................. 24 Sentencing Reform ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Voting Rights ............................................................................................................................................... 25 EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 Adult English-as-a-Second-Language Services .............................................................................................. 26 College Access for Immigrant Students ......................................................................................................... 26 College Outreach and Preparation Programs .................................................................................................. 27 Early Childhood Education ........................................................................................................................... 27 Education Budget ......................................................................................................................................... 28 ECONOMIC MOBILITY..................................................................................................................................... 29 Banking and Financial Services ..................................................................................................................... 29 HEALTH CARE .................................................................................................................................................. 30 Restoration of Immigrant Benefits................................................................................................................. 30 Access to Health Insurance and Medicaid Reform ......................................................................................... 31 Community Health Centers ........................................................................................................................... 31 Language Access .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention .................................................................................................. 32 Health Research ............................................................................................................................................ 33 HOUSING ........................................................................................................................................................... 34 Fair Housing ................................................................................................................................................. 34 Housing Counseling...................................................................................................................................... 35 IMMIGRATION .................................................................................................................................................. 35 Comprehensive Immigration Reform............................................................................................................. 35 Post-September 11 Immigration Policies ....................................................................................................... 36 Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security............................................................... 37 State and Local Police Enforcement of Immigration Law............................................................................... 37 Driver’s Licenses .......................................................................................................................................... 38 SELECTED REFERENCES................................................................................................................................. 39 Civil Rights .................................................................................................................................................. 39 Economic Mobility ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Education ..................................................................................................................................................... 39 Health........................................................................................................................................................... 40 Housing ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 Immigration .................................................................................................................................................. 40

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INTRODUCTION The period leading to the 2004 elections is an important time for the nation’s Hispanics.* During this time, the George W. Bush Administration, Congress, and state legislatures will debate policies that can either expand or narrow opportunities for the nearly 13% of the U.S. population that is Hispanic.** Because Latinos are becoming a larger proportion of the overall population, national- and state level policies that affect Hispanics will undoubtedly impact the country as a whole.

Earlier this year, the Census Bureau released new estimates of the U.S. population, which showed that the Latino population grew 4.7% since Census 2000 to reach 37 million. These data confirm previous projections that the Hispanic community, which nearly doubled between 1990 and 2000 (see Table 1), would become the nation’s largest ethnic minority group. Moreover, a larger proportion of Latinos (35.0%) are under the age of 18 compared with the national average of other Americans (25.7%), and almost half of Hispanics are under 25 years old.

RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: Page 2 Along with a steady population growth, Hispanic Americans have experienced increased voter participation and sophistication. Nearly six million Hispanics participated in the 2000 presidential election; these numbers could increase by one to two million by 2004. Just as important, Hispanics demonstrated in the 2002 midterm elections that policy-makers must concretely address the concerns of the growing Latino electorate in a positive manner. For example, incumbents from both parties with records long on rhetoric but short on policy lost significant Latino support. In addition, the failed election bids of anti-immigrant candidates make it clear that immigrant-bashing is not a winning strategy. Thus, a key lesson from the recent election is that Latinos are clamoring for more than just outreach; they are calling for substantive policy-making that responds to their concerns about the future direction of the country.

It has been well documented that Hispanics will constitute a large segment of the future U.S. population, workforce, and electorate. The challenge for policy-makers is to identify those issues important to the Hispanic community and produce proposals that thoughtfully address them. The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) works with its more than 300 affiliated community-based organizations to respond to the needs and concerns of the Hispanic community. With its affiliates, RILPAC has effectively identified major policy areas that constitute a Hispanic public policy agenda. Not surprisingly, these include the typical "American" issues of fairness, increased civic participation, a strong economy that provides opportunities to work and build assets, excellent public schools, access to quality health care, and the chance for homeownership. Polling data support these findings. For example: Ÿ Ÿ

.Almost nine in ten (87%) Latinos believe "Education is the key to my child's success." .Three-fourths (73%) of Hispanics rated "allocating funds for building affordable housing" extremely or very important, compared with 39% of non-Hispanics. Ÿ More than eight in ten (86%) Latinos favor proposals to provide legal status to undocumented immigrants. Ÿ Nearly one-third (31.2%) of Hispanics report that they suffered discrimination in the past year because of their racial or ethnic background. Ÿ More than one-third (35%) of Latinos do not have health insurance. Ÿ Less than two-thirds (65%) of Latinos say they have a bank account. Ÿ Almost one in three (30%) Latinos report being laid off or having lost their job in the past year.* As we move toward the 2004 elections, federal, state, and local policy-makers have an opportunity to identify and address issues of importance to Latinos. In that context, RILPAC offers this briefing book – the framework of RILPAC's policy agenda for the period spanning the 108th Congress – as a roadmap for

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legislators and other policy-makers to facilitate knowledge of and communication with Latino voters and constituents. The briefing book offers guidance to Congress, the Administration, and state legislatures about which issues resonate with the nation's largest ethnic group.

While the issues outlined in the following pages can speak directly to public officials and policy-makers, they also provide a yardstick for the Hispanic community to measure the extent to which public policy is responding to the concerns of Latino voters.

RILPAC believes that this document will be useful to: Ÿ

The Bush Administration, legislators, and their staff, so that they have a sense of the substance that bolsters RILPAC’s policy work and a general idea of pending legislation that RILPAC is monitoring and the positions we are taking.

Ÿ

Policy-makers and the media, to give background on the specific issues or policy debates that RILPAC has identified as being particularly crucial to and relevant for the Latino community.

Ÿ

RILPAC’s community-based affiliates and members, and the general public, to provide a summary of pending issues and legislation, as well as a guide to RILPAC’s legislative portfolio.

* These polling data are from the 2002 AOL Time Warner Foundation Hispanic Opinion Tracker Study, the Pew Hispanic Center 2003 National Survey of Latinos, the Latino Coalition 2002 Survey of Hispanic Adults, and the New Democratic Network/Bendixen & Associates Survey of the National Hispanic Electorate.

This briefing book is not meant to provide a detailed, comprehensive analysis of complex policy issues; further detail about the issues and RILPAC’s analyses of them are available through our website (www.RILPAC.org) and other publications. Major topics included in the book are presented in alphabetical order, followed by specific concerns that RILPAC has identified as important to Latinos. These may or may not be addressed by current legislation. Pending legislation or major reauthorizations are included when applicable. In addition, the reference materials included serve as a resource and are helpful to advancing RILPAC’s position on the issues. RILPAC materials are listed, as relevant. For a full listing of documents published by RILPAC, see RILPAC’s "Publications Guide" at www.RILPAC.org/publica/.

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CIVIL RIGHTS Assurances of fair and equal treatment by other citizens, private employers, and federal and state governments are fundamental for Hispanics to attain economic and educational parity with other Americans. Although there are many issues under the civil rights umbrella which deserve and require immediate attention, several areas outlined below are of particular concern and, if improved, could measurably reduce discrimination against the Hispanic community.

Hate Crimes Hate crimes are violence-motivated actions against persons, property, or organizations based solely on race, religion, gender, disability, ethnicity/national origin, or sexual orientation. There is evidence of an upward trend in the amount and severity of harassment, hate violence, and law enforcement abuse against and by Hispanics.

An important issue is the relatively limited information about the impact of hate crimes on the Latino community and the factors that contribute to hate-motivated behavior. For example, more attention is needed on the pervasiveness of racism and negative stereotypes, which are far too often reinforced and advanced by the media.

As Hispanics become more dispersed across American communities, these views of Latinos threaten to lead to greater interethnic tension and could result in increased numbers of hate crime incidents.

RILPAC urges Congress to pass hate crimes legislation that would enhance federal enforcement of hate crimes laws; expand federal jurisdiction over hate crimes based on race, ethnicity, or national origin; and provide authority to investigate and prosecute crimes based on the victim’s disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, law enforcement agencies should effectively comply with the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990 and document hate violence accurately and consistently.

Racial Profiling Racial profiling, a discriminatory practice that has become a common tool used by law enforcement to establish a cause for suspicion, is an endemic problem that is tearing the social fabric of our nation. Race, ethnicity, and/or national origin are used as determining factors in deciding whom to stop on the highways and in workplaces, airports, and schools.

RILPAC research has found that the Latino community is disproportionately targeted by law enforcement. Racial profiling has a severe, disparate impact on the Latino community because it is used not only by local and state law enforcement, but also by federal law enforcement, including immigration and customs officers. For a variety of reasons, the use of racial profiling tactics not only violates civil rights, but also undermines trust between the Latino community and the police.

RILPAC believes Congress should pass comprehensive racial profiling legislation that bans the practice of racial profiling by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; collects data on routine investigatory activities; establishes procedures for receiving, investigating, and responding to claims of racial profiling; and requires training of law enforcement agents and holds them accountable for engaging in racial profiling.

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Sentencing Reform The increasing number of Latinos serving nonviolent drug sentences is alarming. Contrary to popular belief, the fact that Latinos and other racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system is not because minorities commit more drug crimes or use drugs at a higher rate than others; nevertheless, there has been an upward trend in the number of Latinos in the criminal justice system, in part because of law enforcement biases and harsh sentencing guidelines that target Latinos and other minorities.

In particular, RILPAC is concerned about the significant and discriminatory crack/powder sentencing disparities that exist in the current sentencing guidelines. For example, a conviction for possessing five grams of crack cocaine triggers a five year mandatory minimum sentence, while it takes 500 grams of powder cocaine possession to trigger the same sentence. And while possession of 50 grams of crack cocaine triggers a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence, the law requires possession of 5,000 grams of powder cocaine to trigger the same sentence. The 100:1 powder/crack sentencing disparity shows blatant discrimination toward minority communities, which are disproportionately represented among crack cocaine offenders, compared to powder cocaine offenders.

RILPAC urges Congress to enact just crack/powder sentencing reform that would equalize the ratio as much as possible – preferably 1:1 – by raising the crack threshold, and not by lowering the powder threshold. RILPAC also advocates for widely available alternative methods of punishment for nonviolent drug offenders, such as substance abuse treatment. RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: Page 6

Voting Rights The right to vote is a fundamental civil right for all Americans. It is crucial that election officials uphold current laws that ensure participation of language minorities. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voting Registration Act of 1993 are laws that enable citizens to exercise their right to register and cast their vote without encountering any form of discrimination. In 2002, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act of 2002, calling upon the states and local governments to make polling places accessible to people with disabilities; create statewide voter registration databases that can be more effectively managed and updated; improve ballot review procedures by allowing voters to ensure that the ballots they cast are accurate; create provisional balloting systems to guarantee that no eligible voter is ever turned away at the polls; replace outdated voting systems; and educate voters on voting procedures as well as their rights.

The proper and prompt implementation of this law will result in more Hispanics having access to the voting booth and less incidents of voter discrimination and intimidation.

RILPAC urges Congress to fully fund the Help America Vote Act (P.L. 107-252). The Help America Vote Act authorizes a total of $3.9 billion over three fiscal years, beginning with $2.16 billion in fiscal year 2003. Congress provided $1.5 billion for FY 2003, leaving a $660 million short fall. In particular, we ask that Congress appropriate the remaining authorized funding level for fiscal year 2003, in addition to the $1 billion authorized for fiscal year 2004.

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EDUCATION Education continues to be a top concern for the Latino community. Polling data show that nearly nine in ten (87%) Latinos consider education a critical component to expanding life opportunities for Hispanic children. Given that in 2000 more than one-third (35.7%) of Hispanics were under 18 years of age and that Latinos now represent the second-largest segment of the school-aged population, the education of Latino students has significant implications for the nation as a whole.

The Latino community is becoming more sophisticated in identifying policies that can significantly improve the educational status of Hispanic children. According to a 2002 poll, for example, Latino support for private school vouchers continues to surpass that of other groups. However, when asked to choose between increased funding for public schools or vouchers, Latinos chose increased school funding by a more than two-to-one (63.6% to 31.6%) margin. In addition, while Latinos strongly believe that their children should learn English, almost all (95%) Latinos support bilingual education.

These data indicate that Hispanics not only care deeply about education, they are paying close attention to specific areas of education policy and are becoming increasingly savvy about the steps policy-makers should take to improve the status of Latino education. To achieve this, the Administration and the 108th Congress should pay equally close attention to the following areas:

Adult English-as-a-Second-Language Services Enrollment in Adult ESL has increased 105% over the past ten years, yet there is a lack of programs and funding to ensure that all who desire to learn English have access to appropriate services. Currently, community-based organizations must generally piece programs together with volunteer labor and facilities. The need for more targeted services is overwhelming. Demand for English-language instruction far outweighs supply, waiting lists for classes typically range from several months to years, and many states do not have the capacity to meet the demand. New York is so under capacity that it has resorted to a lottery system to select individuals who may enroll in ESL classes. The current $70 million in funding is insufficient to meet the enormous demand for ESL services. As the labor market continues to require English-proficient labor, investing in ESL programs will strengthen the labor pool and return a more versatile productive workforce.

RILPAC proposes an increase in funding to $500 million for the English Language and Civics Education Initiative and to include language to funnel monies directly to community-based organizations providing the front lines of ESL services.

College Access for Immigrant Students Every year, high schools around the country graduate a significant number of talented immigrant students, many of whom have grown up in the United States, attended the same elementary and secondary schools as native-born students, and excelled at the same academic requirements as their classmates. Like their U.S.-born peers, these students share the same dream of pursuing a higher education. Unfortunately, they lack access to the state and federal financial assistance and instate tuition rates available to U.S.-born students, making it virtually impossible for them to afford a college education. In effect, through no act of their own, they are denied the opportunity to share in the "American Dream."

Among those whose dreams are currently thwarted are potential teachers, doctors, nurses, and engineers.

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It is imperative that college doors be opened to these hardworking, talented students by making college in-state tuition rates accessible and enabling such students to adjust their immigration status so that they may fully contribute to our economy and nation.

RILPAC supports both state and federal legislation enabling longtime U.S. resident children of undocumented parents to attend their state public university or college at the in-state tuition rate. In addition, RILPAC believes that federal legislation allowing certain immigrant students those who have lived in the United States for a long period of time and have demonstrated good moral character – the opportunity to adjust their status to that of a permanent legal resident is critical to improving the pipeline from high school to college and meaningful employment for Latinos.

College Outreach and Preparation Programs Although Latino enrollment in postsecondary education has increased, Latinos are still less likely than non-Latinos to be enrolled in or graduate from college. In 2000, 22% of all Latinos ages 18 through 24 were enrolled in postsecondary degree granting institutions, compared with 39% of Whites and 31% of African Americans.

Outreach, mentoring, and preparation are critical components of postsecondary access for Latinos, particularly given the high Hispanic dropout rate during the K-12 years and the fact that Hispanic children who do complete their elementary and RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: Page 16 Page secondary education often attend schools in the poorest neighborhoods, with the fewest resources, and the most inexperienced teachers. Additionally, outreach and support services must be infused throughout the K-12 system through partnerships with states and institutions of higher education as well as targeted to low-income, first-generation students who have already demonstrated promise.

The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) represents an opportunity to turn the tide and ensure that Latino students will be fully prepared to contribute to our nation’s welfare and prosperity. The HEA includes Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), an important federal education program that seeks to increase the number of low-income students who attend and succeed in college. Since its creation in 1998, GEAR UP has grown to serve an estimated 1.4 million students – more than one-third of whom are Hispanic.

Moreover, GEAR UP provides services that reach entire cohorts of students, including those at risk of dropping out of school, English language learners (ELLs), and those who may not be recommended to receive services provided by other federal programs. GEAR UP works effectively to ensure that the greatest number of students complete high school and leave college with a degree by combining early college awareness, mentoring, and academic preparation with the assurance of financial aid.

RILPAC strongly opposes proposals to merge GEAR UP with the federal TRIO programs. RILPAC believes GEAR UP must be maintained as a distinct program in order to effectively accomplish its goals of increasing college enrollment and retention among low-income students.

Early Childhood Education Research has consistently shown that access to high-quality early childhood education can have a positive impact on the school careers of children, particularly those from low-income households. Unfortunately, Latinos are less likely than their African American and White peers to participate in early childhood education programs. For example, fewer than four in ten (36.2%) Hispanic children ages three to five who

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are living in poverty are enrolled in early childhood care and education programs. In contrast, 60.1% of poor Black and 46.1% of poor White children of the same age group are enrolled in these programs.

As the number of Latino children under age five continues to grow, access to quality child care becomes more important. Moreover, many of these children come from RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic

Families: Page 18 households in which English is not the first language. Thus, it is critical that proposals to reauthorize early childhood programs, including the Head Start Act, take into account the needs of ELLs. In addition, programs serving the children of migrant and seasonal farm workers must be expanded to reach more children. Last, because Head Start participants come from low-income households, the Head Start Act should retain vital wraparound services, including health and nutrition.

RILPAC believes that reauthorization of the Head Start Act should focus on helping ELL children become ready to learn when they enter the public schools. To achieve this, the Head Start program should examine opportunities to increase the participation of Latino children, increase the number of Head Start personnel prepared to teach ELL children, research and disseminate best practices in serving Latino and ELL children and families, and strengthen and expand the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program. In addition, RILPAC supports retaining health and nutrition services provided through Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start.

Education Budget In January 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) into law. This legislation made significant changes to programs with the potential to improve academic outcomes for Hispanic students and to enhance the role of parents in turning around struggling schools. Specifically, the NCLB strengthened the federal program for ELLs by clarifying that schools will be held accountable for helping ELLs make strides in acquiring English and improving their reading and math skills. In addition, the NCLB authorized the Local Family Information Centers (LFICs) program. LFICs are community-based centers that provide parents of Title I students, including ELLs, with information about their children’s schools so that they can hold their local and state school officials accountable. Both the Language Assistance State Grants and Parent Assistance programs must be adequately funded to ensure that the NCLB is effectively implemented at the state and local levels.

In addition to NCLB programs, GEAR UP is a key program for Latino students. Unfortunately, GEAR UP was one of very few federal education programs that received a funding decrease for FY 2002 and received level funding in FY 2003. This is the case despite the fact that the number of children participating in GEAR UP continues to grow.

RILPAC believes that NCLB reforms can work effectively only if the programs authorized under the NCLB are adequately funded. For FY 2004, RILPAC supports $1.2 billion for Language Assistance State Grants and $100 million for Parent Assistance programs. In addition, RILPAC believes that the GEAR UP program should receive $425 million for FY 2004 in order to reach the growing number of needy students.

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ECONOMIC MOBILITY While the economic growth of the mid-to late 1990s resulted in real improvements in the economic wellbeing of Hispanic families and their children, the financial status of many Latinos remains uncertain. In fact, data and research indicate that the new economy has created new challenges for Latino families. For instance, many Latinos work in low-wage jobs without benefits or long-term security. Limited employment and earning potential make many Hispanic workers particularly vulnerable to periods of economic downturn and contribute to higher unemployment levels and lower incomes for Latinos. During the last quarter of 2002, 7.8% of Latino workers were unemployed, compared with the national unemployment rate of 5.9% during that same period, and in 2001 the median income of an Hispanic household was $19,651, well below the national average ($27,652). Furthermore, the gap in net worth – the value of assets minus debt – between Latino and White families is wide and growing. The net worth of the average Hispanic family was $3,000 in 1998, just 4% of the wealth of the average White family.

The median Hispanic family maintained zero financial wealth – net worth minus equity – in 1998 compared with $37,600 for White non-Hispanic families.

In order for more Hispanic families to become economically mobile and move into the ranks of the middle class, RILPAC believes that Latinos must enhance their national-level presence on economic and employment policy issues. Outlined below are major asset development, income security, and employment programs that can help Latinos achieve this.

Banking and Financial Services Access to basic banking and financial services is key to becoming part of the financial mainstream. A strong relationship to a financial institution is critical to a family’s ability to purchase and accumulate assets and build financial security.

Nonetheless, Latinos are less likely than other Americans to use mainstream financial institutions to meet basic banking needs. Only about 33% of Latinos have basic checking accounts, for example.

With regular transaction fees, the prospect of overdraft fees, and onerous identification requirements, opening a banking account can be costly and burdensome. However, lack of basic financial services, such as a checking account, forces many Latinos to pay bills with money orders and to use check-cashing outlets which can charge between 2% and 9% interest, depending on the type of check. Basic banking services are not only cost-saving necessities, but also a means of accessing other important banking tools and products, such as mortgage loans.

The erosion of wealth that can result from the over utilization of check-cashing and other fringe banking services, such as payday loans, stresses the importance of financial literacy in empowering Latino families not only to stay away from harmful financial practices but, more importantly, to invest wisely and accumulate assets.

Undoubtedly, financial education is crucial to wealth-building for Latino families. A variety of financial education programs throughout the country are currently targeted to Latinos. However, it remains unclear what specific approaches work best.

RILPAC would support measures that effectively target unbanked workers and families, including those with the potential to build on the work of First Accounts, which provide funding to financial institutions

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that employ various strategies to increase Latino access to banking and other financial services. RILPAC also encourages the creation of programs to evaluate, support, and assist in the implementation of effective financial education strategies for Latino families. RILPAC supports efforts to allow immigrants to access banking services with alternative identification, such as Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) and/or consular identification cards (e.g., matricula consular).

HEALTH CARE The Latino population currently faces a number of significant health challenges and disparities, including disproportionately high rates of diabetes, asthma, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and heart disease. Young Latinos, who by 2020 are projected to account for one in every five children in the U.S., struggle with these and other serious health risks, including the highest teen birth rate in the nation and high rates of mental illness and depression. Many of the health concerns that plague the Latino community could be prevented or more effectively managed given access to quality health care. Unfortunately, myriad different barriers often stand between Latinos and their ability to access such care. One major barrier is a lack of health insurance. According to the Current Population Survey, one-third of Latinos (33.2%) do not have health insurance, compared with 10.0% of Whites and 19.0% of Blacks.

This disparity persists despite high rates of work participation among Latinos and poses a significant risk to their physical and mental health, as well as their financial security. Although high uninsurance rates among Latinos result from the confluence of many different factors, they are partly driven by current laws that ban Latino and other immigrants from federally-funded public health programs if they arrived in this country after August 22, 1996. Latinos are further denied access to this country’s health system by high rates of poverty combined with high costs of health care, a lack of linguistically and culturally competent health providers, and a lack of outreach efforts targeted toward enrolling eligible Latinos in public health programs.

RILPAC supports legislation that will reduce or eliminate the barriers that prevent Latino and immigrant communities from accessing quality health care. Such legislation includes proposals to make health care universally available to all who live and work in this country. Short of these broader reforms, the restoration of public health benefits to immigrants would constitute a critical first step toward guaranteeing the health and wellness of all Latinos. RILPAC further advocates for the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services to those who apply for or enroll in public health coverage, as well as to those receiving care in the clinical setting. To ensure that health policies reach the communities they are intended to serve, enhanced outreach efforts are also needed to educate Latino and immigrant communities about health care programs for which they are eligible, as is improved training for eligibility workers. Finally, RILPAC supports a fuller commitment to research designed to identify both the health problems and the socioeconomic determinants of health that Latinos face.

Restoration of Immigrant Benefits Current laws ban legal immigrants, including children, from most federal benefits programs for at least five years after their arrival in this country. Even once they become "eligible" after the five years, immigrant access to public health programs is further hindered by a number of complicated legal barriers, such as sponsor deeming and liability. The situation is worse for undocumented immigrants, who are barred not only from federal programs, but often from state programs as well, even though they are living and working in those communities. These laws prevent low-income immigrant families from obtaining

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health coverage through Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The consequences of these policies are especially harsh for the children of immigrant families, many of whom are in fact citizens and therefore eligible for public health programs. Regardless of probable eligibility, immigrant parents often do not enroll their children because of the general misperception that doing so will jeopardize their family’s immigration status. Such tendencies are especially alarming given that children of low-income immigrants are more than twice as likely to be in fair or poor health as children of low-income natives (12% vs. 5%), and are thus in need of improved access to health care.

RILPAC supports restoring public health benefits to immigrants, who represent a large portion of the nation’s current and future workers and taxpayers. At a minimum, RILPAC requests that Congress and the Administration cease the punishment of legal immigrant children and pregnant women for lawfully adopting this nation as their own, and restore to them the opportunity to participate in the Medicaid and SCHIP programs if they are otherwise eligible. This year, Congress will have the opportunity to pass such critical provisions in the form of the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA). As the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures have articulated in their statements of support for this measure, the federal government should share in the responsibility of providing health services to lawfully-present children and pregnant women and not leave the burden solely to the states and localities.

Access to Health Insurance and Medicaid Reform The health care crisis confronting the Latino population will likely become more severe in the coming months as the availability of employment-based insurance continues to decline, and the cost of health care continues to rise. At the same time, states are struggling with drastic budget shortfalls, making Medicaid and other state RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: P

age 22 health programs highly vulnerable to state spending cuts. In fact, most states have plans to or have already cut these critical programs. The potential impact of these cuts on the Latino community is daunting, given that 25% of Latino adults and 37% of Latino children currently rely on public health programs for health insurance.

Although the Administration has proposed reforms to the Medicaid program which ostensibly address the problems of state budget deficits and the growing numbers of uninsured, in actuality such reforms will most likely result in long-term programmatic funding shortfalls that would ultimately require states to make even greater cuts to their Medicaid programs. These cuts would have serious negative consequences for both low-income beneficiaries and their health care providers.

RILPAC argues for Medicaid policies that will provide real fiscal relief to states while simultaneously guaranteeing that as many low-income families as possible have access to health insurance. To accomplish both of these objectives, RILPAC supports an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP). These percentages are the rates at which the federal government reimburses states for spending on Medicaid. Legislation to offer a temporary FMAP increase is good for the Medicaid program, good for state economies, and has bipartisan support. Such legislation has already been introduced in the Senate (S. 138), and companion legislation will soon be introduced in the House.

Community Health Centers Community health centers (CHCs) are typically private, nonprofit, consumer directed health care corporations that provide comprehensive primary and preventive care to medically-underserved and uninsured low-income populations. According to the National Association of Community Health Centers,

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more than 1,000 CHCs nationwide serve ten million people each year, including one of every six lowincome children and one of every ten uninsured persons. These centers, strategically located in underserved localities, including inner cities, isolated rural areas, and migrant farmworker communities, provide an important safety net to Latino and immigrant populations who otherwise would not have access to care. CHCs meet the health needs of these low-income communities by offering flexible hours, translation services and bilingual staff, access to multiple services at a single site, and access to specialized care. In addition, many CHCs conduct extensive outreach and health education programs to immigrant groups to build trust, explain what care is available and how the system works, and provide basic preventive health care information.

RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: Page 24 RILPAC recommends the authorization of enhanced federal funding – $5 million for fiscal years 2004 through 2005 – to support community health centers in their work to improve the health of low-income families, especially racial and ethnic minority families in medically-underserved communities.

Language Access For many Latinos, language problems are a major barrier to health care. A report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured revealed that nearly one-half (46%) of Spanish-speaking parents were unable to enroll their children in Medicaid because enrollment forms and information were not translated into their language. Another half (50%) said their belief that application materials would not be available in their language discouraged them from even trying to enroll. These language barriers may help to explain why low-income Latino children who live in Spanish-speaking families are twice as likely to be uninsured compared with low-income Latino children who live in English-speaking families (43% to 21%). Language barriers not only discourage Latinos and their families from enrolling in public health programs for which they are eligible, but they can also lead to serious and potentially lifethreatening health consequences in the health care setting, including misdiagnoses, poor medical care, and inappropriate medications and/or hospitalizations.

Under Executive Order 13166, supported by President Bush, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, recipients of federal funding must make a reasonable effort to ensure that individuals who are limitedEnglish-proficient (LEP) have language access to necessary settings such as hospitals, clinics, and enrollment offices.

While Executive Order 13166 constitutes a significant step toward improving current language access problems, providing an enhanced federal match for LEP services is critical to implementing language access services in settings where both medical personnel and patients are currently struggling with a lack of communication. Such communication barriers can lead to costly medical mistakes, confusion, and at times life-threatening problems. In order to ensure that LEP patients have meaningful access to health care, RILPAC supports the provision of an enhanced 90% federal matching rate to states through Medicaid and SCHIP for the provision of language services, including oral interpretation, translation of written materials, and other language services, for individuals with limited English proficiency.

Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention High rates of poverty and low levels of education, together with segregation, limited English proficiency, and the stress associated with the immigration experience, place Latinos and Latino immigrants at heightened risk for substance abuse. In 2000, for instance, 6.4% of Latinos admitted to having used illicit

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drugs, including 9.2% of Puerto Ricans, who demonstrate the second-highest rate of all racial and ethnic groups in the nation (the highest rate is 11.2% for American Indians and native Alaskans). These Latinos are heavily predisposed to poor nutritional habits and fitness, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac problems, and cancer. Moreover, a significant portion of Latinos who struggle with substance abuse lack health insurance and, as a result, turn to hospital emergency rooms when they need care.

The use of emergency services may ultimately be more expensive for providers than providing funds for prevention and treatment facilities.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides substance abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services for many Latinos with addiction problems through its Substance Abuse Block Grant and its Programs of Regional and National Significance. SAMHSA received $3.135 billion in FY 2002, including increases of 13% for Programs of Regional and National Significance and 3.6% for the Substance Abuse Block Grant.

RILPAC supports increased funding for SAMHSA. RILPAC believes it is critical to fund the continuum of care – treatment, prevention, and research – and recommends a 15% increase for FY 2004 for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and a 12% increase for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), as well as a 15% increase for the Substance Abuse Block Grant.

Health Research In recent years, our understanding of the health challenges faced by the Latino community has improved substantially. However, our knowledge of morbidity, disability, and quality of life among Latinos continues to be severely limited by a lack of nationwide data collection efforts that are focused specifically on Latino health.

Furthermore, those studies that have addressed minority health issues have often failed to give an accurate portrayal of Latino health needs. Problems with such research efforts to date include a failure to collect data on health issues that pertain specifically to Latinos, such as cross-border health and the "healthy immigrant" RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families:

e 26 effect; a failure to employ culturally sensitive research designs; a failure to include LEP individuals and immigrants as study participants; and a failure to analyze Latino data by pertinent ethnic subgroups.

The last and only federally-funded study to address the health status of the Latino population on a national scale was the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES), conducted 20 years ago (1982-1984). Clearly, new studies are needed that accurately reflect the health needs of the rapidly growing and changing Latino demographics in this country, and that can help to elucidate the socioeconomic determinants of Latino health. Only through such research efforts can policy objectives be established that adequately address the health needs of the Latino community.

RILPAC believes that the need to understand and address more fully the health disparities that Latinos face necessitates a stronger national commitment to the collection of Latino health data. To initiate this commitment, RILPAC supports providing such sums as necessary to conduct a new national assessment of the status of Latino health similar to the first "Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," but that includes detailed health data on all relevant Latino subgroups, including those of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American, South American, and Dominican origin.

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HOUSING The share of Latinos with the "worst case housing needs" has risen dramatically in recent years.

Differences in housing conditions between Hispanics and other Americans still remain even when factors, such as income, are taken into account. Nationally, Hispanics are twice as likely as Whites to be found in inadequate or overcrowded housing situations. A particular problem for Latinos, the vast majority of whom are renters, is a large and growing shortage of affordable rental housing attributable to both market conditions and a precipitous drop in federal support for subsidized housing over the last two decades.

Moreover, Hispanics are underrepresented among homeowners; consequently, the Hispanic community is not accessing a traditional route to building wealth and entering the ranks of the middle class. While the Hispanic homeownership rate has increased over the past decade, there remains a significant gap between Hispanic and White homeownership rates. This disparity in homeownership and the poor housing conditions of Hispanics can be explained, in part, by the prevalence of housing discrimination against Hispanic families. Recent research by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reveals that Hispanics are more likely than any other group to experience discrimination in a housing search.

Fair Housing Many working and low-income Latinos continue to face severe problems in obtaining safe, sanitary, and decent housing. Latinos face high rates of housing discrimination in the sale and rental of housing and in many cases are denied access to available quality housing. Latinos are often provided different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental of a home, as well as in the mortgage lending process where, in many cases, they are not provided with adequate housing or loan information.

Moreover, language barriers and immigration-related issues also hinder many Latinos from obtaining safe and affordable housing. For example, cultural and language barriers in advertising can exclude Latino renters or buyers from access to housing markets. Furthermore, due to unfamiliarity with housing laws and fear of immigration-related consequences, regardless of their immigration status, Latinos accept poorer housing conditions and are less likely than others to complain or request repairs when they are needed.

Appropriations legislation is the principal legislative vehicle for expanding fair housing, homeownership, and affordable housing supply programs, by providing the resources to make these programs accessible to a larger portion of the population that need them. RILPAC also supports the Community Homeownership Tax Credit Act, bipartisan legislation designed to increase the supply of affordable homeownership units, which is expected to be reintroduced in the 108th Congress. Similarly, RILPAC supports expanded federal assistance to increase the supply of affordable rental housing. A number of HUD programs, as well as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), are designed to achieve this goal. In addition, RILPAC supports new legislation to promote the increased production of affordable homeownership units, modeled roughly on the LIHTC, such as that introduced in the last Congress.

RILPAC also supports increasing resources to enforce the Fair Housing Act. Finally, program initiatives specifically targeted to Latinos help protect against housing discrimination and should be expanded.

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Housing Counseling Many Hispanics are not well-informed about homeownership requirements or of the importance of establishing credit as a significant step toward homeownership. Many Latinos are credit-averse and tend to pay cash for most transactions. Cultural and language barriers can also make it difficult to educate creditworthy Latinos about the intricacies of the mortgage lending system and the importance of credit and debt. However, recent research has demonstrated the efficacy of community-based homebuyer counseling in improving Hispanic access to homeownership.

RILPAC supports increased funding for effective housing counseling services in low-income and Latino communities. Programs that use community-based organizations to facilitate home purchases and assist current homeowners to avoid losing their current investment through increasing access to homebuyer education and housing counseling should be expanded.

IMMIGRATION Immediately prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. and Mexico were moving forward with historical migration negotiations to legalize the status of undocumented workers in the U.S. and regulate future migration flows. Since September 11, a new national security factor has permeated the national debate on immigration reform, and new counterterrorist measures have had a disproportionate effect on immigrant communities. While Latinos are concerned about national security and want to protect the U.S. from future terrorist attacks, Hispanics also continue to support fair and equitable immigration policies.

The majority of Latinos in the U.S. are native-born citizens – 60% according to the 2000 Census – but many have parents or other family members who are foreign born, and many U.S.-born Hispanics are mistaken for immigrants because of their ethnicity or appearance. In addition, the nation’s views concerning immigration policy and immigrants often reflect or carry over to attitudes toward, and impressions of, the broader Latino community.

Hispanics care deeply about the nation’s policies toward immigrants and vigorously support fair and respectful treatment of immigrants under the law. RILPAC’s immigration policy agenda emphasizes human dignity, family reunification, protection of civil rights, and fundamental fairness under the law as well as national security.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform All sides of the immigration policy debate agree that the current immigration policy regime has failed to regulate the flow of migrants to the U.S. That current immigration laws are out of tune with the country’s economy is evidenced by the fact that there are approximately eight million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. and working in essential positions in the nation’s labor force and contributing to its prosperity. Furthermore, millions of close family members remain in visa backlogs for years, waiting to be reunited with their families. More immigrants are paying large sums to smugglers and risking their lives to work and be reunited with their families; the number of border deaths has increased dramatically in recent years, now reaching an average of nearly one death per day. This untenable situation will not be remedied unless fundamental reforms are initiated.

RILPAC has joined with immigrant communities, labor unions, and business organizations to

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acknowledge the presence and contributions of undocumented immigrants in the nation’s workforce and to provide an opportunity for them to earn legal status. A legalization policy would help to fill sectors of the U.S. economy with needed legal workers and would move many hardworking, tax-paying families out of the shadows and into full participation in America’s economy and society. The critical nature of this issue is reinforced by several recent poll results that have found that approximately 85% of Latinos are in favor of proposals to provide legal status to undocumented immigrants.

RILPAC also recognizes that legalizing those unauthorized workers who are already in the country does nothing to remedy the underlying causes of undocumented immigration and will not prevent future flows of unauthorized migration unless additional steps are taken. There are no indications that the flow of migrants into the U.S. is slowing; indeed, the trends continue largely as they have for the last 20 years, because U.S. law fails to accommodate the economic realities of migration.

Current immigration policy actually encourages undocumented immigration because legal channels for obtaining visas are extremely limited. In order to ensure that future immigration flows are safe, legal, and orderly, the U.S. government must create new legal channels for needed foreign workers and provide the legislative means and the resources needed to clear current backlogs.

Comprehensive immigration reform allowing the U.S. to regulate migration flows and legalize the existing workforce would provide authorities with reliable information and would allow them to know who is here in the U.S. and who is entering. The ability to conduct background checks and obtain other information from migrants who are present in or will soon enter the U.S. workforce is preferable to the current situation, in which those who survive the dangerous trek to the U.S. strive to live and work invisibly within its borders.

RILPAC supports comprehensive immigration reform legislation to provide targeted adjustment of the status of immigrants in the U.S. labor force, to open new avenues for workers to immigrate legally, and to clear current visa backlogs.

Post-September 11 Immigration Policies Since September 11, Congress, state legislatures, the Bush Administration, and the Department of Justice, in particular, have taken a series of actions that are ostensibly aimed at protecting the nation from terrorists but have had a detrimental effect on immigrants and others who "look" or "sound" like immigrants. These "counterterrorism" measures include special registration requirements for foreign

RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: P age 30 nationals from particular countries, new change of address form requirements for non citizens, restrictions on immigrant access to driver’s licenses, the detention of thousands of non citizens, increased workplace enforcement, increased collaboration between the immigration enforcement agencies and local police forces, and other policies that leave immigrants in very vulnerable situations. While the primary victims of these new immigration policies have been persons of Arab or Muslim descent, the Latino community has felt increasingly marginalized, alienated, and fearful. Most importantly, these new policies have had negative consequences for Latino communities and others without offering any proof that Americans are indeed safer.

RILPAC supports reasonable measures that protect the U.S. from terrorism and do not single out groups or individuals for abuse or discrimination. Steps must be taken to ensure that new policies are effective and truly make the country safer rather than simply make some segments of the population feel better at the expense of others.

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Immigration Services Homeland Security

within

the

Department

of

For years RILPAC has argued that the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was plagued with competing missions and needed fundamental restructuring.

However, the law creating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was signed in December 2002, abolishes the INS and incorporates immigration services and enforcement into DHS, but does not restructure the INS in the necessary manner. This law fundamentally changes the way that immigrants and immigration are treated in the U.S. and sends the signal that immigration is a national security concern.

Furthermore, immigration services may suffer under DHS, and it is likely that backlogs for naturalization and visa adjudications will continue to grow.

Naturalization applications have increased dramatically over the past decade for a variety of reasons including: lawful permanent residents who had obtained status through the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 became eligible to naturalize, new requirements that lawful permanent residents replace their green cards prompted many to apply to naturalize, and anti-immigrant policy proposals including restrictions on public benefits provided additional incentives to naturalize.

The INS has been unable to keep up with demand, and the current naturalization backlog tops 600,000.

Page 31 At the same time, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents continue to file petitions for family members to join them in the U.S., employers in need of specialized skills file petitions for workers, and refugees and asylees who have fled persecution apply to make the U.S. their permanent home. The adjudications backlog has grown almost tenfold from approximately 120,000 cases in 1994 to more than one million in 2000. Since September 11, resources continue to be diverted away from adjudications and into special registration and other counterterrorism priorities.

RILPAC will closely monitor the transition of INS to DHS, paying particular attention to civil rights violations by immigration enforcement personnel and the length and quality of immigration services.

RILPAC believes that immigration enforcement must be fully accountable, and that the service functions must treat people efficiently and respectfully.

State and Local Police Enforcement of Immigration Law In 2002 the Department of Justice (DOJ) took steps to enlist state and local law enforcement officers in enforcing federal immigration laws. The names of certain individuals who have violated some federal immigration laws are now available on the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, which police regularly consult. Furthermore, it has been reported that the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel has a new legal opinion which reinterprets current law and declares that state and local police have the "inherent authority" to enforce federal immigration law. This document has not been made public, but the mere mention of this new authority has had a chilling effect on the Latino community.

While the safety and security of our communities and the country are of the utmost importance, new policies that would allow local police departments to enforce federal civil immigration law will hinder

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terrorist and other criminal investigations and have a serious negative impact on Latino communities.

Immigrant advocates, legal experts, and many law enforcement agencies agree that the DOJ’s policy shift is in direct conflict with long-standing legal tradition, will inevitably result in higher levels of racial profiling, police misconduct, and other civil rights violations, and will undermine – rather than strengthen – effective enforcement and antiterrorism activities.

RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: Page 32 RILPAC believes that the DOJ should immediately rescind its dubious new legal interpretation and renounce any plans to expand delegation of immigration law enforcement to state and local police.

Absent such a policy shift, Congress should act to prevent its implementation.

Driver’s Licenses Policies on issuance of driver’s licenses, long centered on public safety concerns, have increasingly taken national security and immigration policy undertones, both at the state and federal levels. Until recently, requirements for obtaining a driver’s license were based on an individual’s ability to prove identity, driving skill, and knowledge of traffic and safety regulations – factors that gave state Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) the ability to fulfill their public safety missions. Since September 11, 2001, many states have begun to impose restrictions on immigrants’ ability to obtain licenses in ways that, at best, disregard the complicated nature of our immigration laws and, at worst, result in increased discrimination and harassment against this population and others who are perceived to be immigrants.

Requiring a Social Security Number (SSN) and/or proof of legal immigration status has resulted in denying access to driver’s licenses and identification cards to immigrants undocumented as well as legally present and in the process of adjusting to legal status – who can legitimately prove their identity and their ability to drive.

Moreover, implementation of these requirements turns DMVs into immigration enforcers, a role these agencies are neither trained nor funded to undertake and which could result in fomenting discrimination against entire groups. These measures force vulnerable immigrant populations further underground, undermining public safety by increasing the number of unlicensed and uninsured drivers on the road and weakening relations with law enforcement which are necessary to improve national security.

In contrast, several states use SSNs and proof of lawful presence as two of several options of legitimate documents applicants can provide to verify their identity; federal and state governments would be well served by exploring similar options that prevent identity theft, without sacrificing safety on public roads or undermining national security. Legislators in the California and Texas legislature have gained bipartisan support in previous sessions for proposals to expand the number of legitimate documents an individual may use to obtain a driver’s license. It is expected that similar legislation will be taken up in the current legislative sessions.

RILPAC supports measures that advance public safety and national security, and uphold civil and immigrant rights. RILPAC believes that a driver’s license should be proof of one’s authorization to operate a motor vehicle and proof of one’s identity; driver’s licenses should not be tied to immigration status, and state Departments of Motor Vehicles should not be responsible for making determinations based on immigration status.

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SELECTED REFERENCES RILPAC Agenda for Hispanic Families: Page 44

Civil Rights Joge, Carmen, et al., The Mainstreatming of Hate: A Report on Latinos and Harrassment, Hate Violence, and Law Engorcement Abuse in the 90’s, Wshington, DC:National Council of La Raza, November 1999.

Arboleda, Angela, “Latinos and the Federal Criminal Justice System,” Statistical Brief No. 1.

Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, July 2002.

Economic Mobility "Comments on Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century," Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, December 2002.

Available on the web at www.RILPAC.org/policy/letters/comments.pdf.

"Compilation of Short Analyses on the Administration’s Tax and Related Proposals," Washington, DC: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2003. Available on the web at http://www.cbpp.org/1-1103econstimpack.pdf.

Friedrich, Amy and Eric Rodriguez, "Financial Insecurity Amid Growing Wealth: Why Healthier Savings is Essential to Latino Prosperity," Issue Brief No. 5, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, August 2001.

"Hispanic Workers and Retirement Security Fact Sheet," Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, February 2002.

Kamasaki, Charles and Laura Arce, "Financial Services and Hispanic Americans," Issue Brief No. 2, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, August 2000.

Muñoz, Cecilia, "Testimony on Proposals to Reauthorize TANF and the Impact On Latino Families," Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, April 11, 2002.

Available on the web athttp://RILPAC.policy.net/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=20560 Pérez, Sonia M., editor, Moving Up the Economic Ladder: Latino Workers and the Nation’s Future Prosperity, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, July 2000.

Education Fisher, Maria, et al., Latino Education: Status and Prospects, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, July 1998.

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GonzĂĄlez, Raul, "The No Child Left Behind Act: Implications for Local Educators and Advocates for Latino Students, Families, and Communities," Issue Brief No. 8, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, June 2002. "Hispanic Education Fact Sheet," Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, July 2002.

Health Andrulis, D., N. Goodman, and C. Pryor, What a Difference an Interpreter Can Make: Health Care Experiences of Uninsured With Limited English Proficiency, Boston, MA: The Access Project, April 2002. Available on the web at www.healthlaw.org/pubs/interpreter.report.pdf Flores, G., et al., "The Health of Latino Children: Urgent Priorities, Unanswered Questions, and a Research Agenda," JAMA, Vol. 288, 2002, pp. 82-90 Holahan, J., et al., The State Fiscal Crisis and Medicaid: Will Health Programs Be Major Budget Targets? Overview and Case Studies, Washington, DC: The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, January 2003.

Mann, C., D. Rousseau, R. Garfield, and M. O'Malley, Reaching Uninsured Children through Medicaid: If You Build it Right, They Will Come, Washington, DC: The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, June 2002. Available on the web at www.kff.org/content/2002/20020611/4040.pdf

Housing Hizel, Erika, Charles Kamasaki, and Geraldine Schafer, "Increasing Hispanic Homeownership: Strategies for Programs and Public Policy," Issue Brief No. 7, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, June 2002.

Turner, Lexi, "Homeownership Counseling: Expanding Homeownership Opportunity, The Success of HUD’s Housing Counseling Program, National Association of Housing Partners," Position Paper, January 2000.

Yzaguirre, Raul, Charles Kamasaki, and Laura Arce, "The Fair Housing Act: A Latino Perspective," Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1999.

Immigration "Immigrants in the Crosshairs: The Quiet Backlash Against America's Immigrants and Refugees," National Immigration Forum Backgrounder, Washington, DC: National Immigration Forum, December 2002.

"Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope," a Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration from the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the United States, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano, January 2003.

Waslin, Michele, "Safe Roads, Safe Communities: Immigrants and State Driver's License Requirements," Issue Brief No. 6, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza, May 2002.

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Waslin, Michele, "Immigration Enforcement by Local Police: The Impact on the Civil Rights of Latinos," Issue Brief No. 9, Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza,February 2003.

Testimony on Immigration Policy, presented by Raul Yzaguirre, National Council of La Raza, before the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: U.S. Mexico Migration Discussions: An Historic Opportunity, Washington D.C., September 7, 2001.

Action Groups Health Pablo Rodriguez, MD Betty Bernal Education Tony Affigne Jose Gonzalez Immigration Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan Roberto Gonzalez Housing

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Membership Orientation Manual By Tomﾃ｡s Alberto ﾃ」ila

November 24, 2004

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Mission The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities.

Our Goals To increase political participation.

To support and/or endorse candidates from Rhode Island for state and local office who are committed to our mission.

To raise awareness on issues and/or candidates that could benefit or adversely impact the Latino community.

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Index

Responsibilities Of Individual Members Of The RILPAC Governing Board I. General responsibilities 1. Be an enrolled member of the organization.

2. Have a thorough knowledge of the organization's bylaws and policies.

3. Understand the organization, its mission, goals, objectives, programs and operations.

4. Attend all board and committee meetings, training sessions and special events.

5. Keep informed and know what is going on in the organization. Ask questions.

Request information. Read and understand financial reports.

6. Participate fully and openly in meetings, sharing concerns, ideas and suggestions.

Register dissent openly.

7. Make decisions on issues, policies, goals and objectives based on careful consideration of facts and relevant data.

8. Participate in fund development campaign and suggest potential solicitors and donors to strengthen these efforts.

9. Suggest prospective candidates for membership and for board and committee participation.

10. Provide financial support within personal means to the organization.

11. Serve on one or more committees and accept special assignments whenever possible.

12. Interpret the organization to the community.

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13. Exercise prudence and demonstrate good faith in all RILPAC related dealings, e.g. 路

Maintain confidentiality on all board matters;

Legal Responsibilities of boards Members Under well-established principles of nonprofit corporation law, a board member must meet certain standards of conduct and attention in carrying out his or her responsibilities to the organization. Several states have statutes adopting some variation of these duties which would be used in court to determine whether a board member acted improperly. These standards are usually described as the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of obedience.

Duty of Care

The duty of care describes the level of competence that is expected of a board member, and is commonly expressed as the duty of "care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise in a like position and under similar circumstances." This means that a board member owes the duty to exercise reasonable care when he or she makes a decision as a steward of the organization.

Duty of Loyalty

The duty of loyalty is a standard of faithfulness; a board member must give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization. This means that a board member can never use information obtained as a member for personal gain, but must act in the best interests of the organization.

Duty of Obedience

The duty of obedience requires board members to be faithful to the organization's mission. They are not permitted to act in a way that is inconsistent with the central goals of the organization. A basis for this rule lies in the public's trust that the organization will manage donated funds to fulfill the organization's mission.

From The Legal Obligations of Nonprofit Boards: A Guidebook for Board Members. Washington, DC: National Center for Nonprofit Boards, 1992. ?

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CRITIRIA F0R MEMBERSHIP Membership is be open to Latinos and other persons who are at least eighteen (18) years of age and are approved by the Board of Directors.

LEVELS OF M E M B E R S H I P Active Membership Active Members must attend all meetings and will have voting privileges.

Associate Associate members will receive a quarterly newsletter but will have non-voting status.

Donor Donors are supporters who contribute to RILPAC but are not active or associate members.

CRITERIOS PARA MEMBRESÍA Membresía Activa Los Miembros activos deben atender todas las reuniones y tendrán derecho a voto.

Asociados Miembros Asociados no tienen derecho a voto en las reuniones.

Reciben todas las publicaciones de RILPAC.

Donantes Donantes son aquellas personas que dan una contribución a RILPAC pero no son miembros activos ni asociados.

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Characteristics Of Effective Boards Board members are effective to the extent that they possess the following characteristics: DIVERSITY. The board as a whole contains differences in talents, skills, experience, interests and social background.

STRUCTURE The Board is organized in such a way that individuals and committees assume a proper, active role in its functions.

MEMBER INVOLVEMENT Members demonstrate a high degree of interest in their role and responsibilities and are genuinely concerned about the organization's problems and prospects.

KNOWLEDGE Members are well informed about the organization's operation and the social forces that are affecting service delivery.

RAPPORT Members of the board have mutual respect for each other regardless of differences of opinion, and maintain a productive working relationship with each other.

SENSITIVITY The board is representative of, and sensitive to, different constituencies and viewpoints.

SENSE OF PRIORITIES Board members are concerned with important and long-range issues, not trivial matters.

DIRECTION The president is respected, and is strong and skilled in making certain that various points of view are expressed and in reaching satisfactory decisions.

STRENGTH. The board is strong enough to achieve effective policy decisions.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT The board contains a reasonable number of members who commit to obtaining financial support for the organization.

BOARD-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RELATIONSHIPS There is a productive working relationship between the executive director and board members.

ACCOMPLISHMENT The board has a genuine sense of progress and achievement, and members gain satisfaction from their services.

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Prerequisites For Effective Committees A Specific Commission: A clear description of what the committee is to do. · Members need to know what they're about and why. · Everyone needs a copy of the job description.

An Effective Chair: The key to an effective committee. · Acts as a team builder, an enabler of others, who does not try to do it all alone. · Is good at delegating and coordinating the work. · Serves as a liaison with the board and the executive committee. · Has a broader view rather than a one-task orientation.

An Effective Staff: The key to an effective chair. · Helps chair prepare agenda. · Provides data needed. · Integrates information from other committees. · Recognizes that the staff role may be greater or lesser, depending on who has the skills, who has the time.

Thoughtful appointed members: · Choose people according to knowledge and skills. · elect the number appropriate for the job. · Reach beyond board for committee members, if bylaws allow.

Effective meetings: · Sound agenda. · Information available for decision-making. Action oriented. · Beginning and ending times honored. · Minutes and/or notes are kept. · Group meets often enough to do the work and maintain momentum.

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Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee

Policy Regarding Selection Of Advisory Council Members The purpose of the policy is to provide a method for selection of Advisory Board members. ..

The Advisory Council shall consist of that number of members which from time to time best suits the needs of the organization. Members of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Governing Board at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.

Background information on the nominee shall be submitted in writing to the members of the Board at least one week before the board meeting at which the appointment is to be made.

Any member of the Governing Board may nominate an individual for appointment to the Advisory Council. A majority vote of the Governing Board members in attendance at the board meeting shall be sufficient to appoint a nominee to the Advisory Council.

After appointment by the Governing Board, the president shall notify the new Advisory Council member, in writing, of the appointment. The Advisory Council Chair, who shall be a member of the Governing Board, shall be responsible for providing the new member with pertinent background information on RILPAC and on the Advisory Council.

Advisory Council membership shall be for a term of three years and can be renewed by the Governing Board upon recommendation of the President or the Advisory Council Chair.

APPROVED BY BOARD:

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RHODE ISLAND LATINO POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Policy On The Operation Of Issues Committees Each issue committee of the Board shall be chaired by a member of the Board appointed by the President. Each committee shall consist of those Board members who elect to serve on the committee, as well as members recruited from the membership of the organization and the community. Membership in Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee shall not be a pre-requisite for service on an issue committee.

Each issue committee chair with assistance from committee members shall: ·

Maintain a loose-leaf book, or other file, at the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee office on the work of the committee;

·

Prepare committee agendas, call meetings and notify committee members;

·

Keep notes of the actions taken at meetings and file a written summary of the meeting at the office:

·

Present the committee's recommendations to the Board for action at Board meetings;

·

Report on the committee's work to the Board and the Executive Director;

·

Draft legislation or other material needed for community action in outline or conceptual form for presentation to the Board and follow-up by the Director. In case of legislation it must be submitted to the Board as early as possible and preferably at the September meeting, if filing in the next legislative session is anticipated.

·

Design any special projects for opportunity grants and submit to the Board for consideration by its November meeting.

APPROVED BY BOARD:

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RHODE ISLAND LATINO POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Policy On Citations And Awards Individuals who make substantial contributions to the effectiveness of Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee may be honored by the Board of Governors with a citation or other suitable recognition.

Areas of effective service may include one or more of the following: 1. Legislators, elected officials or candidates who make exemplary efforts to promote RILPAC issues or to secure passage of legislation which achieves RILPAC goals.

2. Public employees, members of commissions, journalists, community organizations, or individuals, whose integrity, courage or leadership in pursuit of their advocacy on behalf of the Latino community exemplify RILPAC Mission and objectives.

3. RILPAC governing board members, leaders or volunteers who make extraordinary efforts to achieve the organization's goals in their area of responsibility.

Citations and awards will be awarded by the Board of Governors on the recommendations of the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee shall consist of the following persons: l. The chairperson who shall be appointed by the President; 2. A member of the Advisory Council; 3.The President; 4. The Treasurer.

In making its recommendations, the Awards Committee shall be guided by input from the general membership, the Advisory Council, the Board of Governors and the Executive Director.

APPROVED BY BOARD:

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2004 – 2006 Bi-Annual Work Plan Strategic Planning Meeting January 17, 2004 Latino Civic Fund’s Programs for 2004 · · ·

Latinos On the Hill, April/May Latino Voter Registration Project Latina Leadership Institute August

RILPAC’s Proposed Activities for 2004 ·

Legislative Districts Analysis · Candidate Meet & Greet/Recruitment · Declaration Of Candidate For Delegate To The National Convention Jan 2-12 · Presidential Primary Elections, March 2 · Legislative Breakfast, March 18 · Candidates School, (Operation Clean Government) March 27 · Endorsement Committee Meeting July 2 · Endorsement Interviews July 12-16 · Endorsement Announcement July 30 · Legislative Elections Primaries, September 14 · Legislative Elections General, November, 9 · Bill Richardson Award, September 9 · Democratic Convention, Boston, July 26-29 · Republican Convention, New York, August 30, September 2

Other Issues · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Providence 2002 Charter Review Commission Recommendations Appointed & Employed Latinos Support Network Review of Board & Commissions Latino participation Latinos Resume Bank Legislative Advisory Council Candidate Training School Issue Policy Briefing Civil Rights Economic Development Education Health Housing

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· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Immigration 2005 Blackstone Elections Mayor City Council School Board 2006 Mid Term Elections U. S. Senate Governor Lt. Governor (Term Limited) Secretary of State (May run for U.S. Senate) Treasurer (Term Limited Consideringto run for LT. Governor) Attorney General Legislative Providence Mayor (May run for U.S. Senate) Cranston Mayor City Council 2008 Presidential Elections RILPAC 10th Anniversary, August 20 2008 2010 Census/Redistricting 2012 Elections

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Key Dates for the Presidential Preference Primaries ?

DATE ?

October 3-14, 2003

EVENT Deadline for individuals to file disaffiliation, if necessary, to run as a delegate. If a voter wishes to run as a delegate and is affiliated with a political party other than the political party in which he or she wishes to run as a delegate, the voter must disaffiliate during this time period.

Deadline depends on the date the delegate files his or her declaration of candidacy. The Secretary of State’s Presidential Preference Primary Guide includes a detailed explanation and chart.

?

November15-30, 2003 Presidential candidates file Statement of Intent to seek endorsement of a political party as their presidential candidate with the Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Division, 100 North Main Street, Providence. ?

December 3-12, 2003 Deadline to register to vote in order to be eligible to file a declaration of candidacy as a delegate. Deadline depends on date delegate files his or her declaration of candidacy. The Secretary of State’s Presidential Preference Primary Guide includes a detailed explanation and chart. ?

State party chairs file certified copies of complete party rules January 2, 2004 including delegate selection rules and delegate procedure for national convention with the Secretary of State and State Board of Elections. ?

Delegate candidates file Declarations of Candidacy with the Office of January 2-12, 2004 the Secretary of State, Elections Division, 100 North Main Street, Providence. ?

Deadline for individuals to register to vote in order to be eligible to January 31, 2004 vote in the Rhode Island Presidential Preference Primary. ?

Secretary of State to conduct a lottery to determine ballot order for February 4, 2004 presidential nominees and delegates. Lottery to be conducted at 5:00 p.m. in the Governor’s State Room, State House, Providence. ?

Deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the Presidential Preference February 10, 2004 Primary. ?

March 2, 2004 RI PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY

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Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee By-Laws Article I Name and Purpose Section 1.

The name of this organization is the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (R.I.L.P.A.C.).

Section 2.

The R.I.L.P.A.C. is a nonpartisan organization formed to advance the following goals: A.

To support candidates from Rhode Island for national, state and local office who are committed to improving the quality of life for members of the Latino community.

B.

To endorse candidates who support issues benefiting Latinos and other individuals from urban communities while raising awareness on issues and/or candidates that could adversely impact the Latino community.

C.

To insure that elected officials, political leaders and candidates have a broad understanding of the concerns and priorities among Rhode Island Latinos.

Article II Membership Section 1. Members A.

Membership shall be open to Latinos and other persons who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, are a registered voter, and comply with the financial obligations set by the Board of Directors.

B.

A member may lose his/her good standing if he/she has not met his/her obligation towards the R.I.L.P.A.C. and/or has missed more than three (3) consecutive membership meetings. This will be decided by a majority vote at a regularly scheduled meeting.

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Section 2. Voting Rights A.

Members in good standing shall have the following rights: 1.

Full voting rights at all membership meetings after being in good standing for three months.

2.

The right to determine and formulate all R.I.L.P.A.C. fundamental policies.

3.

The right to vote on any matter brought before the organization by the Board of Directors.

4.

Six months of membership will be required to be nominated as an officer.

Section 3. Financial Obligations A.

Members shall pay a $25.00 annual fee in the manner specified by the Board of Directors.

B.

These fees may be changed by the Board of Directors as required, with approval of the membership.

Article III Directors Section 1. Number, Election and Term of Office The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than twelve (12) regular members elected by those members of the R.I.L.P.A.C. with voting rights in the manner described herein.

The following officers shall be members of the Board of Directors: · · · · · · · ·

President Executive Vice President Vice President Secretary Assistant Secretary Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Legal Advisor

Said officers and other elected Directors will hold office for a two (2) year term of office,

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elected by a majority vote of the regular members present and voting at a duly constituted meeting called for that purpose. Thereafter, elections shall take place during the last week of November in odd years. Directors will continue to serve until their successors are elected, though this time may not exceed 60 days past the expiration date of their term of office.

Section 2. Election Procedures and Restrictions A.

Election Procedures shall be developed one (1) month prior to the November meeting by the Elections Committee. These procedures shall be brought to the regular members and must be approved by a majority vote of those present and voting. The chairperson of the Elections Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Board of Directors.

Only the Elections Committee shall have the power to recommend candidates to fill expired terms on the Board of Directors.

B.

Only regular voting members in good standing at the time of the election, shall have the right to vote therein. Only regular members in good standing are qualified to be nominated for a vacancy in the Board of Directors.

C.

Those holding the offices of President and Executive Vice President can do so for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms.

Section 3. Removal of Directors/Members A.

A director or member may be removed at any time by an affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of the Directors then in office and voting, at a meeting properly called for that purpose.

Section 4. Powers and Authority of Board of Directors The Directors so designated shall constitute the Board of Directors of R.I.L.P.A.C. to act in the manner and with the powers provided in these By-Laws and to further the goals as stated in our Notice of Organization, as amended from time to time. No Director shall represent or act on behalf of the Board of Directors without the explicit authority of the Board of Directors which shall not be given without a vote of the majority of the Board of Directors.

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Section 5. Vacancies Vacant Directorships shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by a majority vote of the remaining Directors.

Section 6. Distribution of Funds All checks issued by the R.I.L.P.A.C. shall require the signatures of the Treasurer (or in the Treasurer’s absence the Assistant Treasurer) in addition to the signature of either the President, Executive Vice President or Vice President.

Article IV Duties of Officers Section 1. President A.

The President presides at all meetings of R.I.L.P.A.C. and is an ex officio member of all committees set forth in these By-Laws.

B.

The President has the direct responsibility for implementing all policies established by R.I.L.P.A.C.

C.

The President appoints chairpersons for all committees set forth in these By-Laws and fills vacancies on all these committees with the approval of a majority of the Directors. He/she casts all tie breaking votes.

D.

The President may act as an official representative of R.I.L.P.A.C. in other political and non-political organizations and performs those duties authorized by the Board of Directors.

E.

The President is responsible for keeping in contact with the political community in the State of Rhode Island.

F.

The President signs all checks along with the Treasurer, or Executive Vice President.

Section 2a. Executive Vice President A.

The Executive Vice President assists the President in the performance of the latter's duties and assumes the full responsibilities of said office in his/her absence.

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B.

The Executive Vice President assumes such additional duties as may be assigned by the President.

Section 2b. Vice President A.

The Vice President assists the Executive Vice President in the performance of the latter's duties.

B.

The Vice President assumes such additional duties as may be assigned by the President.

Section 3. Secretary A.

The Secretary shall record and report the minutes of all membership and Board of Director's meetings. He/she shall be responsible for the distribution of the minutes to the membership or Directors, as the case may be, at least five (5) working days prior to any meeting. He/she shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate record of all meetings.

B.

The Secretary is responsible for notifying the membership or the Directors of future meetings in the manner provided in these By-Laws.

C.

The Secretary is responsible for keeping attendance at all meetings, and his/her records shall be the official record of attendance. He/she shall perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Section 4. Assistant Secretary The Assistant Secretary assists the Secretary in the performance of the latter's duties and assumes the full responsibilities of the Secretary in his/her absence. He/she shall perform other duties as assigned by the Secretary or President.

Section 5. Treasurer A.

The Treasurer receives and collects funds in accordance with the Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act. He/she shall prepare and submit any reports required by said law.

B.

The Treasurer will deposit all funds in an appropriate account and pay all bills duly approved by the Board of Directors. He/she shall sign all checks along with the President or Executive Vice President.

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C.

The Treasurer shall present financial reports at regular membership meetings and keep accurate records of all monies received and paid out supported with appropriate documentation.

D.

The Treasurer chairs any committee formed by the Board of Directors for budget preparation.

Section 6. Assistant Treasurer The Assistant Treasurer assists the Treasurer in the performance of the latter's duties and assumes the full responsibilities of the Treasurer in his/her absence. He she shall perform other duties as assigned by the Treasurer or President.

Section 7.

Legal Advisor

The Legal Advisor shall advise R.I.L.P.A.C. and the President on applicable laws and regulations governing R.I.L.P.A.C., and shall suggest appropriate actions in that regard.

Article V R.I.L.P.A.C. Meetings Section 1. Annual Meeting An annual meeting of R.I.L.P.A.C. shall be held for the purpose of adopting the ByLaws, amending if necessary the Notices of Organization, the election of the Board of Directors when applicable, or to transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting. Said meeting shall be held during the last week in November.

Section 2. Regular Meetings A.

Regular meetings of R.I.L.P.A.C. shall be held at least once every other month at such time and place as specified by the Board of Directors.

B.

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least once a month at a time and placed specified by the Board. In any case, said meetings shall be held at least five (5) days prior to the regular membership meetings.

C.

Notice of all regular meetings shall require five (5) days written notice.

Section 3. Special Meetings A.

Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called by the

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President upon written request of any two (2) Directors. If the President does not call the Special Meeting within five (5) workings days after receipt of said written request, the meeting may be called by the Directors making said request.

B.

At least five (5) working days of oral or written notice of each Special Meeting stating the time and place of the meeting shall be given each Director or member, as the case may be.

C.

No notice of a meeting need be given to a Director or member who attends said meeting in person without protesting prior to or at the commencement of said meeting, or who waives such notice in writing. Said waiver must be filed with the Secretary of R.I.L.P.A.C. either before or after the meeting.

Section 4. Conduct of Meetings A.

All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.

Article VI Quorum and Voting Requirements Section 1.

Two-thirds (2/3) of the regular members or Directors, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 2.

The affirmative vote of a majority of those regular members or Directors, as the case may be, present at the meeting at which a quorum is present shall be required for action by the R.I.L.P.A.C. or the Board of Directors on any matter.

Article VII

Committees

Section 1. The committees: · · · · · ·

R.I.L.P.A.C.

may

have

the

following

standing

Political Education/Voter Registration Finance Membership Planning and Research Political Candidate Selection Legal

Section 2. The Board of Directors by majority vote may designate other

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committees as it may deem appropriate.

Section 3.

Article VIII

All committees shall be required to present reports to the membership as requested by the President or a majority of the directors. The standing committees and other committees designated by the Board of Directors may have and exercise only such authority as is expressly provided by resolution from the Board of Directors creating such committees. Each committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and must keep minutes of its meetings.

Amendments

Section 1. By-Laws A.

Amendments to the By-Laws must be presented to the membership for consideration in writing at least one (1) month prior to consideration of the amendment.

B.

By-Laws can be amended only by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those regular members in good standing present and voting at a properly called regular meeting.

Section 2.

If any provision of these By-Laws is found to be inconsistent with any provision of the Notice of Organization, as it presently exists, or as from time to time amended, the former shall constitute the controlling authority.

Article IX Distribution of Assets Section 1.

No part of the income or assets of R.I.L.P.A.C. shall be distributed to a Director or member. This, however, does not prevent reimbursement for any expenses authorized under the Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act.

Section 2.

Upon dissolution of R.I.L.P.A.C., the assets remaining after payment of all liabilities shall be distributed in accordance with either pertinent sections of the exempt organization provisions of the Internal Revenue Service or the Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act, as the case may be.

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Article X Seal The Seal of R.I.L.P.A.C. shall be a circular seal, with the name of the Organization and words "Seal" and "Rhode Island" set forth therein. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal.

Certified as the By-Laws of R.I.L.P.A.C. adopted at a meeting of the Organization on the ____ day of __________________, 1998.

______________________________________ Secretary

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2004 Bill Richardson Awards Final Report

September 7, 2004

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AWARDS

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Official Program

7t h Annual Fundraiser 7mo Encuentro para Recaudar Fondos

Latinos: Embracing the Challenge Lat i nos: Asumi endo el Ret o Bill Richardson Awards Premios Bill Richardson

Tuesday September 7th, 2004 martes 7 de septiembre, 2004 The High Hat 3 Davol Square

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Program Opening Remarks Welcoming Remarks Dignitaries Remarks U.S. Senator Jack Reed Governor Donald L. Cacieri Lt Governor Charles J. Forgarty Secretary of State Matthew A. Brown Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch Mayor Stephen Laffey

Bill Richardson Award Presentation Hablemos Media Programming Award Tony Mendez Media Personality Award Providence En Espa単ol Media Institution Award

Closing Remarks

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2004 Board of Directors Tomﾃ｡s Alberto ﾃ」ila President Domingo Morel Executive Vice President Sabina Matos Vice President Kat Hellwig Secretary Claudia Cardona Assistant Secretary Sylvia Bernal Treasurer Ingrid Ardaya Assistant Treasurer Chris Petrarca Legal Advisor Anthony Affigne Betty Bernal Alberto Cardona Doris De Los Santos Melba Depeﾃｱa Carmen Mirabal Special thanks To Pablo Rodriguez-Masjoan of 2Creative for his continued and committed collaboration with all our graphical designs.

To all our sponsors for their contributions and making this event possible.

To all our volunteer membership for your commitment and dedication.

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Mission The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mision El Comit茅 Latino de Accion Politica es una organizaci贸n no partidista formada para influenciar el proceso politico en el estado de Rhode Island para mejorar la vida de los Latinos y las comunidades urbanas.

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NUESTROS AUSPICIADORES

GOLD / ORO

Mayor Stephen Laffey City of Cranston SILVER / PLATA

Mayor David Cicilline City of Providence BRONZE / BRONZE Professor Tony Affigne Tomás & Eva Ávila Sylvia Bernal Secretary of State Matt Brown Doris De Los Santos Grace Diaz Pedro Espinal Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty Nellie Gorbea/Steven D’Hondt Attorney General Patrick Lynch Bill Lynch/Democratic Party Tony & Yocasta Mendez Senate President Joseph Montalbano Speaker of the House William Murphy Councilman Ricardo Patiño Senator Juan Pichardo & Janet Pichardo U.S. Senator Jack Reed Green Party of RI Republican Party of RI Pablo Rodriguez, MD Pablo Rodriguez-Masjoan/2Creative State Representative Thomas Slater State Representative Leon Tejada Luis Torrado, AIA Myrth York

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PHOTOGRAPHS

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RI Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) Cordially Invite You To Our Fundraiser LATINOS: Embracing the Challenge

Honoring The increasing Latino Political Empowerment and Civic Participation in the state of Rhode Island

Tuesday September 7th, 2004 6:00 pm 8:00 pm HI HAT Davol Square, Providence, RI Donations General $40.00

Sponsors

$1,000.00 $ 500.00 $ 250.00

RSVP: 401-274-5204

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July 21, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tomas Alberto Avila (401) 274-5204 E-Mail: rilpac@yahoo.com

M E D I A A D V I S O RY "Latino: Embracing the Challenge" WHO:

Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC)

WHAT:

The Rhode Island Political Action Committee a nonpartisan political organization will celebrate its seventh annual fundraising event.

WHEN:

Tuesday September 7, 2004 6:00 – 8:00 PM

WHERE: The Hi Hat 3 Davol Square Providence, RI 02903 ADMISSION:

General $40 Sponsors Gold $1,000.00 Silver $ 500.00 Bronze $ 250.00 ###

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P.O. Box 23020 Providence, RI 02903 (401) 274-5204

PRESS RELEASE August 15, 2004 Contact:

Tomas Alberto Avila (401) 274-5204 E-Mail: rilpac@yahoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Providence, RI – The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee a nonpartisan political organization will celebrate it’s Seventh annual fundraising event entitle, LATINOS: “Embracing the Challenge” Tuesday September 7, 2004, 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Hi Hat, Three Davol Square.

The event will officially celebrate RILPAC’s 2004 campaign to insure that elected officials, political leaders and candidates have a broad understanding of the concerns and priorities among Rhode Island Latinos.

The event will get underway at 6:00 PM and close at 8:00 PM. The Rhode Island community at large and local elected officials has been invited to attend the event.

Admission to the event is ADMISSION: General $40 Sponsors

###

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Gold $1,000.00 Silver $ 500.00 Bronze $ 250.00

Dear Prospective Sponsor: We are inviting you to become part of the future of the State of Rhode Island, by becoming a sponsor of our annual fundraiser entitled “LATINOS: Embracing the Challenge�. Your sponsorship will help RILPAC promote the interests of Latinos in the state and ensure that candidates address the needs of ALL Rhode Islanders.

As the political climate reshapes, the Latino population is showing a renewed commitment to demonstrating its political power. The remarkable growth of the population and the significance of the Latino electorate has undergone intense scrutiny and become the subject of fiery debate across the nation. RILPAC has worked hard to unite Latinos and non-Latinos interested in improving the quality of life of our community through the political process. We ask you to join us by supporting RILPAC in this effort.

Sponsorships are available with a donation of Gold $1,000.00, Silver $500.00 and Bronze $250.00 (with checks payable to RILPAC), payable by Friday August 13, 2004. Sponsors of the event will be listed on the invitation and program booklet, and will be invited to a private reception prior to the event. The event is scheduled for Tuesday September 7th, 2004 at 6:00 PM at the High Hat, Three Davol Square, Providence.

If you are interested in joining us that evening as a sponsor please contact me 401 -467-8788 and by email at sylber59@hotmail.com or Rilpac@yahoo.com. Mail your check to RILPAC P.O. Box 23020 Providence, RI 02903. We are eager to celebrate with you once again the political coming of age of the State's fastest growing community. Please join us!

Sincerely,

Sylvia Bernal Fundraising Committee Chair

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August 1, 2004

Dear Sponsor:

Thank you for making our event possible. Your participation made all the difference in the world in the success of our fundraiser. This event marked the continuation of our work to increase the political participation of the Latino community in the political process of this state. As you know, these kinds of events are successful only if those committed to sponsor the event keep their promised pledge.

This letter is a friendly reminder to send your pledged contribution ASAP. If you have already sent your check, thank you for your contribution. If you have not sent your donation, please make your check payable to: Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee P0 Box 23020 Providence, RI 02903 Enclosed in the reverse side of this letter you will find your invoice and a self-addressed envelop for your convenience. Thank you for your contribution and prompt response to this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Sylvia Bernal Treasurer

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RILPAC & Civic Fund 2003 Retreat Saturday March 8, 2003 45 Royal Little Drive Providence, RI 02904 Melba opened the meeting at 9:20, with instructions about the place and the upcoming elections in Woonsocket and Central Falls.

The meeting continued with the introduction of each member present at the meeting. Ana Cabrera, Tomas Avila, Ricardo Patino, Betty Bernal, Sylvia Bernal, Nellie Gorbea, Luis Aponte, Alberto Aponte, Ingrid Ardaya, Ana Cecilia Rosado, Yokasta Mendez, Tony Afigne, Marty Rosenberg, Adriana Dawson, Melba Depena, Juan Pichardo, Pablo Rodriguez, Pablo Rodriguez-Masjoan, Ana Cano Moralez Melba read the 7 Mice story to break the ice at the opening of the meeting The point of the reading of the story is to set the perspective is that everyone has their own ideas of what should be done.

Luis Aponte asked the questions as to why it has to be a white mouse and not a brown or black mouse.

There was a minute provided by the President to read the minutes from last year’s retreat and approved such minutes.

Melba introduce Marty Rosenberg who was going to run the meeting, and getting away from the day to day of business and to look forward to the next 5 years

Rules No idea is a bad idea; any idea is welcome, respect and not talk over each other. Feel free to make ourselves comfortable. Some people feel more comfortable speaking than others and we need to take into consideration the others who don speak

What has inspired you lately?

Something that has given you hope for the future. Share a hidden talent that you may have.

Melba the death of her grand mother, the involvement of the Latino community.

Betty, being a new grand mother Tony; the opposition to the war.

Nellie, her job and boss, the things that they’re doing.

Carlos, meeting positive people in the politics, Ingrid, seeing her friends from the political arena, Alberto, completing Law school in December, Luis Aponte, all the things that are happening and the activism that’s taking place, and the 90

coalitions being form by different groups.

Adriana; Her new roll as the SBDC and bringing new resources Ana Cabrera, Senator Karen, Tomas the arrival of the Latino community into the political scene Catherine Horsey, the changes in leadership in state government Ana Cecilia. Her work doesn’t inspire, the 9th graders that she works at Central High Yokasta, knowing more of her people, Ricardo, RI has a governor that’s a leader and who’ is seen and show his power Maria Fernanda, Seeing people work so hard to improve our community and state.

Sylvia; Many people in the table that work tirelessly to improve things in the community Marty, her 7 months old and 15 months old and the resignation of a Bush high ranking official to protest the war.

Melba introduce Carlos Benavides and Yokasta Mendez, who were attending their first retreat.

Movement and sense in the community and RILPAC and the Fund with the positive outcomes.

What has gone well on the Latino community in general?

Alberto the inclusion of Latinos by major candidates' Patino the number of Latino in the political system Betty More representation in the Administration Catherine more Latino voters Nellie, bringing a different diversity of the Latino community; Luis the impact in Public Policy, Policy makers Tomas the ripple affect of RILPAC has grown beyond the organization and into the community.

Melba, looking at the holistic of the organizations such as the work that Adriana and Tomas are doing with the business community.

Challenges Nellie, it’s still a struggle of coming together and gravitating Tony, the ignorance of the Latino political history Luis, internal challenges in the community, how the community relates to community’s that have been here before. Citywide, Latinos being insular and working on general issue.

Ana; the growth is good and bad, and the changes have taken place over 30 years and not just overnight.

Luis, Latinos that just arrive think that the present situation has been here forever Tony, PR worked closely with the African American because we had no choice and Griffith. The African American points their finger to the Hispanic community, but they forget that the Latinos also helped them and their cause.

Tomas, there’s a need to educate the community about the political history of the Latino community and getting to respect the others who have been here before.

Alberto creating new leaders Tomas, taking a holistic approach to the development of the future community.

Ana Cecilia, What does the word leader mean? Ana Cecilia, Leadership vs. Servant Community, Ana Cabrera; It’s always the same voices over and over and the media is to be blame and that 91

doesn’t help the community and we need to change that.

Tony, as we grow we get specialized and we need to stay together with specialized.

Luis; Understanding how you toughly develop leadership, the danger being done conveniently.

Mentorship being done methodically cannot be extracted from the leadership.

Maria Fernanda, All these people have been educationally connected, and it’s education that will get these individuals to where they want to get. Education is one of the ways that’ll help Luis Aponte if it wasn’t for people who help me I was told that my future was in agriculture.

Betty, making sure that the system works for the people that go to it Tony, we don’t have enough teachers in the school program Alberto. Guidance Counselors, we need to educate them what their jobs are, Tomas Avila had a young man following him at Progreso.

Tomas the mentorship of our community is very key.

What has gone well in RILPAC? Tomas, Bringing the Latino political voice under one umbrella, Catherine, the media perception is very positive Betty, the fellowship luncheon and the outcome, Nellie, the process of endorsing candidates and Tony Afigne educating the candidate to be better candidate.

Luis and organizational evolution, learning the mechanics of politics and putting it into play in the field, the connection to the community and overcoming the negative feeling in the community.

Patino, surviving the election of candidate and overcoming the personal goals and accepting the process.

Tony, peaceful leadership transition and the survival of the organization and the staying power of the founding leaders’ Maria Fernanda, the outside community has been solidified by the evolution of the community.

Melba; the election of Central Falls being name a well oil machine by the media and empowering the organization to stay.

Nellie. The batting election of must endorsed candidates.

Ana Cabrera, Redistricting work in our favor and benefit the organization

Challenges in RILPAC Alberto Cardona, fundraising, and diversifying the way we raised funds, fundraiser, grant writing and removing the worry of money. Diversifying the Judiciary.

Maria Fernanda; Differentiating between the PAC and Civic Fund Luis Aponte Off year’s election activities, lobbying, voter’s education, Nellie, How do you keep people involved and without pay staff Ana Cabrera; The perception of what we’re supposed to do as an organization Luis Aponte, being an organization that serves the whole community and not being a self-serving community, closer connecting with the communities that we serve.

Maria Fernanda, educating the community that the organization is open Alberto, cross membership of other organizations.

Tony, Having 2 PACs helped the community with Carcieri and Patricia’s job. How do we rise to give permission to other organizations?

Ana Cecilia, What can we do about the present Judicial system and educational organizations and 92

educating them about the Latino organization.

Tony; Communication internal

Where do we want to see the Latino Community in 2008?

Nellie, 4 more elected officials in the House of Representative 4 more in the House 3 more in the Senate 3 City Council in Providence Woonsocket 1 Pawtucket 1 Central Falls 1 Cranston 1 More women getting elected to office.

Increasing the appointments to boards and commissions Secretary of State Lieutenant Governor Treasurer Congress Increase participation at the District Committee levels and political parties.

Start planning for the 2010 Census and the redistricting

Where do we want to see RILPAC? 2 year and 5 years Executive Director (5) Office (5) How much money in 2 years? $12,000 2 years $40,000 5 years $100,000 Communication Plan Public Service Announcement, PR, informational CD Programs, Latina Leadership Institute, Latinos Day In The Hill, Latino Voter Registration Projects.

The Latinas Institute is linked to the national statistics that Latinas tend to be more electable than Latinos.

Expand the membership of the organization to about 100 and diversify the district distribution statewide.

Finding partners and places to meet.

Looking at a multi partisan system to avoid being seen as a one party PAC. Mentoring youth programs about public service Internal personal Listserv, recruiting and charging a membership fee to the list.

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Ana Cecilia, Including all children and youth in the mentoring.

Juan; internship of college students to participate in the organization program. Looking at National organizations and obtain funding such as the Congregational.

Tomas, Internal education of membership in the issues and information to avoid making decisions out of the seat of our pants.

5 Years Maria Fernanda always quoted in the media as oppose to some times.

Keeping the connection with Latino elected officials as strong as now.

Maria Fernanda raised the issue about considering the inclusion of non-Latino elected officials.

Luis Aponte, legislative arm of the PAC and Executive Policies and avoid reactionary response to the issues and become opinion makers in the Legislative branch. Who’s looking at the No child Left Behind Act that will displace all school systems, The Patriots Act, The Nolo Legislature Alberto, Maximizing what we already have such as the listserv.

Nellie, continuing the fellowship luncheon, support of the people inside the appointed officials.

Tony; Latino positions issues, the reason we don’t have one because of the non-existence of a common issue. The next face of the organization will be the internal power struggle and the way around it is the issue policies.

Marty; The Latino position in a particular issue and the RILPAC position on such particular issue based on this collective membership agreement and the building of political power at the Legislative and Federal level.

Luis Giving cover to people that take the heat when they make the decision that’s unpopular in the community.

Pablo; we’re not the only Latino group that has been organized in RI, but we’re the only one that has survived. We made it very clear that we don’t represent the Latino community, but instead represent a point of view of the Latino community.

May be having an executive committee hatch the minutes and make discussions among the board and facilitate a discussion around it.

One RI, incoming work support for impoverished communities.

The second part of the retreat started at 1:05 Betty Bernal Proposing an amendment to the annual meeting from November to March.

Tomas requested that the bylaws discussion be table to the next meeting because according to the bylaws there was not sufficient time given the membership to review to suggested amendments.

Establish a committee to look at both bylaws and making recommendations to the full membership 10 days prior to the meeting. Luis Aponte/Juan Pichardo; Committee Luis Aponte, Nellie Gorbea, Anna Cecilia Rosado, Betty Bernal, Tomas Avila.

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Treasurer Report $178.06 membership of about 6 members $336.06 $200.00 collected in membership.

Help America Vote Act, has invited the Civic Fund’s to be part of the committee in the distribution of $5 million dollars in voting improvement in RI. Melba gave an update about the Latino Civics’ Fund program for 2003.

There was a suggestion by Juan and Luis to include the Senate in the planning; there were discussions about the programming of the Latinos Day in the Hill.

Tomas clarified that both Chambers of the House will be included in the day program, as well as other elected officials and agreed to send a copy of the program documentation to all members.

Central Falls & Woonsocket elections – What’s going to be the PAC’s involvement in these 2 communities?

Ricardo, He has a person that he’s training to seek election in Central Falls and we need to add more people to run in such city. Mina Interiano is the candidate that he has been identified.

Betty had approached Marisol Garcia and Mina Interiano about running for office, but they were very reluctant about the idea.

Ricardo and Betty Yokasta, Tomas Avila volunteer to speak to Mina and find out whether she’s going to do.

Tomas Avila had to leave the retreat at 2:45 PM

End

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A coming of age: Latinos form PAC and pols zoom in

By M.Charles Bakst B Section THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL Tuesday August 25, 1998 When they write the history of the Hispanic community's emer?gence as a full, powerful partner in Rhode Island elections, folks will note an event last Thursday at the Roger William Park Casino.

The Latino Political Action Committee made its debut with a fundraiser that brought in some $10,000, not a bad start on building a war chest and estab?lishing clout. The bipartisan PAC is to support candi?dates - Hispanic and otherwise -it considers friends.

"We want to Play the game the way everybody else plays it," Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, PAC president, told me. "We think we are coming of age and are ready."

Bill Guglietta, a Democratic can?didate for attorney general, had the. best read on Latinos' setting up a PAC: "It will send a message to all politicians: You've got to pay atten?tion to them and their interests. PACs have a way of doing that." in other words, money talks? "As I've found out," conceded the underfunded Guglietta.

Many pols who flocked to the event contributed money. Tickets were $50 apiece, $200 for sponsors.

Guglietta's primary rivals, Shel?don Whitehouse and Eva Mancuso, were there. Whitehouse said, "The Latino community is a fast growing community that is coming into its own politically in Rhode Island and is an important community for an attorney general to work with."

Top Democratic figures on hand included Sen. Jack Reed and candi?dates for governor (Myrrh York), lieutenant governor (Charles Fogar?ty) and general treasurer Paul Tavares). York said that "as someone who knows that political orga?nization makes a difference in hav?ing your opinions and views and needs addressed," she can see why a PAC is important for Latinos.

Republicans on hand included candidates for treasurer (Jim Ben?nett) and secretary of state Ed Lopez). Lopez is a Latino. Still, Democratic Secretary of State Jim Langevin attended, and this was something of a pattern. One of the community's brightest electoral hopes, Victor Capellan, a candidate for Rhode Island House, was there, but so was Joe Almeida, a black, and his opponent in the Democratic prima?ry. And while Miguel Luna, a prima?ry candidate for Providence City Council, was there, so too was Patri?cia Nolan, the incumbent he is try?ing to oust. She is white.

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Mayor Buddy Cianci, an indepen?dent, made a brief appearance.

It also was an eclectic evening in this sense. Organizers were proud that they had broad representation from various Hispanic groups -including Puerto Ricans, Domini?cans, Argentinians and Peruvians -who often have been rivals. Alina Ocasio, a state economic develop?ment aide who is PAC executive vice president, said outside chal?lenges, such as immigration issues, "are forcing us to become more united."

Caterer Grizzel Rodriguez of Woonsocket served fried chicken fried sweet plantains, meat pies and meatballs.

PAC activities will include turn?ing out the vote and lobbying. Pablo Rodriguez says key issues include education, economic development and health. In a speech, he empha?sized that Hispanics are not looking for handouts but for investments in their community. "We are not here to ask for a bigger slice of the pie," he declared. "We are here to help bake a bigger one, so all of us can have a bigger slice."

And he warned pols not to think that dealing with the PAC relieves them of their duty to campaign in the community - they still must get out and shake hands and adver?tise in the Hispanic media.

Some pols are hiring Hispanic staffers - for example, Whitehouse has Carlos Lopez-Estrada as his scheduler, and Reed has Norelys Consuegra as a constituent aide. Reed, who studied Spanish at West Point - he also works on Por?tuguese with a tutor - wowed the crowd with a few words in Spanish. He went on in English and conclud?ed, "I congratulate you. I look for-ward to working with you. And I'll still keep working on my Spanish. "Buenas noches."

M.

Charles Bakst is The Journal's political columnist.

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Comité Latino de Acción Politica de Rhode Island Por Alfonso Acevedo American News Edicion 30 de Sep-20 de Oct. 1998 PROVIDENCE, RL El nuevo Comité de Acción Política de Rhode Island instaló su primera reunión publica el pasado mes de agosto. Con una asistencia numerosa de diferentes comunidades se dió a conocer el nuevo politico para el estado a los asistentes. Tanto a candidatos de los diferentes grupos políticos, como a personas de las agencias de servicios sociales, empleados gubernamentales, comerciantes, prensa, etc.

El presidente del Comité es el reconocido profesional puertoriqueño Pablo Rodriguez, quien con su practica medica en ginecología y su trayectoria en la administración médicas parte activa de multiples comités en el estado y en la nación. Lo secundan la Vice-Presidenta Ejecutiva, Alina Ocasio Vice Presidente, Juan Pichardo; Secretaria, Michelle Torres; Asistente de la Secretaria, Margarita Guedes; Tesorero, Tomás A. Avila, Asistente del Tesorero, Mercedes Bernal; Dentro de Ia lista del comité podímos citar a algunos activistas, que en años anteriores han formado parte o han liderado movimientos poilíticos. Son ellos: Alido Baldera, Ricardo Patiño, Victor F. Capellán, Vidal Perez, Gladys Corvera Baker,RISCW, Tomás Ramírez, Francisco Cruz, Jenny Rosario, José González, ED.D., Delia Smith, Nellie Gorbea, Manuel Suarez, Esq., Angel Taveras, Esq. RILPAC (Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee tiene el P.O Box No. 23020, Providence, R.I. 02903, Telefono (401) 274-52O4.

Antes de Ia alocución inicial preguntamos a Pablo Rodriguez sobre que lo motivaba a participaren politicia, en estos momentos. A lo cual respondió: "Yo no soy politico, sigo siendo ginecológo.

Estoy ayudando a parir a Ia cómunidad.' El comité presentó sus objetivos principales he hizo incapié en que no es un Comité que representa a la comunidad Latina exclusi vamente, sólo es un comite' que representa una opinión de la comunidad latina Afirmó Pablo Rodriguez - y continuó Pablo con los apuntes más importantes sobre el proyecto de acción poiítica.

El Comité no se ha formado para elegir, postular o aumentar los latinos en los cargos publicos. El Comité trabajar por elegir, postular y apoyar a aquellos políticos que demuestren las condiciones que garanticen una gestión que represente a la comunidad en general. No irmportando el país de origen.

Apoyaremos a quien se perfile como un buen representante o candidato no importa Si es anglosajón, latino, asiatico o afro-americano.

El Comité no se formó para abogar por las causas latinas, si no por las causas de la comunidad que lo necesite." Sobre estos puntos se basé el discurso de presentación del "RILPAC" por Pablo Rodriguez.

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A new Latino leadership paradigm Tomas A. Avila 6.8.2000 THE LEADERSHIP STYLE shared by early Latino leaders in Rhode Island was one based on our traditional views of leaders as special people who set the direction, made the key decisions and energized the troops. These ideals were deeply rooted in an individualistic and non-systemic world view. These early leaders' prevailing leadership myths were still captured by the image of the captain of the cavalry leading the charge to rescue the settlers from the attacking Indians.

As long as such myths prevail, they reinforce a focus on short-term events and charismatic heroes rather than on systemic forces and collective learning. At the heart of the traditional view of leadership has been the assumption that the people are powerless and that only a few great leaders can remedy their lack of personal vision and inability to master the forces of change.

Because of this myth, the Latino community in Rhode Island has suffered from a lack of collaborating leadership that could work together toward a common agenda that benefits all Latinos regardless of place of origin.

As Providence Councilman Luis Aponte, D-Ward 10, so aptly put it during the 1996 elections: "Among the frequent mistakes Latino candidates have made over the years is concentrating on immigrants from their own country, instead of attempting to bridge differences." It's true, as he stated, that "candidates and campaigns tend to focus on that one community, and ignore the importance of all the other votes. You can't count on just one community to get elected."

Perhaps Hispanics are sometimes their own worst enemies when it comes to developing a unified movement.

Immigrants closely identify with their homelands -- the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia and at least 15 other Latin-American countries -- making it difficult to agree on a single agenda. These myths were prevalent in the Latino leadership in the 1980s and '90s, during this community's emerging growth.

But since 1996, we have seen an evolution in the Latino leadership in Rhode Island that refuses to accept the old paradigm, and has instead accepted a new leadership of collaboration and coexistence. This new paradigm of inclusive leadership is producing changes in our community's sharing of power and agendas.

The heart of the new Latino leadership is based on the concept of belonging to a community and its common interests. No longer should techniques and positions be enough -- rather, it should be a broader reach for leadership possibilities and a true sense of belonging that win in the new paradigm.

Part of the challenge we need to overcome has been the recruitment of a broad base of people into places where they can exercise their leadership potential. The new leadership paradigm in our community shall reach out to everybody and call forth the leadership possibilities that exist in people from all circumstances and experiences, reminding them, and ourselves, that we all belong 99

to one community and, therefore, we must share in its leadership.

We have to recognize and promote the idea that leadership is multidimensional in both application and participation. No longer is it desirable or even practical in our new paradigm to build leadership pyramids based on the hierarchical structures of traditional organizational charts.

Rather, our practice should be to build flat leadership plazas or open, inviting and inclusive leadership that draws together a diverse citizenry.

This new concept of leadership has been promoted by some people in our community and can also be seen in some of our local organizations, such as the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee. These people and organizations have accepted the idea that leadership in its truest form is about collaborating, connecting and ultimately catalyzing actions focused on common interests.

We shall accept the reality of developing and building skills for inclusive leadership such as consensus building, collaboration, deliberation and strategy. We will know how to talk together, work together and act together.

Finally, this new paradigm of leadership is based on the principle that Latino communities and organizations must create working principles of process and action that not only allow but encourage opportunities for new leaders to participate in building and executing common priorities and common agendas.

We can become a united and thus a greater community, a community that values all of its citizens and leaders, one where communities and families are strong and prosperous, and where we can encourage and build on our rich diversity. We can be a more prosperous community, in which we bring together the enormous productive potential of all of our people. Our community can be a place where we all have an equal opportunity to contribute to our leadership and to our future -- to have a decent job, a good education, to be healthy, and to thrive through our enterprise and hard work.

We can become a community where every citizen can play a full and productive leadership role, and be positive and contributing voices in our community. It is our choice.

Tomas Alberto Avila, an immigrant from Honduras, is a policy analyst with the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy in Providence. Š 2000 The Providence Journal Company

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Latino Civic Participation Reshapes Political Climate Tomás Alberto Avila Providence American News 10/01/02 If the story of America is one in which rising minority groups eventually seize control of local political office, many urban communities may well be their latest chapter. Expanding Latino population and rising Latino voter registration are expected to give many Latino candidates in this year’s election their best showing in years.

As the political climate reshapes, the Latino population is showing a renewed commitment to demonstrating its political strength. The remarkable growth of the population and the significance of the Latino electorate has undergone intense scrutiny and become the subject of fiery debate across the nation. Policymakers and the public alike have voiced their need for a better understanding of the Latino community and the significance and actuality of the Latino vote.

The nation's Latino population grew by nearly 60 percent in the last decade, to 35.3 million, roughly equaling blacks as the country's largest minority. As Latinos strive to translate these numbers into the kind of political influence that blacks have achieved, the battle is on among Democrats and Republicans to court this still largely untapped and disparate voting group.

This unprecedented growth will increase Hispanics’ political clout in the next years and will make an impact on the Congressional Races. Latino groups will be able to state their needs and policy maker will eagerly listen.

It often used to be assumed that Latinos were an easy target for aspiring politicians hoping to score political points by attacking minorities, as was shown by Pete Wilson in California and Joseph Paolino here in Rhode Island back in 1996. While Latinos are fully 13% of the United States population, conventional wisdom holds that their voter participation is low because many are not citizens. However, such thinking is dead wrong Latinos will be the pivotal vote in the country’s future elections and any politician betting against this will pay for it at the polls.

While one quarter of the Latino population is not yet naturalized, applications for citizenship among the Latino population are at record levels. Nationally, there has been a 100% increase in applications for citizenship. As a result of the amnesty program begun in 1986, 3 million more Latinos living in the United States are now eligible for citizenship. The statistics are clear more Latinos will be eligible to vote in elections than ever before.

The Latino community, threatened by the slew of anti-Latino legislation proposed in Congress and in state capitols across the country in the mid 90’s heightened awareness of the importance of voting on their futures. We know that the only way to stop the political attacks on our community is to make our presence felt at the ballot box.

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Latino organizations across the country have mobilized to educate and register more than 1 million new Latino voters. Voter registration projects are being conducted in Latino communities all over the United States as we speak. In fact, here in Rhode Island, the RI Latino Civic Fund has unveiled its effort to encourage Latinos to register and vote.

It is clear; the Latino vote will play a crucial role in the country’s future elections and will continue to be more important year after year.

As a growing young electorate registering to vote at record rates, Latinos have attracted political attention from Democrats and Republicans alike. The parties spotlight certain issues in hopes of attracting Latinos, who tend to be conservative on some issues (such as abortion) and liberal on others (such as government programs). But rather than simply voting for one party or another, Latino voters like to keep their options open.

Indeed, many Republicans are pinning hopes on Latino conservatism to help Mr. Bush overcome Democratic voter registration drives to win Latino support in 2002 and 2004. There's no question the Republicans need a greater share of Latino voters to stay in the majority. More importantly to the politicians, Latinos vote, and with their numbers climbing and their willingness to cross party lines, Latinos could tip the scales in critical races and be the margin of victory.

Last spring's Census report showing that Latinos have officially replaced blacks as America's largest minority group may hold implications for political change far beyond urban communities.

In some cases, Latinos are expected to make gains in cities long dominated by white officeholders.

In multi-ethnic cities such as Providence, they may fight for seats held by other minorities.

Politicians need to expand their notion of civil rights and make sure Latinos are included in any future race initiatives. They need to take these voters and potential voters more seriously.

While shortsighted political strategists still dismiss the population as mostly young and nonvoting, the truth is that, at a time when voter participation rates for most groups have flattened, the rate for Latinos has risen in states like California and Rhode Island. They need to stop resting on their laurels and aggressively compete for Latino support. This is a community where a little attention and respect goes a long way. Politicians have to do better than simply adopting a philosophy of recruiting Latinos as unpaid volunteers in their campaigns.

The country is undergoing a period of profound change. It is estimated that by the year 2010, Latinos will account for one in every three American. By 2050, Latinos will comprise well over a quarter of the United States population. The Latino population will continue to grow in both numbers and levels of civic participation.

Latinos are naturalizing at much higher rates than in the past and they are becoming active in local elections. Increasingly, Latinos are becoming the margin of victory factor in electing candidates and changing policy. Despite the new surge of Latino participation in elections there is still an incredible amount to learn about the Latino vote. Latino voters tend to be younger, poorer, and less educated than the general population. The implications of this for the country remains to be seen.

This is a new kind of voter, one we are not used to analyzing.

As the 2002 elections come to a conclusion, Latinos are settling into a position where we have worked very, very hard to be. We want to be in a place where our vote is not taken for granted by 102

Democrats or Republicans, where candidates consciously reach out to Latino voters and work hard to convince us that they offer the better alternative to advance our interests, and that political parties think twice about pursuing policies that will alienate Latinos.

This is essentially where we want to be, and I think we are well on our way.

Tomรกs Alberto Avila, 61 Tappan Street Providence, RI 02908 Phone 401-274-5204 Email: ?

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Board Committee Job Descriptions It goes without saying that there is no one-size-fits-all committee list for boards, or what the responsibilities or activities should be for each committee. In the last issue of the Board Café, we discussed when boards should have committees (if at all!), and how some boards make effective use of committees. In this issue we offer committee job descriptions for 15 committees, but your own organization will construct the committees that are appropriate for your own situation, and use these descriptions as a reference for your own committee job descriptions. Unfortunately, the list has resulted in an extra-long issue of the Board Café. We hope you don't mind having a long issue once in awhile . . .

Fundraising Committee The Fundraising Committee's job is not simply to raise money. Instead, the Fundraising Committee is responsible for overseeing the organization's overall fundraising and, in particular, the fundraising done by the board. To accomplish this, its responsibilities are: ·

To work with staff to establish a fundraising plan that incorporates a series of appropriate vehicles, such as special events, direct mail, product sales, etc.

·

To work with fundraising staff in their efforts to raise money

·

To take the lead in certain types of outreach efforts, such as chairing a dinner/dance committee or hosting fundraising parties, etc.

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To be responsible for involvement of all board members in fundraising, such as having board members make telephone calls to ask for support, and

·

To monitor fundraising efforts to be sure that ethical practices are in place, that donors are acknowledged appropriately, and that fundraising efforts are costeffective.

Finance Committee The Finance Committee (often called the Budget and Finance Committee) tasks are: ·

To review budgets initially prepared by staff, to help develop appropriate procedures for budget preparations (such as meaningful involvement by program directors), and on a consistency between the budget and the organization's plans

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To report to the board any financial irregularities, concerns, opportunities

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To recommend financial guidelines to the board (such as to establish a reserve fund or to obtain a line of credit for a specified amount)

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To work with staff to design financial reports and ensure that reports are accurate and timely

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To oversee short and long-term investments, unless there is a separate investments committee

·

To recommend selection of the auditor and work with the auditor, unless there is a separate audit committee, and 104

·

To advise the executive director and other appropriate staff on financial priorities and information systems, depending on committee member expertise.

Board Development Committee In some ways the most influential of all the committees, the Board Development Committee (sometimes called the Nominating Committee or the Committee on Trustees) is responsible for the general affairs of the board. While the specific tasks of this committee vary greatly from organization to organization, they usually include some or all of the following responsibilities: ·

To prepare priorities for board composition

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To meet with prospective board members and recommend candidates to the board

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To recommend a slate of officers to the board

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To conduct orientation sessions for new board members and to organize training sessions for the entire board, and

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To suggest new, non-board individuals for committee membership.

Program Committee The Program Committee is often comprised of board members who are most familiar with the approaches and operations of the organization's programs. (Some boards feel that the organization’s program--its "products"--should be overseen by the whole board.) Depending on its make-up and programs, this committee's most common responsibilities are: ·

To oversee new program development, and to monitor and assess existing programs

·

To initiate and guide program evaluations, and

·

To facilitate discussions about program priorities for the agency.

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Other Board Committees Executive Committee Sometimes an organization with a large board forms an Executive Committee, which is a smaller group that meets more frequently than the full board. Some Executive Committees are comprised of the board officers; others include committee chairs; and some choose other configurations, such as the board officers and the Fundraising Committee chair. A risk with Executive Committees is that they may take over decision-making for the board, and other board members will feel they are only there to rubber stamp decisions made by the Executive Committee.

Audit Committee The role of the Audit Committee encompasses interviewing auditors, reviewing bids, recommending selection of an auditor to the board, receiving the auditor's report, meeting with the auditor, and responding to the auditor's recommendations. For many organizations, the annual audit is the only time the organization's financial systems are reviewed by an independent outsider, and as a result the auditor's report is an important mechanism for the board to obtain independent information about the organization's activities. On smaller boards, the functions of the Audit Committee are managed by the Finance Committee.

Personnel Committee The functions of the Personnel Committee include drafting and/or revising personnel policies for board approval, reviewing job descriptions, establishing a salary structure, and annually reviewing staff salaries, and reviewing the benefits package. In some organizations the board's Personnel Committee also acts as a grievance board for employee complaints. Because difficulties can arise if many less serious complaints are brought directly to the board rather than to the staff person's supervisor, it is preferable for the personnel committee to act only on formal written grievances against the executive director or when an employee formally appeals a decision by the executive director to the board.

Public Policy Committee Organizations whose mission includes Public Policy or education may create a Public Policy Committee that stays informed on relevant matters and brings proposals to the table for a board position or an organizational activity. For example, a Public Policy Committee might draft a written position paper related to pending cuts in welfare funding or propose that the board join a coalition of neighborhood nonprofits protesting the closure of a park.

Management Oversight Committee for geographically distant boards Boards where the members are geographically distant from one another have a difficult time keeping in touch with the work of the staff. The board may only meet twice a year or quarterly, and much of the contact among board members may be through e-mail or just with the staff. To ensure financial and legal oversight in between board meetings, some boards establish a Management Oversight Committee (MOC), which meets every 6 weeks and where two of the three members live near the office (the out-of-state member participates by phone). This committee has finance, audit, legal and personnel 106

responsibilities which might be done by separate committees if the organization were larger and working in only one city. The MOC provides a report on the organization's operations to each board meeting.

Temporary Committees Some committees are convened on a temporary basis to address a specific, single event or issue. Often called ad hoc committees, they meet for a few months and then disband once their task is completed. Commonly used temporary committees and their designated tasks include: ·

Site Committee: To work with staff to evaluate the existing location and consider a move to a different location, to review a new lease, or to weigh the feasibility of purchasing a building.

·

Special Event Committee: To coordinate the board's assignments on a particular event, such as an annual dinner.

·

CEO Transition or Search Committee: To seek a new executive director, including recommending guidelines and a search process to the board, to take steps to help the new executive succeed. Some search committees hire the new executive director, while other search committees present a group of candidates to be evaluated by a different committee or the whole board.

·

Merger Committee: To pursue a possible merger with another organization, and to bring information and recommendations back to the full board.

·

Planning Committee: To lead a strategic planning endeavor (the planning committee may consist of both board and staff members).

·

Special Issue Committee: To investigate an unusual problem or opportunity, such as negative publicity in the newspaper, deep staff resentment against the executive director, an unusual grant opportunity or a possible joint project with another organization. Setting up a Special Issue Committee to research the situation and report back to the board ensures that decisions are based on adequate information.

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Latino Political Empowerment Through Headlines Cicilline's win signals rise of New Providence The city's changing demographics is reflected in a victory that combined the votes of South Side Latinos with wealthy East Side residents.

Providence Journal September 12, 2002

Latino voting bloc spells the end for incumbents Charles D. Walton, the Senate's only black member, and veteran City Councilwoman Patricia K. Nolan are turned out of office.

Providence Journal September 12, 2002

Mayoral hopefuls court Latinos, M. Charles Bakst Providence Journal August 11, 2002

York, Cicilline endorsed by Latino group The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee likes York's recommendation to increase access to small business loans.

Providence Journal August 10, 2002

Taveras endorses Cicilline in Democratic mayor's race Angel Taveras, whose U.S. House candidacy in 2000 drew attention to the growing political strength of Hispanics in the city, has announced his endorsement of Rep. David N. Cicilline, a Democratic candidate for mayor.

Providence Journal August 8, 2002

Latino vote matures, matters and could affect mayor's race More Latinos are working on political campaigns than in any previous year.

Providence Journal September 7, 2002

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Political groups give nod to Cicilline's mayoral bid The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee and APAC, the political action committee of the Rhode Island chapter of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, both say Cicilline is the best Democratic candidate for mayor of Providence and that they will work to support him on primary day.

Providence Journal August 15, 2002, 2002

Lawsuit challenges redistricting Hispanic leaders announce the suit, saying the plan will dilute Hispanic voting power.

Providence Journal July 3, 2002, 2002

On the circuit: Latino politicians launch campaigns In a 2000 Democratic primary, Pichardo, a Latino, barely lost to veteran incumbent Bob Kells. As a result of this year's legislative downsizing, Pichardo is now running in a primary in a reconfigured district against Sen. Charles Walton, the chamber's only black member.

Providence Journal May 28, 2002, 2002

Espinal to run for state Senate • Pedro J. Espinal is challenging an incumbent and fellow Democrat, state Sen. Charles D. Walton, in the new District 9.

Providence Journal February 25, 2002, 2002

New Senate map is unfair to Latinos Providence Journal February 6, 2002, 2002

Inaugural event:But council leadership squabble mars the day The ceremony was the first time a Latino, Ricardo Patino, a Colombian immigrant, became a member of the City Council. He will serve on a council that will help govern a city where nearly half of the 17,000 residents are Latino.

Providence Journal January 8, 2002, 2002

Group's goal is to elect first Latino to the City Council • In addition, a nonpartisan Latino political action committee plans voter registration drives and transportation to and from polls in November 109

Providence Journal June 6, 2000

Minorities blast plan for districts • With the legislative-redistricting panel's final vote looming, community leaders threaten suit over the Senate map.

Providence Journal December 18, 2001

Blazing campaign trails • Ricardo Patino, Central Falls's first Latino councilman, says rethinking his pro-Latino campaign approach was the key to his success.

Providence Journal November 11, 2001

?Patino becomes first Hispanic to win seat on C.F. Council Pawtucket Times November 11, 2001

Patino becomes city's first Latino councilman Providence Journal November 7, 2001

Patino wants to move city past political battles Pawtucket Times November 2, 2001

Baldera tries to unseat Noury in Ward 1 Pawtucket Times November 2, 2001

Courting Latinos: Candidates go where votes are Pawtucket Times November 1, 2001

Cianci is wrong; Hispanics do vote 110

Pawtucket Times October 31, 2001

Minority groups want voice in redistricting • Hispanic populations in Providence and Central Falls should not have their political power diluted, activists say.

Providence Journal October 24,2001

Latinos Win Primaries and Get Ready for Historic General Elections Pawtucket Times October 5, 2001

Brien takes House seat by 14 votes Providence Journal October 5,2001

Latino Voting session focuses on redistricting Pawtucket Times May 14, 2001

The challenge of being Angel Taveras It's a good time to be Angel Taveras Providence Journal May 13, 2001

?Hispanic leaders: Numbers show our strength ?From job opportunities to bilingual education to legislative redistricting, they seek to turn Census 2000 figures into progress for their communities Providence Journal March 31, 2001

Latino voters win praise of Hispanic candidates ? At least one primary race was decided by Latino voters, with voter turnout in some Hispanic neighborhoods doubling the state turnout. ?

Providence Journal October 30,2000

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Latinos celebrate successes at polls ?The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee throws a party to honor candidates who won, or nearly won, primary races this past September.

Providence Journal October 25,2000

Democrats raise money for Chafee ? The Republican senator is getting support across political lines, including from some who favor his pro-choice stance on abortion.

Providence Journal October 19, 2000

Latino power shows at polls ?"It's electoral participation catching up to the shift in the demographics," says Providence Councilman Luis A. Aponte.

Providence Journal September 14.2000

Latino vote influences primary races in Providence ?Leon F. Tejada, who snatched the Democratic nomination in District 18 from incumbent Marsha E. Carpenter, attributes his win to a heavy Latino voter turnout.

Providence Journal September14,2000

Prodigal son Angel Taveras, an appealing candidate in his own right, reflects growing political activity by Hispanics in Rhode Island Providence Phoenix September 9, 2000

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Coming a long way, Angel Taveras now aims for Congress Providence Journal November 28, 2000

Challenging Weygand, Licht vies for Latino support Providence Journal October, 17, 99 One new trend Tuesday was active involvement by Providence-based Latino political groups, who worked on behalf of Patino. The groups included the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, headed by Pablo Rodriguez of Providence.

Pawtucket Times Wed, Oct 06, 1999

Ethnicity is big issue in Ward 9's primary Hispanic activist Miguel Luna challenges Councilwoman Patricia K. Nolan.

Providence Journal September 8, 1998

Winning candidate Luis Aponte: Changing politics in Providence Providence Journal September 7, 1998

A Latino launches House candidacy and maybe career Providence Journal April 4, 1998

A coming of age: Latinos form PAC and pols zoom in Providence Journal August 25, 1998

Coming into their own In politics, business, music and the arts, R.I. Latinos are making their presence felt For the first time in Rhode Island history, seven Latinos ran for seats in the House and Senate this year. The candidates were Puerto Rican, Dominican, Guatemalan, Panamanian, Argentinian and Mexican-American. Five lost in the primaries, and one lost and one won in the general elections. The majority of the candidates who lost say they will try again. The emergence of the Latino community in Rhode Island echoes a national trend in growth and assertion of power.

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Providence Journal

November 11, 1996

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Pre-Planning Survey To prepare for our planning, we’d like your input in advance of the Board retreat. Please take a few moments to complete this survey and return to ?_______ by ___________.

1. What are the three most important program issues that we should address over the next 3-5 years? Why? a. b. c.

2. What are the three most important operational issues (e.g. facilities, staffing, governance, revenues, etc.) we must address over the next 3- 5 years? Why? a. b. c.

3. What are your two greatest concerns for us? a. b.

4. What are your two greatest hopes for us? a. b.

5. Are there any other issues you would like discussed or recommendations you would like to make?

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2004 Meeting Minutes

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RILPAC & Latino Civic Fund Monthly Meeting Tuesday, October 12th, 2004 1268 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02905 Present were- Members: Ingrid Ardaya, Tomás Avila, Sylvia Bernal, Al Cardona, Melba Depena, Kat Hellwig, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, and Domingo Morel 1. Call to Order President Tomás Ávila called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM. He thanked RILPAC members for their continued participation and urged them not to lose this great momentum.

2. Approval of the Minutes Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to accept the minutes of the August 10th, 2004 meeting (the September meeting was cancelled). A motion to accept the minutes was made by Domingo Morel and seconded by Carmen Mirabal, and so voted.

3. President’s Report Tomás encouraged RILPAC members to contact Betty Bernal to continue volunteering for our endorsed candidates.

He also discussed the upcoming referendums and mentioned that RILPAC could endorse some of these as has been done in the past. A meeting of the Endorsement Committee will be set to further discuss the referendum items. He went on to report that an associate of Tony Mendez is interested in creating a book about the history of Latinos in the Rhode Island political arena, and would like to include RILPAC as part of this project. Tomás went on to say that he and Al (Cardona) have been talking about ways to increase RILPAC membership by recruiting new members and reengaging former/current members that have not been active. Sabina added that many potential members have limited English skills, which has kept them from joining; those present agreed that meetings could be conducted in Spanish as well.

4. Treasurer’s Report Sylvia reported that RILPAC’s account currently shows a balance of $5,199.89, with $2,250 remaining in receivables (to ultimately total $7,449.89). The Bill Richardson Awards were a success; about $5,000 was raised. Sylvia went on to report that the Civic Fund’s account currently shows a balance of $13,885.34. A motion was made by Carmen Mirabal to accept the Treasurer‘s Report of the RILPAC account, was seconded by Domingo Morel, and so voted.

Tomás thanked Sylvia for her ongoing vigilance in maintaining the accounts for RILPAC and the Latino Civic Fund.

Sylvia noted that for the first time ever, she has forgotten to file a financial report with the state, but will take care of this as soon as possible.

5. Committee Reports a) Endorsement The Endorsement Committee agreed to meet at 6:00 PM on October 20th at Urban Ventures. Questionnaires have been mailed out to Grace Diaz (and her opponent) as well as Juan Pichardo (and his opponent). The committee will discuss the referendum topics as well during this meeting. b) Latina Leadership Institute

Tomás reported that Betty and Doris have been working with him on this project and that it continues to move along well.

6. New Business Those present continued talking about the issue of membership that Tomás had alluded to earlier in the meeting.

Some other ideas included sending former/inactive members personalized postcards, securing a permanent meeting place/office, and possibly charging a membership fee for using the list-serve.

The next Board meeting will be held November 9th, 2004 at 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence RI. 7. Adjourn Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to adjourn at 7:30 PM. A motion to adjourn was made by Sylvia Bernal, 117

seconded by Sabina Matos, and so voted.

Respectfully submitted, ________________________________ Kat Hellwig Secretary

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RILPAC & Latino Civic Fund Monthly Meeting Tuesday, August 10, 2004 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 Present were- Members: Tony Affigne, Ingrid Ardaya, Tomás Avila, Betty Bernal, Sylvia Bernal, Doris de los Santos, Melba Depena, Kat Hellwig, Matt Jerzyk, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, and Ana-Cecilia Rosado.

Excused: Domingo Morel 1. Call to Order President Tomás Ávila called the meeting to order at 6:25 PM. He announced that the meeting would be shorter in order to accommodate the two candidates- Jeff Toste and Richardson Ogidan- that RILPAC members would interview this evening beginning at 7:00 PM. 2. Approval of the Minutes In the interest of time, Tomás Alberto Ávila requested that a motion to accept the minutes of the July 13, 2004 meeting be postponed until the subsequent meeting. He encouraged members to review the minutes prior to the next meeting.

3. President’s Report Tomás began his report by discussing his meeting with George Nee (of the RI AFL-CIO) and Carolina Bernal (of the Institute for Labor Studies)- for reasons related to labor and the unions, they are interested in RILPAC joining them on a campaign against certain politicians (Tejada, Laffey, and Carcieri). While those present acknowledged that George, Carolina, and their respective organizations would continue to work against these politicians in the name of the labor unions, many agreed that RILPAC should not lose its independence in endorsing candidates. In addition it was mentioned that there is a significant amount of work to be done in order to support candidates to be endorsed by RILPAC, that perhaps we should not add campaigning against certain politicians to the workload. Melba reminded the group that there is a process in place in order for RILPAC to endorse candidates and that this should continue to be followed.

4. Treasurer’s Report Sylvia reported that RILPAC’s account currently shows a balance of $2,691.15. $650 was added the account this month from dues and donations to the Bill Richardson Awards Dinner. $302.16 was taken out of the account for expenses largely related to the Endorsement Committee. A motion was made by Melba Depena to accept the Treasurer‘s Report of the RILPAC account, was seconded by Carmen Mirabal, and so voted.

Sylvia went on to report that the Civic Fund’s account currently shows a balance of $14, 562.58, with expenses for the last month totaling $400.63; this amount includes postage, forms filed with the Secretary of State’s office, professional fees, and the t-shirts. A motion was made by Carmen Mirabal to accept the Treasurer’s Report of the Civic Fund account, was seconded by Melba Depena, and so voted.

5. Committee Reports a) Debate The District 6 debate has been scheduled for Thursday, August 19th from 6-8 PM. Candidates Chris Lopes, Harold Metts, and Pedro Espinal are confirmed to participate. The other candidate, Mickeda Barnes is unsure whether she will be available to participate, as she is scheduled to work that evening. A meeting of the Debate Committee on the 18th of August will be used to finalize the questions to be asked during the debate as well confirm logistics.

Information about this event has been sent to the radio and newspapers. b) Fundraising/Bill Richardson Awards Dinner

Sylvia and Tomás announced that the title of the event would be “Latinos Embracing the Challenge”.

They went on to tell the group that letters have been sent (via certified mail) to elected officials. Thus far there are 12 sponsors, and 40 guests confirmed; Mayor Cicilline has sponsored the event at the Silver level. Sylvia has been working with Pablo Rodriguez-Masjoan to create the invitations, whichat $300- will cost less than the original estimate.

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6. New Business Tomás announced that Rosa Quiñones, a Cumberland woman who is running for the school committee has requested the support/endorsement of RILPAC. Although RILPAC has typically not considered endorsement for this type of position, this will be open for discussion among RILPAC members, most likely after this election is over.

Tomás went on to talk about the issue of Federal Endorsement. While it is part of RILPAC’s strategic plan to be able to endorse candidates on the Federal level, we have not yet begun the process. We will be talking more about this in upcoming meetings so that we might be able to endorse candidates on the Federal level by the 2008 elections.

Tomás announced that he would pick up the voter registration cards from City Hall. Sylvia will be responsible for holding copies of the completed cards.

The next Board meeting will be held September 14th, 2004 at 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence RI. 7. Adjourn In order to begin the interviews of Jeff Toste and Richardson Ogidan on time, Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to adjourn at 7:15 PM. A motion to adjourn was made by Sylvia Bernal and seconded by Melba Depena and so voted.

Respectfully submitted, ________________________________ Kat Hellwig Secretary

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RILPAC & Latino Civic Fund Monthly Meeting Tuesday, July 13, 2004 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 Present were- Members: Ingrid Ardaya, Tomas Avila, Betty Bernal, Sylvia Bernal, Gladys Corvera-Baker, Doris de los Santos, Melba Depena, Kat Hellwig, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, and Domingo Morel.

Excused: Rosendo Fontecha 1. Call to Order President Tomás Ávila called the meeting to order at 6:20 PM. 2. Approval of the Minutes Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to accept the minutes of the June 8, 2004, meeting. The motion was made by Betty Bernal and seconded by Carmen Mirabal- all present agreed and the minutes were passed unanimously.

3. Endorsement Committee Tomás shared that he has nominated Carmen Mirabal as the chair of the Endorsement Committee and Betty Bernal expressed that she felt overlooked in this process, as she has been a long-time member of this committee. It was made clear that it was not Tomás’ (or the Executive Committee’s) intent to exclude Betty, who is a valuable member of the group; they were not aware of her interest in the position. Tomás encouraged all RILPAC members to talk to him or Domingo if they are interested in chairing or joining any committees that are in the process of being formed. Although Kat presented the option of Carmen and Betty co-chairing the committee, Betty declined. A motion was made by Melba Depena and seconded by Doris de los Santos to accept Tomás’ nomination of Carmen as the chair of the Endorsement Committee, and was so voted.

This issue sparked a discussion regarding how decisions are made within RILPAC. While the Bylaws do give the President the power to nominate committee chairs, it was mentioned by several members the importance of communication and open dialogue.

Melba informed Tomás that the questionnaire had been updated (he should be able to find this version in the binder that she gave him). The questionnaire should be sent out by Monday in order to give candidates sufficient time to reply.

Gladys pointed out the importance of involving new members and not solely rely on veteran members as committee chairs (several veteran members had been asked to chair the Endorsement Committee prior to the nomination of Carmen Mirabal).

Those present agreed that RILPAC members might vote if they attend RILPAC meetings and have attended at least one interview with a candidate. RILPAC members who are currently working as part of a candidate’s campaign may not vote.

4. Bill Richardson Awards The Bill Richardson Awards event will be held on September 7th from 6-8 PM at the Hi Hat jazz club. Tomás has named Sylvia Bernal as the chair of the committee (anyone wishing to volunteer should contact her) and will forward all information about the event to her as soon as possible. Gladys volunteered to join the committee. Tomás has sent Evites as well as solicitation letters to 27 politicians whom RILPAC has either endorsed or supported in some way.

The Committee is currently trying to decide on a name for the event- the only suggestion thus far is “Seizing the Moment”. Please contact Sylvia with any other ideas.

Domingo reminded Melba to follow up on the possibility of Bill Richardson attending this event.

5. Treasurer’s Report Sylvia reported that the RILPAC account currently shows a balance of $2,346.31. Aram Garabedian donated $40 for tickets to the Bill Richardson Awards event. $250 has also been received by the Republican Party of Rhode Island 121

towards this event as well (the $250 was received this afternoon and is thus not reflected in today’s account balance).

Betty Bernal and Domingo Morel paid their dues at this meeting.

The Latino Civic Fund account currently shows a balance of $14,631.21. Sylvia will update this as it was made clear that this amount does not reflect the cost of the t-shirts. She will also be paying $20 to the Secretary of State’s office for our 2004 annual report (corporation papers). We should try to use RILPAC’s PO Box address to keep the address consistent.

Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to accept the Treasurer‘s Report. A motion was made by Domingo Morel to accept the Treasurer‘s Report, was seconded by Sabina Matos, and so voted.

Ingrid Ardaya was asked to send bylaws to new RILPAC members; she will be provided with stamps in order to do so.

Ana Cano-Morales would like to be a RILPAC member; someone should contact her.

6. New Business Domingo and Sabina proposed the idea of holding a community forum (or possibly debate) in conjunction with the Minister’s Alliance and Making Connections, so that voters in the new district 6 can hear from the various candidates running for election. RILPAC members present liked the idea and the date was set for August 19th from 6-8 PM. It was proposed that we hold this community forum at the Juanita Sanchez Complex or at the Casey Foundation building, but as this district runs through several parts of the city, a more centralized location might draw a larger crowd.

A committee was formed consisting of Domingo Morel, Betty Bernal, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, Doris de los Santos, Kat Hellwig, and Melba Depena. They will be meeting on July 21st at 5:30 at Betty’s office on 222 Richmond Street in Providence.

It was mentioned that people could be planted to ask questions to the candidates and that translation should be provided. Also, no candidates should be interviewed/endorsed by RILPAC prior to this event. Melba suggested that candidates be invited via certified mail to ensure that they did indeed receive it (to avoid any potential problems).

Domingo went on to say that (pending the group’s approval) his brother (a college student) has agreed to research the candidates and their voting record (especially in the areas of education, immigration, health, and housing). He can use Billtracker to research the history of those who have had a political career in the house or senate. The questionnaire will be key in obtaining information on the non-incumbents. Those present agreed to give Domingo’s brother the responsibility of researching the candidates. Betty and Tomás also have some useful information on the candidates and will forward it to Domingo.

Melba invited RILPAC members to attend constituency meetings at the Democratic National Convention. They will be held on July 26 and 27. Anyone interested should contact her; if there is enough interest she will rent a van.

Melba suggested that a RILPAC member be assigned to keep the meetings on topic and the agenda items discussed in a timely manner. This would help us to use our time most efficiently during the meetings.

Sabina has been in contact with radio station Poder 1110 on their “Verano Caliente” initiative. They will be at various businesses to promote voter registration. Although the starting date is yet to be announced, we do know that volunteers will be needed to register voters on Fridays from 3-6 and Saturdays from 1-3. Tomás has been talking with Pablo Rodriguez on collaborating in some way with 88.1 FM and has plans to meet with the owner of 990 AM. Sabina has a contact at 1220 AM. Tatiana Pina of the Providence Journal recently interviewed Tomás; the article will be in the newspaper in the next week or so.

Tomás announced that he is looking for new leadership for the Latina Institute. Betty Bernal and Doris de los Santos agreed to co-chair this effort.

Doris suggested that we have a voter registration table at the “back to school” celebrations on August 21st. Anyone wishing to help out with voter registration efforts at this or any other event should contact Betty.

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The next Board meeting will be held August 10th, 2004 at 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence RI. 7. Adjourn Not having any other items to discuss, Tomﾃ｡s Alberto ﾃ」ila requested a motion to adjourn at 8:05 PM. A motion to adjourn was made by Melba Depena and seconded by Carmen Mirabal and so voted.

Respectfully submitted, ________________________________ Kat Hellwig Secretary

123

RILPAC & Latino Civic Fund Monthly Meeting Tuesday, July 13, 2004 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 Present were- Members: Ingrid Ardaya, Tomas Avila, Betty Bernal, Sylvia Bernal, Gladys Corvera-Baker, Doris de los Santos, Melba Depena, Kat Hellwig, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, and Domingo Morel.

Excused: Rosendo Fontecha 1. Call to Order President Tomás Ávila called the meeting to order at 6:20 PM. 2. Approval of the Minutes Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to accept the minutes of the June 8, 2004, meeting. The motion was made by Betty Bernal and seconded by Carmen Mirabal- all present agreed and the minutes were passed unanimously.

3. Endorsement Committee Tomás shared that he has nominated Carmen Mirabal as the chair of the Endorsement Committee and Betty Bernal expressed that she felt overlooked in this process, as she has been a long-time member of this committee. It was made clear that it was not Tomás’ (or the Executive Committee’s) intent to exclude Betty, who is a valuable member of the group; they were not aware of her interest in the position. Tomás encouraged all RILPAC members to talk to him or Domingo if they are interested in chairing or joining any committees that are in the process of being formed. Although Kat presented the option of Carmen and Betty co-chairing the committee, Betty declined. A motion was made by Melba Depena and seconded by Doris de los Santos to accept Tomás’ nomination of Carmen as the chair of the Endorsement Committee, and was so voted.

This issue sparked a discussion regarding how decisions are made within RILPAC. While the Bylaws do give the President the power to nominate committee chairs, it was mentioned by several members the importance of communication and open dialogue.

Melba informed Tomás that the questionnaire had been updated (he should be able to find this version in the binder that she gave him). The questionnaire should be sent out by Monday in order to give candidates sufficient time to reply.

Gladys pointed out the importance of involving new members and not solely rely on veteran members as committee chairs (several veteran members had been asked to chair the Endorsement Committee prior to the nomination of Carmen Mirabal).

Those present agreed that RILPAC members might vote if they attend RILPAC meetings and have attended at least one interview with a candidate. RILPAC members who are currently working as part of a candidate’s campaign may not vote.

4. Bill Richardson Awards The Bill Richardson Awards event will be held on September 7th from 6-8 PM at the Hi Hat jazz club. Tomás has named Sylvia Bernal as the chair of the committee (anyone wishing to volunteer should contact her) and will forward all information about the event to her as soon as possible. Gladys volunteered to join the committee. Tomás has sent Evites as well as solicitation letters to 27 politicians whom RILPAC has either endorsed or supported in some way.

The Committee is currently trying to decide on a name for the event- the only suggestion thus far is “Seizing the Moment”. Please contact Sylvia with any other ideas.

Domingo reminded Melba to follow up on the possibility of Bill Richardson attending this event.

5. Treasurer’s Report Sylvia reported that the RILPAC account currently shows a balance of $2,346.31. Aram Garabedian donated $40 for tickets to the Bill Richardson Awards event. $250 has also been received by the Republican Party of Rhode Island 124

towards this event as well (the $250 was received this afternoon and is thus not reflected in today’s account balance).

Betty Bernal and Domingo Morel paid their dues at this meeting.

The Latino Civic Fund account currently shows a balance of $14,631.21. Sylvia will update this as it was made clear that this amount does not reflect the cost of the t-shirts. She will also be paying $20 to the Secretary of State’s office for our 2004 annual report (corporation papers). We should try to use RILPAC’s PO Box address to keep the address consistent.

Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to accept the Treasurer‘s Report. A motion was made by Domingo Morel to accept the Treasurer‘s Report, was seconded by Sabina Matos, and so voted.

Ingrid Ardaya was asked to send bylaws to new RILPAC members; she will be provided with stamps in order to do so.

Ana Cano-Morales would like to be a RILPAC member; someone should contact her.

6. New Business Domingo and Sabina proposed the idea of holding a community forum (or possibly debate) in conjunction with the Minister’s Alliance and Making Connections, so that voters in the new district 6 can hear from the various candidates running for election. RILPAC members present liked the idea and the date was set for August 19th from 6-8 PM. It was proposed that we hold this community forum at the Juanita Sanchez Complex or at the Casey Foundation building, but as this district runs through several parts of the city, a more centralized location might draw a larger crowd.

A committee was formed consisting of Domingo Morel, Betty Bernal, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, Doris de los Santos, Kat Hellwig, and Melba Depena. They will be meeting on July 21st at 5:30 at Betty’s office on 222 Richmond Street in Providence.

It was mentioned that people could be planted to ask questions to the candidates and that translation should be provided. Also, no candidates should be interviewed/endorsed by RILPAC prior to this event. Melba suggested that candidates be invited via certified mail to ensure that they did indeed receive it (to avoid any potential problems).

Domingo went on to say that (pending the group’s approval) his brother (a college student) has agreed to research the candidates and their voting record (especially in the areas of education, immigration, health, and housing). He can use Billtracker to research the history of those who have had a political career in the house or senate. The questionnaire will be key in obtaining information on the non-incumbents. Those present agreed to give Domingo’s brother the responsibility of researching the candidates. Betty and Tomás also have some useful information on the candidates and will forward it to Domingo.

Melba invited RILPAC members to attend constituency meetings at the Democratic National Convention. They will be held on July 26 and 27. Anyone interested should contact her; if there is enough interest she will rent a van.

Melba suggested that a RILPAC member be assigned to keep the meetings on topic and the agenda items discussed in a timely manner. This would help us to use our time most efficiently during the meetings.

Sabina has been in contact with radio station Poder 1110 on their “Verano Caliente” initiative. They will be at various businesses to promote voter registration. Although the starting date is yet to be announced, we do know that volunteers will be needed to register voters on Fridays from 3-6 and Saturdays from 1-3. Tomás has been talking with Pablo Rodriguez on collaborating in some way with 88.1 FM and has plans to meet with the owner of 990 AM. Sabina has a contact at 1220 AM. Tatiana Pina of the Providence Journal recently interviewed Tomás; the article will be in the newspaper in the next week or so.

Tomás announced that he is looking for new leadership for the Latina Institute. Betty Bernal and Doris de los Santos agreed to co-chair this effort.

Doris suggested that we have a voter registration table at the “back to school” celebrations on August 21st. Anyone wishing to help out with voter registration efforts at this or any other event should contact Betty.

125

The next Board meeting will be held August 10th, 2004 at 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence RI. 7. Adjourn Not having any other items to discuss, Tomﾃ｡s Alberto ﾃ」ila requested a motion to adjourn at 8:05 PM. A motion to adjourn was made by Melba Depena and seconded by Carmen Mirabal and so voted.

Respectfully submitted, ________________________________ Kat Hellwig Secretary

126

RILPAC & Latino Civic Fund Monthly Meeting Tuesday, June 8, 2004 645 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI 02907 Present were- Members: Ingrid Ardaya, Tomas Avila, Betty Bernal, Doris de los Santos, Melba Depena, MariaFernanda Escudero, Kat Hellwig, Catherine Horsey, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, Domingo Morel, Hector Solis.

Guests: January Cole, Pedro Espinal, and Leo Medina Excused: Sylvia Bernal, Anthony Affigne, Jose Brito, Vinnie Velasquez Absent: 1. The meeting was called to order by President Tomas Avila at 6:20 PM. 2. Moment of Silence Tomas called for a moment of silence to honor all affected by the recent tragedy in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well as Ronald Reagan (40th President of the United States) and Adora Crager (RILPAC member Kat Hellwig’s Grandmother) who both recently passed away.

3. President’s Message Tomas acknowledged to the group that he had returned as President after a brief hiatus and thanked RILPAC members for their ongoing support and commitment.

4. Board Restructuring Due to decreased participation on the part of certain Executive Committee members and the resignation of Melba Depena (as the Executive Vice President), Tomas proposed a restructured Executive Committee as follows: Tomas Avila Domingo Morel Sabina Matos Sylvia Bernal Ingrid Ardaya Kat Hellwig Claudia Cardona Chris Petrarca

President Executive Vice President Vice President Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Secretary Assistant Secretary (until further notice) Legal Advisor

A motion was made by Betty Bernal and seconded by Catherine Horsey to approve this newly restructured Executive Committee and was unanimously approved by those present.

5. New Senate District 6 Pedro Espinal and Leo Medina (accompanied by his campaign manager, January Cole) are planning on running for City Council and State Senate, respectively in District 6 (largely made up of former District 9). The new district was created as a result of the settling of the senate lawsuit. Charles Walton has also announced his plans to run for office.

Tomas will keep members advised to strategy and action regarding Districts 2 and 6.

6. Treasurer’s Report In Sylvia’s absence, Tomas reported that the Latino Civic Fund’s account showed a balance of $14,963.21. He went on to tell members that they should expect to see this amount diminish somewhat, as these funds will be used to support the Latino Voter Registration Project, which will run from June 12th until August 14th.

No report was given regarding RILPAC funds or membership dues.

Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to accept the Treasurer‘s Report. A motions was made by Kathy Hellwig to 127

accept the Treasurer‘s Report, was seconded by Betty Bernal, and so voted.

Tomas shared his fundraising plan of soliciting elected officials that have been previously endorsed by RILPAC. He will be sending 25 letters to such officials asking them to donate to the Bill Richardson Awards event ($1,000 is the legal maximum donation allowed to a political action committee from a politician); the goal is to raise $15,000.

7. Review Latino Civic Fund’s Programs Regarding the Latina Leadership Institute, Tomas plans to meet with members of Ocean State Action (a main funder of the Institute) do discuss restructuring. He will discuss the results of this meeting with committee members.

Those present discussed Latinos on the Hill 2004 and why it was not the success that we had hoped. Everyone agreed that there were a variety of factors that contributed to this outcome. Tomas asked committee members to take more responsibility for their committees, while some present encouraged Tomas to delegate in such a way as to empower RILPAC members and lighten his workload (i.e. committee heads reporting during the meetings).

It was also decided that the goal of the event must be further discussed (lobbying, networking, etc.) and the term lobbying should be clarified for legal purposes. Some members mentioned that the childcare workers that were present felt excluded, as they were not given an opportunity to speak, as they had originally planned and urged RILPAC to take a more aggressive stance on this issue. Next year’s Latinos on the Hill Day will be held on May 18, 2005.

8. RILPAC’s Scheduled Activities for 2004 Primary Elections are scheduled for September 14th and General Elections for November 5th. Anyone interested in joining the Candidate Endorsement Committee should contact committee member, Betty Bernal.

The Bill Richardson Awards event will be held at the Hi Hat jazz club on September 7th. Once again, Pablo Rodriguez has kindly agreed to be a sponsor of the event. Aram Garabedian has guaranteed his support as well.

It is possible that Governor Bill Richardson will make an appearance at this event. Please forward the names of anyone who should be nominated for an award to Tomas.

9. Committees Tomas encouraged members to sign up for committees if they have not yet done so and reminded committee chairs to make an effort to include RILPAC members that have been unable to attend the regular monthly meetings (due to conflicts such as evening classes).

Doris added her name to the Voter Registration Committee and the Political Candidate Endorsing Committee.

Domingo will be in charge of the Judicial Nominating Committee and share responsibility with Melba for the Voter Registration Committee. He reminded the group that the Judicial Committee should be pro-active and possibly schedule a meeting with the Governor (who is responsible for appointing judges) to address issues important to RILPAC. Earlier this year, the Judicial Nominating Committee endorsed Rafael Ovalles for the appointment of District Court Judge. He added that he would be personally interested to follow up with RILPAC endorsed candidates and told the group that he has some students interested in assisting with this effort.

Maria-Fernanda encouraged RILPAC members to log onto www.state.ri.us and look at the list of boards and commissions seeking members. This would be a great way to increase RILPAC’s presence and ensure that Latinos (and RILPAC) are represented on a variety of boards.

10. Other Issues 128

Tomas has been meeting with Edwin Cancel (Progreso Latino), William Sanchez, and Councilman Patino to strategize how Latinos could gain political power (i.e. city council seats) in Central Falls. This strategy is confidential and has only been viewed by the Executive Committee. Members felt that it should not be on RILPAC stationary if it had not been voted on (or seen) by the membership.

Betty mentioned that she would like to have access to minutes from prior meetings (most specifically the last 3 meetings and retreat minutes) and suggested that perhaps this should be a function of the Secretary’s job.

Sabina shared her belief that guests’ time at our meetings should be limited (such as for the first 15 minutes of the meeting) and that RILPAC business should not be discussed in their presence.

Hector discussed the need to recruit new membership. Tomas agreed, adding that he is considering creating an incentive for existing members to increase their recruitment efforts. New members should be referred to Sylvia or Tomas.

The group ended the meeting by saying goodbye to RILPAC member Catherine Horsey and thanking her for her commitment and hard work.

The next Board meeting will be held July 13th, 2004 at 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence RI. 11. Adjourn: Not having any other items to discuss, Tomás Alberto Ávila requested a motion to adjourn at 8:40 PM. A motion to adjourn was made by Betty Bernal and seconded by Catherine Horsey and so voted.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________________ Kat Hellwig Secretary

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March 12, 2004 Dear RILPAC Board Members: The Board of Directors take this opportunity to invite you to attend our 2004 retreat schedule to take place Saturday April 17, 2004 900 AM – 2:00 PM at the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce of Rhode Island located at 45 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904 Phone: 401-331-2615.

We hope you are planning to attend the important annual retreat. Our plans are to come together on Saturday April 17, 2004. It is clear that we all have very busy schedules however we hope this letter as well as earlier notifications remind everyone of how important this session is to RILPAC/RILCF and our involvement as board members. We need your participation!

We have to become much more interactive and take much more responsibility for helping our board map out the future direction of RILPAC/RILCF. To do this work clearly and successfully and to solidify the connection of board member activity to the future of RILPAC/RILCF, we have planned this important retreat. Our goal is to plan and strategize around our organization activities and to also take time for fellowship and an opportunity to get to know each other a bit better.

RILPAC is an important organization and our planned gathering and future direction and support of RILPAC is also important. You may be a regular board meeting attendee; you may be a member who has a definite commitment to work with RILPAC but you can’t get to monthly meetings or you may be a board member whom we have lost touch with. For this gathering, we need everyone to participate. The issues that we plan to engage in are about getting better and becoming more effective in our roles as RILPAC board members.

To that end, enclosed you will find some basic RILPAC background information but most importantly, a Board Assessment Survey that we ask you to complete and return to RILPAC by April 1st, 2004. The survey will help to identify board member views, concerns, ideas and suggestions. Everyone’s input and open dialogue about our roles and about RILPAC is very important so please complete and return the survey, and plan to participate on April 17, 2004. Lastly, it is important that you notify us of your attendance plans (401-274-5204) as soon as possible but no later than April 12th.

I cannot stress enough how important your participation and your survey response. Please RSVP regarding attendance no later than April 10th and return the Survey no later than April 12th. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 401-274-5204. We are looking forward to a productive, interesting and fun gathering!

Sincerely, Tomás Alberto Avila President

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Annual Retreat Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 45 Royal Little Drive, Providence April 17, 2004 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 4. Welcome 5. Introductions and familiarization exercise 6. Review of 2003 “Where We are and Where We Want to be” · Analysis and strategic planning 7. Board of Director Restructuring · Melba Depeña’s, Executive VP Resignation · Chronic Board of Directors Absenteeism 8. Judicial Nominating Committee · Attorney Rafael Ovalles · Attorney Daniel Carillo 9. African American Redistricting Lawsuit · Affects in this year’s election · Possible Redrawing of districts 10. Treasurer’s Report & Fundraising Plan · RI Latino Political Action Committee · RI Latino Civic Fund 11. Review Latino Civic Fund’s Programs for 2004 · See 2004-2006 Work Plan 12. RILPAC’s Proposed Activities for 2004 · See 2004-2006 Work Plan 13. Other Issues § Redistricting Update § Reorganization of Standing Committees 14. Adjourn

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Bi-Annual Work Plan 2004 - 2006 Strategic Planning Meeting January 17, 2004 15. Latino Civic Fund’s Programs for 2004

· · · ·

Soy Mujer: Latinas Past, Present & Future, March Latinos On the Hill, May Latino Voter Registration Project, April-Aug Latina Leadership Institute

16. RILPAC’s Proposed Activities for 2004 · Endorsement Committee Meeting July 2 · Endorsement Interviews July 12-16 · Endorsement Announcement July 30 · Legislative Elections Primaries, September 14 · Legislative Elections General, November, 9 · Bill Richardson Award, September 7 · Democratic Convention, Boston, July 26-29 · Republican Convention, New York, August 30, September 4 · Districts Analysis 17. Other Issues

§ § § § § § §

§

§

Providence 2002 Charter Review Commission Recommendations Appointed & Employed Latinos Support Network Review of Board & Commissions Latino participation Latinos Resume Bank Legislative Advisory Council Candidate Training School Issue Policy Briefing o Civil Rights o Economic Development o Education o Health o Housing o Immigration 2005 Blackstone Elections o Mayor o City Council o School Board 2006 Mid Term Elections o U. S. Senate o Governor o Lt. Governor o Secretary of State o Treasurer o Attorney General o Legislative o Providence Mayor o Cranston Mayor 132

§ § §

o City Council 2008 Presidential Elections RILPAC 10th Anniversary, August 20 2008 2010 Redistricting

2004-2005 Board of Directors Tomás Alberto Ávila President Melba Depeña Executive Vice President Domingo Morel Vice President Johanna Petrarca Secretary Claudia Cardona Assistant Secretary Sylvia Bernal Treasurer Ingrid Ardaya Assistant Treasurer Christopher Petrarca Legal Advisor Members at Large Tony Affigne Alberto Cardona Nellie Gorbea Senator Juan Pichardo

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RILPAC Chapter Council RILPAC Chapter Council work to promote greater participation of Latinos in the political process by encouraging nonpartisan voter registration, voter education and voter mobilization. RILPAC also works in coalition with other Latino organizations to maximize support for economic and social policies and legislation that are essential to advance the interests of Latinos. The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities. The responsibilities and timeline for Chapter council will be as follows: Identify and grow membership Develop internal leadership Identify critical issues and key priorities within subdivisions Identify key races for support Identify key candidates for endorsement Voters Database Here's where we manage all of our council's activities. With a quick glance we'll know how we're doing with our voters, how many voters we've contacted and how much time we have left before the election. We'll create sophisticated lists of our voters based on criteria that we select. The system allows us to create lists based on dozens of criteria such as prior voting history, age, party affiliation, address, and more. Voters can be tagged with unlimited criteria that we select, such as whether they're a member of a union household or whether they'll post a lawn sign: 14. Create lists of voters in specific neighborhoods 15. Find voters based on party affiliation, age, prior voting history, and more 16. Export lists into Excel for future mailings or print labels right from our computer 17. Use our lists to create canvassing efforts and telephone surveys 18. Print walking sheets with barcodes corresponding to support levels and issues 19. Collect information on voters as we canvass the neighborhood 20. Create sophisticated voter lists using demographic and geographic information

Voter registration concentrated in · · · · ·

Silver Lake (Doris De Los Santos), Olneyville (Ingrid Ardaya, English for Action), Mount Pleasant (Ernesto Figueroa, Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan, Angel Tavarez, Jose Brito, Ema Villa, Gloria Lopez) Central Falls (Carmen Mirabal, Ricardo Patiño, Mildred Vega, Hector Solis, Edwin Cancel) Pawtucket

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ACTION COMMITTEES Fundraising Committee The Fundraising Committee's job is not simply to raise money. Instead, the Fundraising Committee is responsible for overseeing the organization's overall fundraising and, in particular, the fundraising done by the board. To accomplish this, its responsibilities are:

·

To work with staff to establish a fundraising plan that incorporates a series of appropriate vehicles, such as special events, direct mail, product sales, etc. To work with fundraising staff in their efforts to raise money.

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To take the lead in certain types of outreach efforts, such as chairing a dinner/dance committee or hosting fundraising parties, etc.

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To be responsible for involvement of all board members in fundraising, such as having board members make telephone calls to ask for support, and;

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To monitor fundraising efforts to be sure that ethical practices are in place, that donors are acknowledged appropriately, and that fundraising efforts are cost-effective.

1. Tomás Alberto Ávila 2. Sylvia Bernal 3. Ingrid Ardaya 4. Alberto Cardona 5. Sabina Matos 6. Carmen Mirabal 7. Rosendo Fontecha 8. Pablo Rodriguez 9. Johana Petrarca

The Judicial Nominating Committee Thee committee is directed draft goals and objectives or other material needed for recommendation and endorsement of qualified Latino Lawyers as candidates for judgeships in Rhode Island in outline or conceptual form for presentation to the Board of Directors and follow-up by the Executive Committee. The recommendation must be submitted to the Board as early as possible and preferably prior to next Judicial Nominating Commission call for candidates.

The Judicial Committee will review Judicial Nominating process of the state of Rhode Island and Urban municipalities and review pool of qualify Latino candidates for judgeships in Rhode Island and make recommendations to the Board.

1. Al Cardona 2. Chris Petrarca 3. Jorge Elorza 4. Angel Taveras 5. Ana Cecilia Rosado 6. Sabina Matos 7. Domingo Morel 8. Joseph Fernandez 9. Daniel Carillo 10. Roberto Gonzalez

Political Education/Voter Registration The Civic Education Committee is charge to promote the participation of Latinos in the state's civic life. The Civic 135

Education Committee carries out this mission by developing and implementing programs that promote the integration of Latino immigrants into American political process. The Civic Education Committee also gets involve in naturalization drives in coalition with other organizations, in order to increase the number of Latinos who become citizens and thus entitle to vote.

The Civic Education Committee also conduct community forums and study circles used to address policy issues in an organized way; that will involve hearing multiple perspectives on a particular issue, such as whether members of the school Board should be appointed or elected.

Members 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Melba Depe単a Ingrid Ardaya Roxana Parra Laura Perez Vinnie Velasquez Jacinta Pe単a Jose Brito Dolores Rodriguez Janet Bonilla

Political Candidate Selection Committee The Candidate Endorsement Committee shall propose such voting procedures, as they deem most likely to achieve the greatest possible consensus vote of the Membership. The Candidate Endorsement Committee's proposed rules of procedure shall be subject to amendment by majority vote of members present prior to the commencement of any Endorsement proceedings, but shall not be amended further without an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present once the Endorsement proceedings commence.

Membership Planning and Research

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United States Court of Appeals For the First Circuit No. 02-2204

HAROLD METTS, ET AL.,

Plaintiffs, Appellants, v.

WILLIAM J. MURPHY, ETC., ET AL., Defendants, Appellees.

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF RHODE ISLAND [Hon. Ernest C. Torres, U.S. District Judge]

Before Boudin, Chief Judge,

Torruella and Selya, Circuit Judges, Stahl, Senior Circuit Judge, 137

Lynch, Lipez and Howard, Circuit Judges.

Anita Earls, UNC-Center for Civil Rights, with whom Sunil R. Kulkarni, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Cara Fineman, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Dennis Hayes, NAACP Legal Department, and Bruce G. Pollock were on supplemental opening brief for appellants.

Nadine Cohen, Lawyers' Committee For Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association, Rudolph F. Pierce, Barbara Van Gorder, Heather Butterfield and Goulston & Storrs, P.C. on brief for Angel Meza, Gabriel Valerio, Juan Vega, Chelsea's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Inc., and 多Oiste?: The Massachusetts Statewide Latino Organization, Amicus Curiae.

Katherine A. Fallow, Sam Hirsch and Jenner & Block LLP on supplementary brief for the Puerto Rican Political Action Committee and Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Amicus Curiae.

Neil Bradley, ACLU Foundation Inc., and Laughlin McDonald, ACLU Foundation Inc., on supplemental brief for American Civil Liberties Union and Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, Amicus Curiae.

John A. Tarantino with whom Patricia K. Rocha, Victoria M. Almeida, Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., Normand G. Benoit, Eugene G. Bernardo, II, Partridge, Snow & Hahn LLP, Richard B. Woolley, Department of Attorney General, Thomas A. Palombo, Department of Attorney General, and Raymond A. Marcaccio were on brief for appellees Joseph A. Montalbano, Senate President, William J. Murphy, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Matthew A. Brown, Secretary of State, and Roger Begin, State Board of Elections Chairman. _______________ OPINION EN BANC

March 30, 2004

Per Curiam. In February 2002, the Rhode Island legislature adopted a redistricting plan in response to the 2000 census and a state constitutional amendment reducing the number of seats in both houses. Based on the allegations in the complaint, it appears that African-Americans are about 4 percent of Rhode Island's population, but more than half live in Providence. Prior to redistricting, State Senate District 9 in Providence was 25.69 percent African-American and 41.08 138

percent Hispanic. Until redistricting, an African-American, Charles Walton, had represented District 9 for many years.

Under the 2002 redistricting plan, much of the same African-American population now lies within the new District 2, which allegedly is 21.42 percent African-American and 46.74 percent Hispanic.

In the 2002 primary after redistricting, a Latino challenger defeated Walton and went on to win the election. Well before the primary, in May 2002, a number of individual African-American voters and related organizations brought the present suit under section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. ยง 1973 (2000), to challenge the redistricting plan.

In September 2002, the district court granted a motion under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) to dismiss the complaint, Metts v. Almond, 217 F. Supp. 2d 252 (D.R.I. 2002), holding that the claim failed two of the three threshold tests for a section 2 case under Thornburg v. Gingles, 478 U.S. 30 (1986). On appeal, a divided panel of this court reversed, remanding for further proceedings. Metts v. Murphy, 347 F.3d 346 (1st Cir. 2003).

We granted the defendants' petition for rehearing en banc and vacated the panel opinion. Metts v.

Murphy, No. 02-2204, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 24313 (1st Cir. Dec. 3, 2003). We now review and vacate the district court's judgment of dismissal and remand for further proceedings. The reason for our remand is to allow a fuller development of the evidence, and further legal analysis based on that evidence, before any final determination is made.

Section 2, adopted as part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, forbids voting-related measures that deny or abridge the right to vote "on account of race or color." 42 U.S.C. ยง 1973. Under a 1982 amendment, a violation is established "if, based on the totality of circumstances, it is shown that . . . members of a class of citizens . . . have less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice." ยง 1973(b).

The Delphic language of the amendment can be understood only against the background of its legislative history and subsequent Supreme Court interpretation. The former tells us that discriminatory intent is not a necessary element in a violation and that Congress intended a broad range of factors to be taken into account. These points, and the relevant citations, are developed in Gingles, the first post-amendment decision on section 2 by the Court and still the leading authority. 478 U.S. at 43-46.

However, Gingles was primarily concerned with the use of multi-member districts, which have an obvious potential to submerge the electoral power of even a substantial and cohesive minority bloc. 478 U.S. at 46-48 & nn.11-13. If such a group represents a majority of votes in a single member district but a numerical minority when combined with an adjoining district or districts, the combining of those districts into one multi-member district can easily eliminate the minority's ability to elect one of their own to any of the seats.

In Gingles, the Supreme Court set up a three-part test, ruling that section 2 would ordinarily not be violated by multi-member districts unless three conditions were met: that the minority challenging such a district would be "a majority" in a compact single member district; that the minority was politically cohesive (so it would bloc vote in such a district); and that the multi-district majority voted as a bloc (so it would usually defeat the minority's candidate in a multi-member district).

Gingles, 478 U.S. at 50-51. If satisfied, these preconditions would not end the case but would raise 139

a presumption of a violation. Vecinos De Barrio Uno v. City of Holyoke, 72 F.3d 973, 980 (1st Cir. 1995); see also Johnson v. DeGrandy, 512 U.S. 997, 1011 (1994) (Gingles preconditions necessary but not sufficient to establish claim).

Gingles was directed to a particular practice--multi-member districts--which the Court suggested was particularly problematic, 478 U.S. at 47-48; Growe v. Emison, 507 U.S. 25, 40 (1993), and the decision did not purport to offer a general or exclusive gloss on section 2 for all situations, Gingles, 478 U.S. at 46 n.12. But the concreteness of the Gingles test, set against the vagueness of the statute and plethora of criteria, has made it a focus in subsequent cases dealing with quite different problems. Indeed, the Supreme Court has said several times that Gingles applies to vote dilution claims directed against single member districts, see, e.g., Voinovich v. Quilter, 507 U.S. 146, 158 (1993); Growe, 507 U.S. at 40-41, but it has effectively qualified this statement in two different ways.

First, several Supreme Court opinions after Gingles have offered the prospect, or at least clearly reserved the possibility, that Gingles' first precondition--that a racial minority must be able to constitute a "majority" in a single-member district--could extend to a group that was a numerical minority but had predictable cross-over support from other groups. DeGrandy, 512 U.S. at 100809; Voinovich, 507 U.S. at 158 ("[T]he first Gingles precondition, the requirement that the group be sufficiently large to constitute a majority in a single district, would have to be modified or eliminated when analyzing the influence-dilution claim we assume, arguendo, to be actionable today."). Further, the Court has so far reserved judgment on a second-cousin question: whether dilution of a minority racial group's influence, as opposed to the power to elect, could violate section 2--a position that would require substantial modification of Gingles' first-prong "majority" precondition. Growe, 507 U.S. at 41 n.5; Vecinos de Barrio Uno, 72 F.3d at 990-91.

Second, where single member districts are at issue--as in our case--opinions have increasingly emphasized the open-ended, multi-factor inquiry that Congress intended for section 2 claims.

Voinovich, 507 U.S. at 158 ("Of course, the Gingles factors cannot be applied mechanically and without regard to the nature of the claim."); DeGrandy, 512 U.S. at 1007 (same). To say that Gingles applies as a precondition to section 2 liability may not tell one very much if Gingles itself is no longer to be "mechanically" applied. Gingles was in its original incarnation a mechanical first-step evaluation for a particular problem, so its rationale is not easily adapted by lower courts to a different set of problems.

The present case concerns not multi-member districts but a redrawing of single-member district boundaries. In one key district this has produced a modest re-adjustment in the proportionate sizes of the two large minority groups--but a readjustment that certainly can affect who wins the election. So far the parties' argument has been about whether and how to squeeze this case into the Gingles preconditions--raising difficult questions about whether the "majority" requirement in Gingles is a numerical majority or an effective majority that could be constructed out of cross-over votes; how rigidly the Gingles preconditions apply when moving away from multi-member districts; and how to apply Gingles when no racial group makes up more than 50 percent of the district.

It is no accident that most cases under section 2 have been decided on summary judgment or after a verdict, and not on a motion to dismiss. This caution is especially apt where, as here, we are dealing with a major variant not addressed in Gingles itself--the single member district--and one 140

with a relatively unusual history. As courts get more experience dealing with these cases and the rules firm up, it may be more feasible to dismiss weaker cases on the pleadings, but in the case before us we think that the plaintiffs are entitled to an opportunity to develop evidence before the merits are resolved.

We are thus unwilling at the complaint stage to foreclose the possibility that a section 2 claim can ever be made out where the African-American population of a single member district is reduced in redistricting legislation from 26 to 21 percent. Yes, one would ordinarily expect the consequences to be small, but not always, and arguably not here (based on past history). At this point we know practically nothing about the motive for the change in district or the selection of the present configuration, the contours of the district chosen or the feasible alternatives, the impact of alternative districts on other minorities, or anything else that would help gauge how mechanically or flexibly the Gingles factors should be applied.

On the other hand, the plaintiffs cannot prevail merely by showing that an alternative plan gives them a greater opportunity to win the election, DeGrandy, 512 U.S. at 1017 ("Failure to maximize cannot be the measure of ยง 2."), or that an otherwise justified boundary change happened to cost African-Americans a seat. This would convert section 2's all-circumstances test into the far more stringent "anti-retrogression" test of section 5, which imposes rigorous pre-clearance requirements on covered states to prevent redistricting plans with retrogressive consequences for AfricanAmerican voters. Compare 42 U.S.C. ยง 1973(a)-(b) (2000), with 42 U.S.C. ยง 1973c (2000). See generally Beer v. United States, 425 U.S. 130, 141 (1976) (anti-retrogression test); Reno v. Bossier Parish Sch. Bd., 520 U.S. 471, 476-80 (1997) (discussing differences between sections 2 and 5).

Rhode Island is not a covered state.

As the district court correctly pointed out, there is tension in this case for plaintiffs in any effort to satisfy both the first and third prong of Gingles. To the extent that African-American voters have to rely on cross-over voting to prove they have the "ability to elect" a candidate of their choosing, their argument that the majority votes as a bloc against their preferred candidate is undercut. But it is not clear on the pleadings alone how many cross-over votes are needed to win an election-unlike in Gingles, Rhode Island law allows a candidate to win with less than an absolute majority, see R.I. Const. art. IV, ยง 2 (general elections); R.I. Gen. Laws ยง 17-15-29 (2002) (primary elections)--nor do we have any evidence at this stage about how vigorously the majority votes as a bloc over time, nor the impact of the fact that the "majority" here is made up of both Hispanics and whites. Gingles itself warned that "there is no simple doctrinal test for the existence of legally significant racial bloc voting," 478 U.S. at 58, a further warning against deciding such issues in the abstract.

The burden of inquiry is on the plaintiffs--they are the ones challenging the redistricting plan--but in this case they are entitled (within ordinary limits) to develop the evidence that they think might help them. Whether a full-scale trial is needed is an entirely different matter; perhaps summary judgment will suffice depending on how the evidence develops and the ultimate theory or theories offered by both sides--theories that hopefully will go beyond dueling claims as to what Gingles means. In all events, it is premature to close the door now.

The judgment of the district court is vacated and the matter remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Each side shall bear its own costs on this appeal.

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It is so ordered.

Dissent follows.

SELYA, Circuit Judge, with whom TORRUELLA, Circuit Judge, joins, dissenting. I appreciate the measured tone of the majority opinion, and I agree with much of what the court writes: section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), 42 U.S.C. ยง 1973, verges on the opaque and the Supreme Court precedent interpreting it leaves many questions unanswered. Moreover, I acknowledge that, in the ordinary course, district courts should allow vote dilution claims to proceed beyond the Rule 12(b)(6) stage. Thus, were this an arguable case, factual development would be preferable to outright dismissal.

Here, however, the case is not arguable. (1) The plaintiffs' claim depends upon a radical premise: that a minority group whose members cannot conceivably comprise anything close to a numerical majority, even in what is from their point of view an ideally configured single-member district, can mount a vote dilution claim. Given the small size of the identified minority group in this case and the magnitude of the crossover voting on which it must rely, the claim necessarily fails. See Valdespino v. Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist., 168 F.3d 848, 852-53 (5th Cir. 1999); Cousin v.

Sundquist, 145 F.3d 818, 828-29 (6th Cir. 1998); McNeil v. Springfield Park Dist., 851 F.2d 937, 943-45 (7th Cir. 1988); Parker v. Ohio, 263 F. Supp. 2d 1100, 1104-05 (S.D. Ohio) (three-judge court), aff'd mem., 124 S. Ct. 574 (2003). Further factual development, therefore, will only raise false hopes in the African-American community while at the same time squandering scarce judicial resources.

I will be brief. The plaintiffs allege that African-Americans represented approximately 26% of the relevant population in former Senate District 9 yet represent only 21% of the population in the new district (Senate District 2). They characterize this 5% differential as a political kiss of death and ask that the district lines be redrawn so that, in their ideal district, African-Americans again will number 26% of the population.

Stripped of rhetorical flourishes, the postulate underlying the plaintiffs' claim proceeds along the following lines. Whenever a candidate preferred by African-Americans runs for the state senate in the new district, he or she will receive all the African-American votes plus no less than 32% but no more than 37% of the combined white and Hispanic votes (these being the percentages of all white and Hispanic voters necessary to form a majority in conjunction with a monolithic AfricanAmerican vote when African-Americans constitute 26% and 21% of the population, respectively).

Whether viewed as a matter of logic, political science, or human behavior, this postulate, which assumes that the electorate's polarization is so deeply entrenched that candidate-specific variations will operate only within a 5% margin, strikes me as fanciful. Moreover, the impetus behind it is the plaintiffs' conviction that they can forge some sort of functional majority, i.e., that AfricanAmericans, though not numerous enough to comprise anything close to a majority in their ideal district, nonetheless will have the ability to elect a particular candidate with the aid of a large and predictable non-African-American crossover vote. Whatever may be said for functional majority claims in general -- a matter on which I take no view -- the plaintiffs' functional majority claim lies 142

well beyond the prophylaxis of section 2. The minority group described in the amended complaint comprises too small a fraction of the district's total population and, therefore, must rely too heavily on crossover votes.

The plaintiffs seek to blink this reality by treating crossover voters as if they constitute part of a protected minority within the purview of section 2. Fidelity to core democratic values demands that we reject this taxonomy. Although the Gingles preconditions contemplate a certain degree of crossover voting, see Thornburg v. Gingles, 478 U.S. 30, 56 (1986); Jenkins v. Red Clay Consol.

Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 4 F.3d 1103, 1123 (3d Cir. 1993), there is a point at which crossover voting becomes so large a part of the picture as to crowd out the possibility of a legally cognizable vote dilution claim. That is the case here; after all, the bricolage comprises a roughly equal mix of African-American and crossover voters. Under these circumstances, allowing a vote dilution claim to go forward would make sense only if the end game were to ensure the success of candidates favored by minority groups. That is plainly not the proper object of section 2 of the VRA, which is a law aimed at ensuring equality of opportunity rather than at guaranteeing the electoral success of particular candidates. See Johnson v. De Grandy, 512 U.S. 997, 1014 n.11 (1994).

The plaintiffs' claim also trips over the third Gingles precondition. See Gingles, 478 U.S. at 56 (explaining that plaintiffs must show the existence of majoritarian bloc voting sufficient to defeat minority-preferred candidates most of the time). A showing of majoritarian bloc voting is structurally inconsistent with the plaintiffs' exposition of their case. Their reliance on a high level of crossover voting, ranging upward from a minimum of 32% and nearly equaling the whole of the African-American vote, belies any majoritarian bloc voting and thus defenestrates their claim of illegal vote dilution. See Abrams v. Johnson, 521 U.S. 74, 92-93 (1997) (affirming lower court decision that average majority crossover voting of 22% to 38% is sufficient to demonstrate the "general willingness of [majority] voters to vote for [minority] candidates" (internal quotation marks omitted)); cf. Voinovich v. Quilter, 507 U.S. 146, 151-52, 158 (1993) (approving lower court's finding of no majority bloc voting where "black candidates have been repeatedly elected from [single-member] districts with only a 35% black population").

The plaintiffs showcase Senator Walton's past electoral successes as proof of the cogency of their ability to elect claim -- but that datum is a two-edged sword. Consistent electoral success on the part of a racial or ethnic minority group that comprises considerably less than a numerical majority of the electorate is a telling indicium of the absence of majoritarian bloc voting and, thus, is presumptively inconsistent with an actionable vote dilution claim. See Gingles, 478 U.S. at 102 (O'Connor, J., concurring); Overton v. City of Austin, 871 F.2d 529, 540 (5th Cir. 1989) (per curiam); see also Brooks v. Miller, 158 F.3d 1230, 1241 (11th Cir. 1998); Turner v. Arkansas, 784 F. Supp. 553, 570-71 (E.D. Ark. 1991) (three-judge court), aff'd mem., 504 U.S. 952 (1992).

In short, I do not believe that section 2 of the VRA authorizes vote dilution claims that are wholly dependent upon massive crossover voting. There is a critical distinction between minoritypreferred candidates who lose because redistricting excludes too much of the minority electorate from a particular district (illegal vote dilution) and minority-preferred candidates who lose because they do not attract enough votes from other constituencies within the district (legal majoritarian rule). The amended complaint, even when taken at face value, blurs this distinction.

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Some vote dilution cases are sufficiently clear that, on any rational view of the facts alleged, further proceedings are inappropriate. This is one of them. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from the court's decision. Left to my own devices, I would affirm the order of dismissal.

1. There are obvious dangers in applying the principle favoring further factual development too liberally. If one is willing to split an infinite number of hairs, it always will be possible to conjure up remote scenarios that might be disinterred during discovery (and, thus, might prevent the allowance of a motion to dismiss). Rule 12(b)(6) does not invite courts to engage in such endless surmise; rather, "[t]he method of Rule 12(b)(6) requires courts . . . to resolve all realistic possibilities in the pleader's favor." Garrett v. Tandy Corp., 295 F.3d 94, 105 (1st Cir. 2002) (emphasis supplied).

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Monthly Meeting International Institute 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence June 8, 2004 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM 18. Welcome · Moment of silence in memory of the Dominican & Haitian tragedy 19. President’s Statement 20. Board restructuring 21. New Senate District 16 Strategy · Potential Candidates: Pedro Espinal, Gwendolyn Andrade, Christopher Lopes, Charles Walton, Harold Metts, Nick Tsiungus 22. Treasurer’s Report & Fundraising Plan · RI Latino Political Action Committee · RI Latino Civic Fund 23. Review Latino Civic Fund’s Programs for 2004 · Latina Leadership Institute · Latinos On the Hill · Latino Voter Registration Project, June 12 – August 14, 2004 24. RILPAC’s Proposed Activities for 2004 · ·

·

Bill Richardson Award September 7, 2004 Primary Elections, September14, 2004

General Election, November 5, 2004

25. Other Issues § Redistricting Settlement, May § Judicial Nominating Committee § Committees Staffing § Central Falls 2005 Political Empowerment Strategic Plan § Democratic Convention, Boston, July 26-29 § Republican Convention, New York, August 30, September 4 26. Adjourn RILPAC/ RI Latino Civic Fund

Minutes for the February 10th 2004 Meeting

145

Present: Carmen Mirabal, Melba Depena, Marisol Camilo, Sylvia Bernal, Katherine Hellwin, Ricardo Patiño, Ingrid Ardaya, Claudia Cardona, Dr. Barrajas, Domingo Morel, Victor Mendoza, Sabina Matos, Kat and Maria Fernanda Escudero.

Meeting called to order by Exe. Vice President Melba Depena. Melba informed the group that Tomas Avila was away on vacation. A request was made to change the agenda so that we can move Committee’s Report to address the issue coming from Central Falls. Request was granted and Carmen Mirabal proceeded to introduce Councilman Ricardo Patiño.

Councilman Patiño gave us a report on the status of Central Falls’ search to appoint a new judge. A search committee will be established with members of the city council. Once the search is on the way, the search committee will submit 3 names for the city council to review.

A lengthy conversation took place during the meeting about one of the candidates that apply to be considered for the post. Al Cardona asked RILPAC to support Mr. Carrillo, because if he is selected this will be a historic moment for Latinos in Central Falls and in Rhode Island. A few individuals were present to support Mr. Carrillo. Dr. Barrajas, Victor Mendoza and Al Cardona informed the members present about Mr. Carrillo’s strengths as an attorney and why they think he will be an excellent judge. There was a question and answer period in which members participated because members wanted to know more about Mr. Carrillo.

Melba Depena proposed that besides deciding tonight about whether we support or not Mr. Carrillo, that as an organization we should have a process about how we can support candidates in the judiciary field. We had a brief discussion and everyone agreed that we should have a process. It was recommended that we establish a committee to review the judiciary endorsement process, and it was also suggested that this committee be spearheaded by Chris Petrarca our legal advisor.

We came back to further discuss the issue of Mr. Carrillo. Again, we had a leanthy discussion. Carmen Mirabal proposed a motion to end discussion and move to vote. Al Cardona seconded the motion.

The vote was unanimous that RILPAC should support Mr. Carrillo.

We briefly reviewed minutes from the Jan. 13th meeting. Melba Depena explained that they were not the official minutes, that on March 9th minutes will be approved.

Sylvia Bernal gave the treasure’s report; she distributed a balance sheet for RILPAC with a total Liability & Equity of $1, 892.00 and the RI Civic Fund’s balance sheet with a Total Liability & Equity of $15, 201.28.

Sabina Matos gave us a report on the DMV Committee. She stated that the committee is working on rewording the language on the bill so that a passport can be accepted as a requirement to get a license, rather then using the ITIN. It was also announced that 146

Senator Juan Pichardo did not want to support the DMV bill.

Announcements: Maria Fernanda Escudero informed the members that she would like to coordinate a lobbying training so that a group of members from RILPAC are trained lobbyist.

A group of about 7 members will attend the training on March 2nd at 6pm at the International Institute. Maria Fernanda will be sending a message to the RILPAC list group in case anyone else is interested.

Sabina Matos announced the Theatre Month will be kicked off with “La Fiesta Del Chivo” which will take place Feb. 28 at the RI College auditorium.

Motion to adjourn meeting by Maria Fernanda, seconded by Silvia Bernal.

Meeting adjourned.

Present: Jose Gonzales, Ingrid Ardaya, Carmen Mirabal, Melba Depena, Sylvia Bernal, Jose Brito, Betty Bernal, Gladys Corvera-Baker, Domingo Morel, Sabina Matos, Tomas Avila, Rosendo Fontecheca and Maria Fernanda Escudero.

Excused: Chris Petrarca, Tony Affigne and Johanna Petrarca.

Meeting called to order by President Tomas Avila at 6:25pm.

Mr. President Avila welcomed everyone to the meeting and mentioned that he hope everyone had a great New Year. He proceeded to review the agenda and explained the agenda will be followed as structured. In the interest of time meetings will be one hour the longest will be 1 ½.

Minutes were reviewed. There were 2 changes to the minutes: 1) Maria Fernanda Escudero was excused not absent.

2) The Coalition to Rebuild the RI Women’s Movement received a $15,000 grant not $20,000.

Once these changes were noted we proceeded to approve the minutes with the specified changes. Motion to accept minutes by Jose Gonzalez, seconded by Betty Bernal: unanimous vote

Betty Bernal mentioned that she was disappointed that the minutes did not reflect the election process that took place that night. A discussion took place about the responsibility of executive committee members, board members and members at large. Mr. President mentioned that we should review information when is sent ahead of time, because this will 147

help us not discuss them at the meeting. The president encouraged everyone to use the list group to communicate, respond, debate or bring up any issues. The president explained that there are 3 ways to do that: 1) Rilpacmembers@yahoogroups.com: This list group is only for paid members.

2) Rilpacboard@yahoogroups.com: This list group is an internal communication vehicle for the executive committee and board members.

3) Rilpac@yahoogroups.com: This list group is the general and public way to communicate with RILPAC members, friends and community leaders.

The issue of RILPAC v the RI Civic Fund was brought up. Mr. President informed us that we should not be too concerned about making a distinction between the 2 organizations.

He plans to address this issue in more detail at the retreat.

Insert Civic Fund Report and Treasurer Report Here.

The president distributed a written report: Welcomed all the members who have joined our organization since December a total of 12 members have joined. The president mentioned that we should continue to recruit to make sure that we meet our goal.

Congratulations to: 1) Domingo Morel for participating as a candidate for the Providence School Board.

2) Ana Cecilia for her appointment to the Women’s Fund board.

3) Tony Affigne for his eloquent speech about the Historical Roots of the Latino Community in Rhode Island.

The president proceeded to talk about 3 pieces of information (Membership Manual, Issues Agenda, and the membership and Recruiting materials) that he distributed in order to ensure that all members have members responsibilities, what RILPAC’s stands on important issues and recruiting materials.

In terms of the Issues Policy Briefing: a draft was submitted to the board of directors for further analysis. It will then be distribute to the general members to establish action groups for each of the issues. We will be voting on these issues at the retreat.

The RILPAC Retreat will take place march 6, place TBA. Sabina will contact Capital City Community to check availability. If anyone has a suggestion on a venue for the retreat, please contact our president.

The president gave us a summary of all the meetings that he has attended. It has been a combination of people who want to reach out to RILPAC and some individuals that our president felt it was important to outreach.

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We had a brief discussion about councilman Patino. Betty Bernal brought a motion forth: Requesting that RILPAC request a meeting with councilman Ricardo Patino to discuss some issues that can affect RILPAC and the community at large. The motion was seconded by Carmen Mirabal, unanimous vote. The president will contact Councilman Patino and report to us at the next meeting.

We also discussed the idea that we should be identifying Latinos to run in Pawtucket.

Maria Fernanda brought a motion forth: RILPAC should establish procedures/criteria to identify individuals who may be interested. The motion was seconded by Melba Depena, unanimous vote.

Insert Committee Reports here.

Unfinished Business: DMV: Sabina was not able to attend the meeting because it was held the same day as RILPAC’s meeting.

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President’s Report January 13, 2004 Happy New Year to all our members, and may 2004 be full of prosperity and achievements to you and your families and may you accomplished all your personal resolutions.

I like to welcome our newest members: Jose Brito, Gladys Corvera-Baker, Ernesto Figueroa, Rosendo Fontecha, Katherine C. Hellwig, Carmen Mirabal, Sabina Matos, Carmen Mirabal, Alexander Parmenidez , Laura Perez, Christopher Petrarca, Jophana Petrarca, Hector Solis, Johmphy Ventura.

Congratulations to our Executive Vice President Melba Depeña for her appointment as Executive Director of the Rhode Island Democratic Party. It’s quite an honor to have Melba serve in such position and having her as a member of our organization.

I also take this time to congratulate our Vice President Domingo Morel for having been a candidate to the Providence School Board and the success of LADO’s 10th Annual Scholarship Dinner.

My congratulations also go to our past Secretary Anan Cecilia Rosado for her appointment to the RI Foundation’s Women Fund.

I like to congratulate Professor Tony Affigne for his very eloquent, informative and empowering historical of the Latino community in RI, and for his very assertive and timely call to the Latino community to become a role model to this nation and this state of the real meaning of the word DIVERSITY, by embracing other communities issues as we embraced our diversify ethnicity.

The President convened the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) and the RI Latino Civic Fund to a meeting on December 15, 2004, at 6:00 p.m. at 550 Broad Street, Providence, RI. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce his work plan and other issues as follow: Membership orientation manual This manual has been developed to provide the membership with standardize information about being a member of RILPAC/RILCF in order to keep every member abreast of their responsibilities.

Membership recruiting marketing material The material consist of a brochure describing the organization and the membership responsibilities, to be provided to all new members as well as using it as part of the marketing campaign.

Issue Policy Briefing In alignment with RILPAC’s original strategic planning of developing an issues agenda and the revisit of this issue during the organization annual retreat, the President conducted a research of national Latino/Hispanic organizations and based on such information prepared a draft agenda for 150

the Board of Directors to study and analyze, prior to presenting it to the general membership and establishing Issue Action groups to analyze and develop our own issue agenda.

Meetings: Central American Black Organizations conference To present a Development Plan which includes economic, political, social and cultural aspects for each country participating. To exchange experiences from the different regions where Africans live and carry out institutional capacity building. To Propose a Space for collective Coordination around issues that can help to assess the present situation of Afro-American communities. To identify actions for social, economical, political and ecological change.

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Met with Juana Horton, Chairwoman, to reiterate my wishes of continuing a close relationship between the Chamber and RILPAC. We agreed to follow up with another meeting early 2004 to put some strategic activities for the 2 organizations to execute.

Mayor Stephen Laffey, City of Cranston Requested a meeting to get to know each other because he wants to keep the good relationship established with 2 past presidents, as well as sharing with me the Comprehensive Public Safety Performance Audit of the Cranston Police Department and the Cranston Fire Department.

According to the report, both departments need to initiate more aggressive, energetic and targeted racial/ethnic and gender minority recruitment program designed to attract greater quantities of quality applicants for civilian positions. Mayor Laffey will be seeking our organization’s help in recruiting Latino candidates to apply for upcoming positions in both departments. He also shared with me the executive summary of the audit which reports the following: Police Personnel Profile Approximately 93 percent of the sworn workforce is male (i.e., 139 of 149). This percent is considered high when compared against nationwide police workforce statistics. Females then, are under-represented in the sworn workforce.

The non-white sworn representation on the Department is less than 3 percent (i.e., 4 of 149). This is a remarkably low percent when compared against nationwide police workforce statistics, and is also below the City's estimated racial/ethnic minority population of approximately 11 percent (5 percent Hispanic, 3 percent Asian, and 3 percent Black). It is important to note that the City's nonwhite population is increasing. Between 1990 and 2000, an increase of 6 percent occurred in the City's non-white population (i.e., 5 to 11 percent).

Among supervisory and managerial personnel, there is one non-white among a total of 32 such positions (i.e., Hispanic female). Among supervisory personnel, 20 percent are female (i.e., 2 of 10). This figure is high in comparison to their representation in the total sworn workforce (i.e., 7 percent).

Fire Department Personnel Profile The Cranston Fire Department has 203 Uniformed/Sworn personnel. The actual authorized is 202.

The additional position seems to be a result of one employee on extended absence. A review of the ethnicity and gender of these employees indicate: 151

A. All 203 Uniformed/Sworn members of the Cranston Fire Department are White Males; B. Minorities are under-represented in the sworn workforce; and, C. Females are under-represented in the sworn workforce.

In conducting reviews of fire departments, the Study Team has not seen a paid fire department without uniformed/sworn women or minorities in 20 years. In this regard, Cranston is, indeed, unique. It is important to note that the City's non-white population is increasing. Between 1990 and 2000, an increase of six percent occurred in the City's nonwhite population (i.e., 5 to 11 percent). Under Human Resources Management, the Study Team has suggested initiatives to improve women and minority representation in the Cranston Fire Department.

Toby Ayers, Executive Director NCCJ Met to discussed her new job as Executive Director of the National Coalition of Community & Justice, and begin conversations of how her organization can attain greater involvement of the Latino community. During our discussion I informed Toby of my desire to establish an African American Leadership Council within RILPAC, that would allowed both communities to work together in the development of grater trust and greater political empowerment. After discussing some of the basic objectives, we agreed to test the plan with their Leadership for a Future program starting at the beginning of the month, thereafter we’ll develop a proposal around the improvement of relationship within the Latino and African American communities.

Jenny Rosario/Jaime Aguayo Meeting convene at their request, to discuss their interest in the possible merger of their political organization with RILPAC. According to them, the union of both organizations would create an institution to be reckoned with, and would send a very power message to the political establishment.

Roberto Taboada, Providence En Español Conducted interview about my presidency, that was published January 2, 2004 and January 9 due to typographical error in the printing of the paper.

David Talan, Chairperson Providence Republican Party Discussed how to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Latino community; and how to provide Latinos with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities; how to increase the number of Latino Republican elected officials; and to create and maintain a network of Latino Re publican leaders that will become RILPAC members.

Francisco Ogando PRD Ernesto Figueroa Activities: Hispanic Police Association Ball Oasis International 10th Anniversary Gala Senator Pichardos District Office Inauguration Inauguration of Biblioteca Republica Dominicana Mayor Cicilleni's Holiday Party Melba Depeña Appointment as ED of RI Democratic Party Luncheon Patrick Lynch Christmas Party Senator Pichardo’s Christmas Party 152

Mayor Chuck Mareu Innauguration, Central Falls LADO's Banquet Upcoming Meetings: High Hat Jazz To discuss and plan RILPAC’s Bill Richardson Award to take place Thursday September 9th, 2004.

Adam Compton, Republican Party Executive Director To discuss how to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Latino community; and to provide Latinos with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities; to increase the number of Latino Republican elected officials; and to create and maintain a network of Latino Re publican leaders that will become RILPAC members.

Fred Sneesbee, Ward 5 Republican Party Chair Jenny Abreu, President LUCHA Lloyd Monroe, Executive Director of the RI Select Committee on Police and Race Relations Victor Cuenca, Providence En Español Councilmen Aponte & Luna Upcoming Activities: Secretary of State Lobbyist Training MLK Hall of Fame induction Martin Luther King Tribute Mayor Steve Laffey's Bullhorn Breakfast Instituto Duartiano of Rhode Island Dominican Independence Day Gala!

Providence Police Recruitment Drive Underway Mayor David N. Cicilline, and Colonel Dean M. Esserman today, announced an aggressive campaign to recruit new members to the ranks of the Providence Police Department. One of the focal points of this recruitment drive is to strongly encourage minorities and women to choose a career in law enforcement. The 62nd recruit class of the Providence Police Academy is scheduled to begin in June of this year.

Democratic Leadership Remarks during Melba’s Appointment Congressman Patrick Kennedy The Republicans are responsible for Proposition 187 and it’s attack on illegal children; Welfare Reform bill, illegal aliens, lumping all immigrant in one lump, target it to the Latino community, Hate Crime Bill, Ashcroft Initiative, that allow law enforcement to do immigration work. Arrest power without search warrant.

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Leave no child behind without funding.

Democrats-Education, Health, Open and shot case of the Democratic Party. Including more people and Latinos. Appropriations to the Latino community Congressman James Langevin Brings so much knows democratic politics, revitalizing the party and bringing the message to the voters.

The Republicans are taking the country the wrong path. The rich getting richer an the poor getting poorer Matt Brown A terrific event and a testament the hope Melba brings to the party.

Fighting for the things we care, bringing people together, smart, organizer, communicator, putting hope & dreams to win election.

Paul Tavarez Joyous occasion and Melba has her hand full. Commitment and dedication to the party. A great wise decision.

Patrick Lynch-I know Melba is remarkable and giving colds and doing justice for people and our community, she's energetic leader to take us where we need t go.

Juan Pichardo Knows commitment to democratic politics. Know Melba for many years. Student Leader, Senoritas Unidas Sorority. 1998 Capellan, 2000 RILPAC, Matt Brown, Myrth York, She's fighter, Latina co character. Extremely happy to have Melba as the party’s Executive Director.

Bill Murphy Community supportive of Democratic Party. Symbolize the Democratic Party, behind the people of RI, Excellent assets.

Melba DepeĂąa It's an honor to be here, organizing skills, rely on all of you, to carry out the goals and objectives.

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Tomas Avila Bi-Annual Work Plan 2004 - 2006 Strategic Planning Meeting January 17, 2004 27. Latino Civic Fund’s Programs for 2004 · Soy Mujer: Latinas Past, Present & Future, March · Latinos On the Hill, April · Latino Voter Registration Project, April-Aug · Latina Leadership Institute 28. RILPAC’s Proposed Activities for 2004 · · · · · · · · · ·

Declaration Of Candidate For Delegate To The National Convention Jan 2-12 Presidential Primary Elections, March 2 Endorsement Committee Meeting July 2 Endorsement Interviews July 12-16 Endorsement Announcement July 30 Legislative Elections Primaries, September 14 Legislative Elections General, November, 9 Bill Richardson Award, September 7 Democratic Convention, Boston, July 26-29 Republican Convention, New York, August 30, September 4

·

Districts Analysis

29. Other Issues § Providence 2004 Charter Review Commission Recommendations § Appointed & Employed Latinos Support Network § Review of Board & Commissions Latino participation § Latinos Resume Bank § Legislative Advisory Council § Candidate Training School § Issue Policy Briefing o Civil Rights o Economic Development o Education o Health o Housing o Immigration § 2005 Blackstone Elections o Mayor o City Council o School Board § 2006 Mid Term Elections o U. S. Senate o Governor o Lt. Governor o Secretary of State 155

ยง ยง ยง ยง

o Treasurer o Attorney General o Legislative o Providence Mayor o Cranston Mayor o City Council 2008 Presidential Elections RILPAC 10th Anniversary, August 20 2008 2010 Redistricting 2012 Elections

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November 30, 2003 Dear Boar Member; In keeping with my commitment to “transparency”, I am keeping you posted of all the plan and ideas that I’ll be instituting during my presidency, and would like your collaboration in being and active Board member, by giving me feedback about all materials that I share with you. I have the liberty to interpret your silence as an approval of suggestions, but I’d rather receive your feedback.

Once again I am delivering attached information for your review, comments, editing and revision of such material, prior to he execution of the delivery of the marketing material.

Please be aware that the requested discount I am proposing is temporary recruitment fee in order to increase the membership and ease new members financial burden for the first 2 years, and I also plan to extend this offer to existing members who’s membership will be expiring early next year. I also want to make you aware that I am proposing this request under Section 3. Financial Obligations of the bylaws that states the following: A. Members shall pay a $25.00 annual fee in the manner specified by the Board of Directors.

B. These fees may be changed by the Board of Directors as required, with approval of the membership.

Once I hear your comments and suggestions, I’ll notify the general membership about the temporary change and as required by the bylaws, I’ll bring it to the table at our next official meeting. There I ask your due diligence and collaboration in taking a look at the material and letting me know your input.

On another note, I like to inform you that I am scheduling a Board of Directors meeting for Monday December 15, 2003 in lieu of our regular meeting schedule Monday December 8th, 2003.

The purpose of this meeting, is the officially come together as a board and discuss the material I shared with you on Monday December 24, 2003, as well as to hear any suggestions any and all of you may have regarding the organization. The meeting will take place at 550 Broad Street, Providence at 6:00 PM and I promised you that will not last longer than 1 and a half-hour. I’ll be delivering the agenda soon.

Lastly, as you may have read by now in the manual I provided you with on November 24th, I am planning to schedule a strategic meeting for Saturday January 17th, 2004 for the general membership, to present some of the initiatives I’m considering to implement, as well as to give them the opportunity to give us their suggestions and opinions. The reason I have picked that date, is because I’ll be traveling to my native Honduras January 31st, 2004 through February 14, 2004 and want to leave everything in place prior to my departure. I’ll be preparing an agenda for this meeting as well as a letter of invitation to inform the general membership.

Well I thank you very much for your attention, and I look forward to your collaborative input regarding all the above matters.

Respectfully; Tomás Alberto Ávila

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Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting of November 24, 2003 A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) was held on Monday November 24, 2003 at 6:00 PM at House of Representatives' hearing room, Room 35, State house (basement) 82 Smith Street Providence, RI 02903 Present: Melba Depena, Tomas Avila, Jose Gonzalez, Senator Juan M. Pichardo, Alberto Cardona, Betty Bernal, Christopher Petrarca, Johana Pertrarca, Sylvia Bernal, Claudia Cardona, Jose Gonzalez, Tony Afigne, Ana Cecilia Rosado, Sabina Matos, Rosendo Fontecha, Nellie Gorbea, Hector R. Solis, Gladys Covera-Baker, Ingrid Ardaya, Domingo Morel, Ana Cabrera, Johmphy Ventura, Andy Galli Excused: Ricardo Patino, Adriana Dawson, Angel Taveras Absent: Pablo Rodriguez, MD, Maria Fernanda Escudero, Catherine Horsey, Melba Depena, President of the Board, called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM Welcome: Melba Depena, President of the Board, welcomed new Board members to their first meeting Christopher Petrarca, Johana Pertrarca, Sabina Matos, Hector R. Solis.

Minutes: There were no minutes presented Treasurer’s Report: Sylvia Bernal, Treasurer, gave the following report The state quarterly report was filed on a timely fashioned. $125.00 in new membership revenue was collected. $3,400.90 was raised through the Bill Richardson Awards ceremony.

After all the expenses were paid, the treasury is left with a balance of $1,175.00 in the bank.

President’s Report: Melba Depena, presented the following report: Latino Civic Fund IN 2003 Latina Leadership Institute - It graduated 30 emerging Latina leaders, whom have become actively involved in the community, and are being requested to participate in many of the community events.

Latinos on the Hill - This was an event that took place at the state House that gave the Civic Fund a lot of visibility and it was well received by the elected officials and the community members. We have received a lot of good comments about it.

Latino Voter Registration Project Website - The site is almost finished, and I have been meeting with Cesar Mullix to work on the remaining items that need to be put into place before bringing it to the membership for approval.

Latino Agenda - There were 3 coordinated meeting between the Latino Civic Fund, Progreso 158

Latino and CHisPA, to discuss the possibility of establishing issues around a common agenda, but there hasn’t been another meeting in the last 3 months.

Coalition to Rebuild RI Women Movement A coalition of local organizations spearheaded by Ocean State Action put together a grant to the RI Foundation, and have been granted $20,000 to develop ways for women to gain political power. A consultant has been hired to help them put programs together and the first activity will take place December 6th a the RI Foundation RILPAC in 2003 Elections in Central Falls - At the July meeting, it was agreed not to endorsed in the primary elections, and conduct the endorsement during the general elections. We endorsed 2 winning candidates in what has become the most controversial endorsement done by the PAC. Bill Richardson Awards - The event was attended by over 100 participants. Thanks to Tomas for the organizing of the event, and also to Sylvia for her collaboration.

RI Coalition for Justice and Reconciliation - Thanks to Tony Afigne for representing RILPAC in this coalition and doing a great job. According to Tony, this coalition is a great opportunity to repair the rift brought on by the redistricting between the Black and Latino community and it provide us with an opportunity for healing some of the tension and give us an opportunity to work together.

Immigration Freedom Riders - The PAC participated as a sponsor of this event, which was a great success. Pablo Rodriguez, MD spoke on behalf of the PAC and Tony Afigne and Senator Pichardo also participated in the ride.

Election of New Board Congratulations to the new RILPAC/RI Latino Civic Fund Board: Tomas Avila--President Melba Depena--Executive Vice President Domingo Morel--Vice President Sylvia Bernal--Treasurer Ingrid Ardaya--Assistant Treasurer Johanna Petrarca--Secretary Claudia Cardona--Assistant Secretary Christopher Petrarca--Legal Advisor Members at Large: Tony Affigne Alberto Cardona Nellie Gorbea Juan Pichardo Special thanks to the elections committee: Jose Gonzalez--Chair Betty Bernal--Member 159

Maria Fernanda Escudero--Member Other Business: Senate Legislative grant: I am happy to report that during tonight's meeting Senator Pichardo presented the $15, 000 check for our Voter Education Project. I will be coordinating a meeting with the Latino Voting Rights Coalition to determine when we will launch the Project. I will keep you informed about this matter.

Biltmore Boycott: Melba Depena requested a motion for the Latino Civic Fund to participate and support the Biltmore Hotel workers boycott. A motions was made by Tony Afigne to formally endorsed the Biltmore Hotel Boycott by participating, encouraging the members to support it and outreaching to our networks and encouraging them to support the boycott and was seconded by Alberto Aponte-Cardona, and so voted.

DMV: Sabina Matos requested that the DMV issue be put in the agenda for next meeting and informed the membership that she has been invited to participate in such issue on behalf of the PAC. Upcoming Events: Adjourn: Not having any other items to discuss, Melba Depena requested a motion to adjourn at 8:30 PM. A motion to adjourn was made by Jose Gonzalez and seconded by Betty Bernal and so voted.

Respectfully submitted,

Tomas Alberto Avila Recorder

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Tomas Avila Initial Planning TomĂĄs Alberto Avila President Chief Strategist, Database Manager Melba DepeĂąa Executive Vice President Director of Civic Education/Latino Civic Fund Domingo Morel Vice President Director Civil Rights Sylvia Bernal Treasurer Director - Finance Ingrid Ardaya Assistant Treasurer Johanna Petrarca Secretary Claudia Cardona Assistant Secretary Chris Petrarca Legal Advisor Senator Juan Pichardo Chair, Elected Latinos Leadership Council Nellie M. Gorbea Chair, Appointed Latino Leadership Council Tony Affigne Chair, Civil Rights Council Alberto Cardona Chair, Judiciary Council Sabina Matos Constituency Director Andy Galli Director Policy, Research and Advocacy Esmeralda San Andres Development Associate Eulogio Acevedo Field Operation Director Carmen Mirabal Central Falls Chapter Director Wilfredo Rodriguez Woonsocket Chapter Director Adriana Dawson Business Leadership Council Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan Latina Leadership Council Kyle Benneth/Daphne Clarke African American Leadership Council Youth Leadership Council Director Press Secretary Fundraising Consultant Political Strategy Consultant 161

Communication Consultant Administrative Assistant Policy Analyst

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Voters Database Here's where we manage all of our campaign's activities. With a quick glance we'll know how we're doing with our voters, how many voters we've contacted and how much time we have left before the election.

21. Create sophisticated voter lists using demographic and geographic information 22. Conduct a canvassing effort that allows you to collect information on your voters as you go and then send them a personalized letter on the issues they care about.

23. Survey our voters via the telephone 24. Keep track of our campaign's finances 25. Create dozens of detailed reports to keep our campaign on track 26. On Election Day, use our volunteers efficiently by tracking whether your supporters have made it to the polls on Election Day. Create Voter Lists We'll create sophisticated lists of our voters based on criteria that we select. The system allows us to create lists based on dozens of criteria such as prior voting history, age, party affiliation, address, and more. Voters can be tagged with unlimited criteria that you select, such as whether they're a member of a union household or whether they'll post a lawn sign.

27. Create lists of voters in specific neighborhoods 28. Find voters based on party affiliation, age, prior voting history, and more 29. Export lists into Excel for future mailings or print labels right from your computer 30. Use your lists to create canvassing efforts and telephone surveys 31. Print walking sheets with barcodes corresponding to support levels and issues 32. Collect information on voters as you canvass the neighborhood 33. Later, send them a highly personalized letter generated by these barcodes Business Council (RBC) The RILPAC Business Council (RBC) will grow from a handful of business leaders and entrepreneurs to a council of more than 300 men and women who represent a wide array of business and corporate groups throughout the state. The RBC will continued to build upon this strong foundation and cultivate the partnership between RBC members and the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee .

Each year, RBC members will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of informative and substantive activities including an annual retreat, a spring issue conference, and focused policy briefings. Additionally, RBC members receive reciprocal membership in the RILPAC's Women's Leadership Council.

Women Leadership Council The Women's Leadership Council (WLC) has emerged as a strong and proven force within 163

RILPAC. Founded in 2003, by then President Melba Depeña and a small group of imaginative women and sustained by dedicated volunteer leadership, the WLC has played a galvanizing role in bringing women into the political process and has provided its members with a "seat at the table."

The WLC has become a force at RILPAC and will help develop chapters across the urban communities in the state. Over the years, the WLC will embark on new initiatives and create new opportunities for women to come together and participate in the political process in a direct and significant way.

Developed and supported by the WLC, the RILPAC Women's Vote Center will reach out to women and provide vitally-needed tools and information to enlist more women as advocates, fundraisers, candidates, and voters. WLC's Chair is Executive Vice President Melba Depeña.

African American Leadership Council (AALC) As part of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) long-standing commitment to the African American community, Chairman Tomas Avila has spearheaded the creation of the African American Leadership Council (AALC) as part of a comprehensive effort to recognize the vast contributions of the African American community to the local political community.

AALC members are a dynamic group of progressive African American business, labor, and community leaders who represent a wide array of business, labor and community groups statewide -- all committed to advancing the ideals and values of the local minority community and the African American community.

The primary goals of the AALC include 34. Strengthening the influence of African Americans in the local political scene 35. Encouraging investment in RILPAC and its programs 36. Holding regular AALC meetings at the RILPAC headquarters and conference calls.

37. Meeting semi-annually with the Chairman of RILPAC RILPAC Chapter Council RILPAC Chapter Council work to promote greater participation of Latinos in the political process by encouraging non-partisan voter registration, voter education and voter mobilization. RILPAC also works in coalition with other Hispanic organizations to maximize support for economic and social policies and legislation that are essential to advance the interests of Latinos. The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities.

The responsibilities and timeline for Chapter council will be as follows: Identify and grow membership Develop internal leadership Identify critical issues and key priorities within subdivisions Identify key races for support Identify key candidates for endorsement Chapter Council Member Communities · Central Falls 164

· · · · · · · · · ·

Cranston East Providence Newport North Providence Pawtucket Providence Warwick West Warwick Woonsocket Local Districts

Activities Annual Bill Richardson Awards Awarded to individuals and organizations best represent the mission of RILPAC, based on their track record in support of the Latino community, the awardees involvement in the Latino community, and their advocacy on behalf of the Latino community. They know first-hand the issues affecting the Latino community. Their life experience, track record and advocacy on behalf of the Latino community of Rhode Island shall provide us with a clear choice in this selection.

The award winners are chosen from individuals and organizations nominated by community residents and committee members attesting to their leadership in advocating on behalf of the Latino community of Rhode Island.

Bi-Annual Convention RILPAC should hold a biennial delegate convention (not less than 1 year from the date of a major election) where delegates and members from across the state come together to consolidate key issues statewide, identify candidates to potentially endorse and key races to focus on and begin discussion of political strategy for coming year.

Policy Briefing Series Each month, RBC members will have the opportunity to meet with issue experts and leading PAC officials from the legislature and around the state to discuss such topics as health care, energy, small business, technology, and economic policy. These issue-specific discussions are designed to highlight business issues in an ever-changing political environment.

Post-Election Forum What do the election results mean to Latinos? Is moderation in the pursuit of political empowerment a virtue or vice for the next wave of Latino Leadership? How did Florida’s 2000 debacle and 2002 election adjustments impact Latinos voter turnout? Was enough done to motivate the N generation to vote? Did the recently passed election reform bill prevent another Florida? What are the key issues facing the next Congress? Leading the political charge, RILPAC sought answers to these pertinent questions at our first post-election forum Meet & Greet Reception In 2002, RILPAC held special fundraisers featuring candidates seeking state and local office. Such events included the reception held in the ____________ 165

Orienting Board Members to their Responsibilities for Strategic Thinking

By Terrie Temkin, Ph.D. NonProfit Management Solutions, Inc. Oct 23, 2003, 07:00 PST How To Build A Strategic Thinking Board Those who have been following this series know that a strategic thinking board is essential in today's environment.

However, such boards do not just appear. An organization must ensure that its bylaws promote strategic thinking and that it recruits people with the capacity for thinking strategically. However, I have seen some of the most brilliant strategists reduced to yes-men and women because of an organization's culture. The orientation is one of the first places that an organization has the opportunity to officially stress its need and desire for strategic thinking.

Traditionally, board members are introduced to an organization's mission in an orientation. This remains essential.

They will be hard pressed to think strategically if they do not know or do not buy into the raison d'etre of the organization because it provides the primary screen through which all decisions must be filtered. No activity -- even the pursuit of a grant -- should be adopted if it doesn't fit the organization's mission. The same is true of vision, values, goals and the rarely considered but critical Duty of Care.

Vision Vision refers to how you expect the community to look --how you expect it to be better -- once the organization has achieved its mission. It must be widely shared. Think how easy it becomes to make strategic decisions if everyone responsible for making the decisions has the same picture of this desired future in his/her head.

Unfortunately, most board members don't envision the same future even when an organization has a succinct and carefully crafted vision statement that each can spout. Why? Words can be -- and therefore will be -- interpreted in many different ways. If you want to create a strategically thinking board take the time to have everyone describe -- I like to have them draw -- his or her interpretation. Then, work to merge the pictures until you have everyone operating from the same image. One of my proteges uses a computer program to meld these!

Values Organizational values, like vision, allow board members to focus their energies in a unified, strategic way. Drawn up to specifically speak to your organization's responsibilities and its philosophy regarding clients and the community -these are not the generic, "We shall be honest and have integrity in our dealings." -- they serve as guiding principles for all decisions.

For example, a values list for an organization that deals with domestic violence might include the belief that every person deserves to return to a safe environment at the end of the day, every day. Let's say that the board was faced with making two decisions.

The first was between building a program that builds self-sufficiency so that people can make it on their own outside the abusive relationship or building a program that provides emergency shelter.

The second was between opening the program to men as well as women and children or concentrating on women and children. Regarding the first decision, the board would have to lean in favor of investing its resources in the selfsufficiency model because the value statement includes "deserves to return to a safe environment -- every day."

Regarding the second, it would have to plan for abused men as well as abused women and children because the value statement says "every person" has a right to a safe environment.

The use of organizational values keeps personal agendas at bay. It also ensures that generation after generation of 166

board members makes its decisions strategically around the same core principles.

Goals I may be suggesting that traditional strategic plans don't work, but I am not suggesting that we throw the baby out with the bathwater. Goals are still important. After all, Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat taught us along with Alice that if we don't know where we are going, any road will take us there.

Each year the board should identify a limited number of organizational goals (2 - 5) to be accomplished during the year that will bring the organization closer to the fulfillment of its vision. At the same time, it should identify a similar number of goals for which the board itself should be responsible. The board's goals should be related to the organizational goals. The more specific each of these goals is in terms of what is to be achieved and by when, the more strategic the board can be in its direction.

A discussion of accountability is also appropriate at this time. Let people know how progress toward these goals will be assessed, how people will be held accountable for achieving or not achieving them, and the consequences if the goals are not achieved.

After the board has been oriented to mission, vision, values and goals it should be oriented to its legal duties: Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience (the last is often incorporated in Duty of Loyalty). When these are presented, it's helpful to emphasize the organization's expectations under each category. You should also share any tools or techniques the organization uses to ensure the board members' adherence to its legal responsibilities and expectations, such as a board commitment letter or forms for disclosing conflict of interest. Given our subject of creating strategic thinking boards, I will concentrate on the Duty of Care in this article.

Duty of Care As mentioned earlier, board members have a legal responsibility to make informed decisions. This means that they must understand context, have sufficient data and thoroughly explore the issues at hand. In order to accomplish these three responsibilities -- which are all critical to a strategically thinking board -- there are a number of things board members must be expected to do.

The first -- in no particular order -- is to be able to read a financial statement. Statistically very few board members feel comfortable doing this, so one of the first things that might be covered in an orientation is a segment on understanding and interpreting financials.

The second is to become familiar with whatever dashboard the organization uses. Each organization should have a set of indicators that are presented at each meeting that give board members an instant read on the status of the organization, much like a dashboard on a car gives a driver an instantaneous idea of how fast he or she is driving, whether the engine is running too hot, or how much gas remains in the tank. Indicators might include the number of clients served in relationship to capacity, projections and the previous month's figures or the relationship between revenues and expenses. Being attuned to such current indicators allows board members to make strategic decisions for the future.

Third, board members must also be knowledgeable about any decision-making screen that the organization uses in addition to mission, vision, values and goals. Sometimes called a decision tree, this screen provides a list of criteria -often weighted -- against which the board can measure the options it comes up with. For instance, an organization might determine that the cost of an option is more of an influencer than the time it might take or the staffing it would require. A list of criteria a board can use to think more strategically was provided in Part I of this article.

Fourth is to come to meetings prepared. This means that board members have read any briefing papers that were sent prior to the meeting and called in with questions or requests for additional information.

Fifth is to ask questions. Perhaps you might give board members a cheat sheet with the types of provocative questions that will stand them well in a number of different situations. Some sample questions are: What's driving our desire to go in this direction? Are the drivers valid? How will this decision impact our clients? How will this impact our image in the community? What are the downsides of this?

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Also key to Duty of Care is the expectation that board members will openly share their knowledge, ideas and reservations, as well as respect the knowledge, ideas and reservations of others. Also, that they will engage in sufficient dialog to feel comfortable hat they are in fact reaching the best decision. This means that they must have an expectation of confidentiality -- that what is said in the boardroom will stay in the boardroom. It also means that they have to understand that meetings may run more than the customary timeframe and that they are expected to stay and hash out the resolutions.

Putting all these pieces together in the meeting itself is the subject of Part 5, the last, of this series. Stay tuned.

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Recruiting Strategic Thinkers

By Terrie Temkin, Ph.D. NonProfit Management Solutions, Inc. Oct 14, 2003, 07:00 PST How To Build A Strategic Thinking Board I have lost count of how many times over the last few years I have heard boards talk about their need to recruit board members of affluence and influence. While individuals who meet these qualifications can add much to a board, they may or may not be what a particular organization needs at its particular stage of development. In all cases, however, organizations need strategic thinkers -- people who can size up the environment, predict the most likely future, weigh the ramifications of various options, and determine the best direction for the organization.

Since merely putting out a call for strategic thinkers is unlikely to produce the results you desire, you must consider how you can recruit people with the necessary skills. The first step is to identify the common characteristics for which you are searching. The second is to plan to ensure sufficient diversity. The third is to strategically narrow your list of potential board members to the best of the best.

Characteristics of Strategic Thinkers For me, the list of common characteristics is relatively short. I look for people who are curious, who will ask questions, challenge, probe and never take a statement at face value. These are the ones who will refuse to move forward without answers to such questions as: Why does this matter? How does this relate to our mission? Is this the best way to approach this? Or, What are the costs as compared to the benefits if we proceed in this manner?

I also look for people who can think ahead -- people who are able to anticipate the most likely results from specific actions. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky credits his success to his ability to ignore where the puck is and skate to where the puck will be. Organizations will always be playing catch up as long as their boards are skating to where the puck is.

Individuals who are good at brainstorming options -- who embrace the French philosopher Emile Chartier's view, "Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it's the only one you have" -- would be on my list as well. When I facilitate brainstorming I often ask groups to come up with at least 60 ideas in 10 minutes. When the group has petered out, I ask for at least 20 more ideas. The best ideas are usually in this last group. The first ideas are typically the overtried. If you want a strategic thinking board, you must find people who not only will dig deep for the best solution, but who are excited about the prospect of doing so.

Two other characteristics I would look for are a comfort level with uncertainty and a willingness to fail. We all know there are no guarantees in life. However, strategic thinkers seem more at ease with taking risks. Perhaps this is because they are able to calculate their chances for success fairly accurately. It might also be because they appreciate that the only way to move the organization to the level of the extraordinary is to take risks.

How can you tell if potential board members hold these characteristics? Putting them on committees and watching their interactions over time before inviting them onto the board is one way. At the very least, pay attention to the questions they ask -- or don't ask -- when you inquire about their level of interest in serving on the board.

Ensuring Diversity Betters Chances for Strategic Thinking Equally important to identifying potential board members on the basis that they share characteristics commonly associated with strategically thinking boards, is identifying potential board members that can bring unique perspectives. Historically, board members have felt most comfortable recruiting people who look, speak and act like they do. A recent study of corporate boards found that, on average, the members of any two of 550 of these boards are connected by only 3.5 degrees of separation. My experience in the nonprofit sector suggests if anything, the degrees of separation here are fewer. However, today, diversity must rule.

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We now know that people have different learning and working styles. None is right or wrong, better or worse. We need big picture thinkers, but vision will never be realized without detail people. Maintaining a focus on one's job is critical, but rarely do people step up to the plate unless they are doing so for others -- ergo, a people orientation is as important as a task orientation.

There is a saying, "If two people in business think the same way, then one of them is unnecessary." We must solicit the different perspectives our board members bring to the table as a result of the unique blend of their education, careers, connections, experiences, and so on. It is critical to the process of creating a strategically thinking board. Margaret Wheatley, in her classic work Leadership and the New Science: Learning about Organization from an Orderly Universe (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 1992), concluded that as long as there is an organizing principle within which people can work -- in the case of nonprofits this would be mission, vision, values and goals -- the best (most strategic) results will come from communication between diverse individuals.

Strategically Building -- Then Narrowing -- Your Pool of Potential Recruits One way that you can build a pool of people from which to choose the best of the best is to ask your current board members to think about everyone with whom they come in contact as possible recruits. Have them share names of the most viable potentials at every meeting. Then, start the cultivation process, sending these individuals newsletters and invitations to events. Invite them to a special introduction to the organization. Put them on committees. When it's time to nominate future board members you not only have a wide range of individuals from which to choose, but based on their responses to your cultivation efforts, you will have a better idea of who, in fact, thinks strategically.

So, you've now recruited strategic thinkers. How can you ensure that they will utilize their skills to benefit your organization? I will discuss orienting board members not only to your organization but to their responsibilities for strategic thinking in Part four of this series.

Editor's Note: Our thanks to Terrie Temkin her contribution to Nonprofit Boards & Governance Review. More information about Terrie can be found at: http://charitychannel.com/resources/Detailed/600.html __________________________________________________

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The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC)

CERTIFICATE OF APRECIATION Presented to

MELBA DEPEล A In recognition of your exemplary volunteer service in improving RI politics, your tireless dedication to RILPAC, the political empowerment of the Latino community and the success of your Presidency in a though transitional period. RILPAC thanks you for your commitment, dedication and devotion to the improvement of our democratic political process while being a key player in forging the Latino community political destiny.

This 6th day of November, Two Thousand and Three ________________________________

Tomรกs Alberto Avila Finance Committee Chair

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2004 Media Diary

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2004 172 Media Diary 172 Campaign jounal: R.I. Latino PAC backs candidates 174 RILPAC ENDORSEMENTS UNDER FIRE 177 Cuidadora de niños Grace Diaz gana en el Distrito 11 - Providence 180 ‘We can really have an impact’ 183 Cox rally aims to boost voting among Latinos 185 RILPAC otorgó “Premios Bill Richardson” a la prensa local 187 Latino PAC takes heat for backing only 1 Latino candidate in 5 races 192 Candidates discuss key issues at forum 194 New Senate district a win for minorities .....................................................................................................196 Presidente de RILPAC aclara endosos del grupo político 200 Inmadurez política 203 Poder fragmentado 205 Estación 88.1 FM organizó importante foro político .........................................................................................207 Candidates discuss key issues at forum Error! Bookmark not defined.

RILPAC endosa a 5 candidatos 208 PRESS RELEASE 210 Comunicado de Prensa 211 No negativity allowed 212 Latino PAC gets new chief 228 THE LATINO PAC ELECTS 229 NEW BOARD 229

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Campaign journal: R.I. Latino PAC backs candidates 01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, October 24, 2004 Sunday Providence Journal Local News

R.I. Latino PAC backs candidates The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee has announced its endorsements for the Nov. 2 election.

RILPAC endorsed Jeff Toste for state Senate in District 5, Rep. Thomas Slater for state representative in District 10, candidate Grace Diaz in House District 11 and Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey.

The candidates were selected based on their responses to the PAC's questionnaire and their personal interviews.

The PAC recommended approval for the following referendum questions: Question 1, separation of powers; Question 4, $15 million to construct and renovate the state's regional career and technical schools; Question 6, $12.3 million to restore the Cranston Street Armory in Providence; Question 8, $70 million for environmental, preservation and recreation projects.

The PAC recommended rejection for the following referendum questions: Question 2, calling for a constitutional convention; and Question 12, $46.5 million, to allow the state to purchase, build or modify state facilities to reduce the state's reliance on leased space.

The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to advance and support candidates from Rhode Island for state and local office who are committed to improving the quality of life for members of the Latino community.

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PRESS RELEASE October 20, 2004

Contact:

Tomas Alberto Avila (401) 274-5204 E-Mail: rilpac@yahoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee announced their endorsed candidates and Referendum Questions for the November 2 General Election.

Providence -- Today the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) announced their endorsement of Jeff Toste, candidate for State Senate in District 5, Representative Thomas Slater for State Representative in District 10, Representative Grace Diaz in District 11 and Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey.

These candidates earned the RILPAC's backing after a meeting held Wednesday October 20, 2004 and voted on the endorsement of such candidates based on their response the PAC's questionnaire and their personal interviews.

The PAC also vote to recommend its constituency to approve the following referendum questions: Question 1 intended to have the collective effect of ensuring the separation of governmental power among the three branches of state government: the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch.

Question 4 authorizing the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 to construct, renovate, and rehabilitate the state’s regional career and technical schools.

Question 6 authorize the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $12,300,000 to restore the historic Cranston Street Armory facility for use as an archives and records center and make space available for either office or educational use.

Question 8 authorizing the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $70,000,000 to provide $19,000,000 for anti-pollution projects and restoration activities benefiting Narragansett Bay and state watersheds, $43,000,000 for open space, farmland preservation, and recreational development, and $8,000,000 for acquisition of land for groundwater protection and supply.

And to reject Question 2 that gives voters a say on whether a Constitutional Convention will be held to tackle government-reform issues, such as term limits for legislators, and Question 12 that authorize the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and 175

temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $46,500,000 to begin to purchase, build or modify state facilities for state agency use to reduce the state’s reliance on leased space.

Tomas Avila, President of Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, said, "Following with our tradition of continue endorsement in General Elections, we have selected candidates that best represent the mission of the PAC ". “We also take our civic responsibility to inform our constituency about the referendum questions in the November 2 ballots that RILPA approves or rejects “Avila said.

RILPAC enthusiastically support the endorsed candidate's campaigns and provide them with our marketing and volunteer support needed to win their elections.

The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to advance and support candidates from Rhode Island for state and local office who are committed to improving the quality of life for members of the Latino community.

RILPAC will endorse candidates who support issues benefiting Latinos and other individuals from urban communities while raising awareness on issues or candidates that could adversely impact the Latino community.

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Rilpac Endorsements Under Fire

By Ana Cabrera Providence American The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, (RILPAC) a group that established itself about more than a decade ago in hopes of influencing political outcomes, last week held its yearly reunion at the Hi Hat lounge in Providence. But while a fair contingent of politicians showed up, some present noted that there were fewer members of the community itself attending than in prior years.

So is the group losing steam, or has it crystallized itself into a smaller, albeit more influential body? It’s anybody’s guess, because this year there was some infighting within the ranks, most notably over the issue of the PAC’s endorsements and the process used by the group to grant them. Some in the community believe that any Latino candidate should get the nod because they think the group should support their own. However, some within the PAC say that there should be more to these endorsements, that they should go to any candidate who espouses the causes of interest to Latinos.

This year, RILPAC endorsed the Green Party’s Jeff Toste, Senatorial candidate in district 5; Democrat Andy Galli, Senatorial candidate in district 7, incumbent Rep. Thomas Slater (DDistrict 7) and Republican Cranston Mayor Steven Laffey. They also endorsed Pedro Espinal in his Senate District 6 bid against fellow Democrats Harold Metts and Chris Lopes.

The PAC, however, did not endorse the candidacy of incumbent Rep. Luis Tejada (DProvidence) or his Democratic challengers, Grace Diaz and Richardson Ogidan. They also did not give the nod to Republican David Quiroa, who was challenging incumbent Rep. Maxine BradfordShavers in District 73. Tejada, Diaz and Ogidan all went through the questioning process, as did Quiroa: Bradford-Shavers did not.

The official answer to why they did not endorse in either case is that the votes just were not there. But Quiroa says there were more reasons why he did not get the green light. He claims that he suffers from geographic discrimination, because the bulk of RILPAC members live closer to Providence and simply have no interest in other parts of the state. Further, Quiroa has been quoted as saying that the PAC told him they were unlikely to support his candidacy against the Democrat Shavers.

Quiroa says he does not believe one bit that the group is non-partisan. “I think they are heavily philosophically controlled by the labor party wing of the Democratic party and the unions, and the status quo of the Democratic leadership. That’s my personal opinion and I stand by that.”

“What’s going on with the endorsement is that the process works,” said Pablo Rodriguez, one of the founders of RILPAC, who said he did not participate in the process this time around and denied anything less than a bipartisan effort, pointing out the Laffey and Toste endorsements as proof that the PAC will support candidates from other parties.

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But some have criticized that same process this year because only about a dozen or so RILPAC members actually participated in the endorsement interview and voting proceedings, representing a miniscule fraction of the more than 100,000 Latinos who live in the state.

Historically, many of this state’s Latinos vote Democrat, and some have charged that RILPAC, which is supposed to be non-partisan, has always shown a bent towards the Democrats.

Party chair Bill Lynch said he knew nothing about partisanship within RILPAC, but added that “the philosophy of the Democratic party and the philosophy of RILPAC are one and the same: working families, education, diversity, assisting people who need help” so he thought it natural that many members would support his party.

But several Republicans who were present at the RILPAC funder noted that their party is looking to change the situation not just in RILPAC, but within the entire state.

Governor Donald L. Carcieri said, “We are trying to reach out, frankly, because we have such an imbalance, partisan wise. We need debate…that’s not fair to the voters, that they have no choice.”

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian agrees. “The goal is to find quality people.” Avedisian, who is seeking re-election this November, said he hoped to enlist the support of Latinos in his community towards that end.

Ditto for Cranston Mayor Steven Laffey, a man who that evening seemed to be almost continually surrounded by a small flock of certain RILPAC members. There has been some criticism levied against RILPAC in the past for allegedly cutting back room endorsement deals with some political figures in exchange for employment of a member of their ranks. Both Laffey and Pablo Rodriguez denied that any such promises had been made this year in exchange for the PAC’s endorsement or in the past, for that matter.

Rodriguez said that Laffey was endorsed because he gave the right answers to the questions posed to him by the PAC and his history of hiring Latinos.

Some of Laffey’s critics within the community, however, point out that even though Laffey indeed took on Latinos for city jobs, none have been very high paying positions.

Republican Congressional candidate David Rogers said that it has been very tough for the party to figure out what is the central mission of the organization. This year, he says, they have decided to break the Democratic stranglehold by simply recruiting more candidates to run in all races. He pointed to the support that Republicans have found within Miami’s Cuban community, adding he believes this phenomenon could happen here in Rhode Island. Rogers commented on RILPAC’s traditionally Democratic leanings, saying that “as long as one organization allows itself to be one sided, the party that it caters to knows it does not have to work for those votes.”

The night also gave an opportunity to speak with some politicians about their future plans.

One such person was Secretary of State Matt Brown, about whom there has been speculation he might run against Senator Lincoln Chafee in two years. But when asked this question outright, Secretary Brown guffawed aloud, and hemmed a little before stating that he was “entirely focused” 178

on this upcoming election and doing continuing work to make government more accountable. He did not, however, deny the rumor.

It was a night to ask Greg Gerritt of the Green Party whether or not Ralph Nader’s continued candidacy upsets the apple cart for Democratic candidates. “I’m not supporting Nader this year,” said Gerritt, who blamed what he called the outdated electoral college system, not third party candidates, for what happened during the last election.

But Providence City Councillor Luis Aponte disagrees with Gerritt, saying that he wholeheartedly believes in the two-party system.

At the end of the evening, The Providence American was finally able to corral RILPAC president Tomas Avila for a quiet one on one chat. Avila pointed out that RILPAC is not geographically situated, noting that the group endorsed Woonsocket candidates in the past.

“As far as I know, nobody from the PAC is going to work for Mayor Laffey,” Avila said laughingly when questioned about whether or not a deal had been cut to that effect. When pressed further about the perceived public notion that two of RILPAC’s past presidents (Nellie Gorbea and Melba DePena) have gone on to politically bigger and better things as a result of deals cut by the group, Avila denied that this had been the case and emphatically stated that he did not have any such plans in his future.

“What I am looking for is what I have done for the last six years,” said Avila, “to empower the Latino community, to influence the political process as the mission of RILPAC calls for. That is what I will do for the two years of my presidency.”

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Cuidadora de niños Grace Diaz gana en el Distrito 11 - Providence Senador Estatal Juan Pichardo obtiene fácil triunfo contra su oponente, mientras que Harold Metts y Joe Almeida vencen al bloque de candidatos latinos Pedro Espinal y Leo Medina Tejada, Medina y Espinal pierden en Primarias Electorales 2004 Por Roberto Taboada / Providence en Español Viernes 17 de septiembre 2004 PROVIDENCE – Al final de la noche, la contienda electoral de más atención en la comunidad latina no fue tan cerrada como se anticipaba. Las primarias electorales del pasado martes 14 de septiembre dejarían, además de indicadores claros sobre la influencia de los sindicatos, algunos conocidos estilos políticos detrás.

En las últimas semanas de campaña electoral por el Distrito 11 de la Cámara de Representantes, se especulaba que la división del voto latino le daría la victoria a Richardson Ogidan. Pero al final, la contienda entre el Representante Estatal Luis León Tejada, Ogidan y Grace Díaz –tras una serie de acusaciones entre las campañas latinas, y las sugerencias de una manipulación del voto de los hispanos de manos de miembros ajenos a esta comunidad– quedó en manos de la proveedora de cuidado infantil, con un margen de victoria de más de 300 votos.

“Uniré a la comunidad, por que ésta noche la comunidad entera ganó”, dijo Grace Díaz a nuestro semanario, asegurando que esperaba recibir aún más votos de los que obtuvo el pasado martes y que se prepararía para las elecciones generales del mes de noviembre.

Díaz obtendría 807 votos, mientras que el representante Estatal Luis L. Tejada sólo 502.

Richardson Ogidan, quien en su primer encuentro contra Tejada obtuvo 657 votos, recibió 226 esta vez.

Otras llamativas contiendas fueron las libradas en los Distritos 10 y 12 por la Cámara de Representantes.

En el Distrito 10, Thomas Slater venció convincentemente al Wilbur “Billy” Jennings con 843 votos contra 434. En su último encuentro, Jennings quedaría a 43 votos de lograr la victoria.

“El apoyo de Juan Pichardo y la comunidad minoritaria me dio la victoria. Sobretodo el voto de la comunidad latina”, dijo Slater en su cuartel de campaña minutos después de darse a conocer los resultados.

En el Distrito 11, el actual Representante Joseph Almeida dominó a Leónidas Medina con un margen de 109 votos.

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Los Distritos 2 y 6 por el Senado del Estado, que enfrentaban a candidatos latinos con afroamericanos vieron la reafirmación de un político hispano y el regreso de uno de la comunidad afro-americana.

En el Distrito 2, Juan Pichardo recibiría la mayoría de votos. El actual Senador Estatal obtuvo 1.684 votos, contra 612 de Rochelle Bates Lee. La candidata afro-americana, que libró una modesta campaña, obtuvo virtualmente el mismo número de votos que en su primer encuentro contra Pichardo, aunque como candidata independiente en ese entonces cuando obtuvo 614 votos.

En el Distrito 6, la contienda se condujo de manera civil de principio a fin, enfrentando al candidato hispano Pedro Espinal contra los afro-americanos Chris Lopes y Harold Metts. Este último encabezó la demanda legal que resultó en la creación del Distrito 6; y criticado recientemente por haberse retirado de su posición en la Asamblea General poco antes del cierre de nominaciones años atrás.

Metts –que exteriorizó que la demanda de grupos afro-americanos les daba cierta potestad sobre el nuevo distrito– ganó con 903 votos.

Espinal quedaría corto de duplicar el número de votos que obtuvo en su contienda por el Distrito 2 de Providence. En su primera contienda obtendría 342 votos. En su lucha por el Distrito 6, el candidato hispano recibió 677 votos.

Los candidatos Chris Lopes y Mickeda Barnes recibirían 465 y 38 votos, respectivamente.

En el Distrito 7, el actual Senador Frank Ciccone sería reafirmado con 819 votos, dejando detrás a Chris Nocera, de la Administración Cianci, con 442 votos, y al organizador Andy Galli con 279 votos.

John Harwood no correría con la misma suerte de Ciccone, siendo derrotado abrumadoramente por el neófito aspirante J. Patrick O’Neill. Harwood, uno de los políticos de mayor influencia en el estado, y que planeaba volverse a lanzar a su antiguo puesto como el Presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, sólo obtuvo 373 votos contra los 790 de O’Neill.

Las Elecciones Primarias del pasado martes 14 de septiembre, además de un referéndum sobre la labor de los actuales representantes y senadores estatales, fue una consulta sobre el poder e influencia de los sindicatos, el dinero que invirtieron y sus recursos en varias campañas locales.

En el caso de la contienda por la Alcaldía de la ciudad de Cranston, el Republicano Stephen Laffey dejó en claro que los sindicatos tienen que enfocarse en más que un simple apoyo por un candidato opositor.

El apoyo sindical, reiteró Laffey en numerosas ocasiones, intentó derrotarlo por medio de votantes desafiliados del Partido Demócrata que se habrían registrado en el Partido Republicano. Los registros de voto en la ciudad de Cranston se inflaron, pero dándole la victoria a Laffey, que derrotó a su oponente Garry Reilly, 8.128 votos contra 2.789.

Los sindicatos tendrían más suerte en la contienda por el Distrito 11 de la Cámara de Representantes, utilizando la misma maquinaria de trabajo que con el Concejal Miguel Luna, de 181

decenas de voluntarios pertenecientes a organizaciones como DARE, ACORN, y Trabajos con Justicia, tocando puertas, haciendo llamadas y distribuyendo información.

Tejada se había sumergido en la arena movediza política, luego que la campaña de Díaz revelara que no había presentado sus informes ante la Junta de Elecciones (aún sin presentar). Tejada encaró las elecciones con un mensaje de logros, pero con pocos ayudantes voluntarios o apoyo de otros candidatos.

El impacto de los endosos y asociaciones políticas es difícil de determinar, con una serie de anuncios y controversias, en algunas ocasiones más provocadoras que las mismas contiendas.

El acierto del Comité Latino de Acción Política en su apoyo por candidatos como Stephen Laffey y Thomas Slater queda contrastado con el endoso que le proporcionaran a Pedro Espinal, por ejemplo. Paralelamente, los endosos de entidades como la Asociación Social, Cultural y Deportiva Mexicana de Rhode Island y el Comité Puertorriqueño de Acción Política también tuvieron resultados mixtos.

La Asociación Mexicana apoyaría acertadamente la candidatura de Thomas Slater, pero su apoyo por Pedro Espinal y Luis L. Tejada no resultó en una victoria. El PRPAC le daría su apoyo a Harold Metts, Joseph Almeida y Thomas Slater, lo cual no le ayudó a los candidatos Luis L. Tejada y Maxine Bradford Shavers a quienes también endosaron.

Ninguno de estos grupos apoyó la candidatura de Grace Díaz.

Por último, el esfuerzo de la Catedral de Vida Cristiana de inscribir a más votantes, parece no haber tenido efecto en las elecciones del martes, al menos en lo que corresponde al Distrito 11 de Providence, donde su mensaje de “cambio” fue más visible. La campaña educativa argumentó que “es necesario un cambio”, “el cambio es posible”, y el cambio comienza contigo”, en una contienda que registró doscientos votos menos que en las elecciones generales del 2002.

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‘We can really have an impact’ David Casey 09/16/2004 PAWTUCKET -- Cox Communications joined forces with MTV’s Choose or Lose campaign, seven Rhode Island politicians and representatives from more than 15 local Latino organizations Wednesday in an effort to mobilize the regional Latino vote.

A speaking program at Cox studios featured Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Sen. Juan Pichardo, Rep. Peter Kilmartin and Tomas Avila, president of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee.

Meanwhile, Cox public relations officials distributed packets of basic voter information to local Latino organizations.

The packets, which came in English and Spanish, offered civics lessons with titles such as "Voting is Easy: Here’s How," "How the President Gets Elected," and research outlining the statistical potential of a mobilized Latino population.

Attending organizations included Progreso Latino, Latino Dollars for Scholars, the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club, the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, Proyecto Familia and the Joslin Community Center. Local public officials on hand included Pawtucket City Councilors John Barry, Donald Grebien, Thomas Hodge Mary Bray.

"We have almost 20 groups gathered here today, and if we all do something to mobilize Latino voters between now and the election, we can really have an impact," Leigh Ann Woisard, Cox public relations director, told the crowd. "Take (these information packets) back to your membership. Plan a family night, invite a public official to speak or simply post this information or distribute it among your members."

The organization that takes the most or most effective voter mobilization initiatives leading up to November is eligible for a $5,000 grant from Cox Charities, administered by the United Way. A grant form prompting organizations to list and explain their efforts was included in each packet.

"If you read anything, you’ll see that the Latino community continues to grow here (in Rhode Island) and across the nation," Woisard said. "I read that Latinos ages 18-24 were half as likely to vote as their black and white counterparts. There’s an opportunity here for us to get these young people out to the polls."

In the speaking program, Lynch invoked his now-famous Spider-Man maxim: "With great power comes great responsibility."

Lynch first quoted a New York Times editorial claiming that no president in modern times had been elected without securing 30 percent of the Hispanic vote.

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Recalling the last presidential election, Lynch reminded a group of future voters from the Boys and Girls Club that "every vote counts." ŠThe Pawtucket Times 2004

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Cox rally aims to boost voting among Latinos A $5,000 grant will be given to the local organization that puts forth the best effort to register Latino voters.

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, September 16, 2004

BY CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY Journal Staff Writer

Patricia DeJesus' mother never voted. Her mother didn't know how to register, where to vote or how to cast a ballot until 20-year-old DeJesus figured it out herself.

This year, when DeJesus registered to vote for the first time in her life, she also convinced her mother and 24-year-old sister to register with her.

The scenario is not uncommon for young Latinos who are just beginning to explore their civic rights. It is one reason that groups trying to increase Hispanic voting rates are focusing on Latino youth: parents often follow their children onto the voter rolls.

Yesterday, Cox Communications hosted a rally at its Pawtucket studio for Latino organizations, challenging the groups to launch voter-registration campaigns targeting Hispanic residents. The event was attended by the groups' leaders, politicians and two dozen young children, most of whom were many years shy of voting age.

Cox has joined MTV's Choose or Lose 2004 effort to register young voters, and the cable network will air several public-service announcements, in which Spanish-speaking and English-speaking actors with Hispanic accents urge Latinos to get out and vote. Cox is also offering three free months of its "Latino tier," a cable package with Spanish-language channels such as CNN en Espanol.

While the Hispanic population is growing rapidly across the nation, Hispanic voting rates are not keeping pace. Hispanic youths ages 18 to 24 are about half as likely as black or white youth to vote, said Leigh Ann Woisard, public relations director for Cox. Cox plans to give a $5,000 Cox Charities grant to the local organization that puts forth the best effort to register Latino voters.

"They have a tremendous amount of influence given the fact that the Latino community at large is growing so quickly, but it's really a missed opportunity not to get involved in the political process," Woisard said.

Angel Nava used to think one person's vote did not matter much, but the 21-year-old AmeriCorps volunteer has changed her mind.

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"There's a lot of stuff going on that I know voting can make a difference," said Nava, who cited the war and college financial aid as her top priorities. "The statistics say that youth don't vote, but if they did, it would make a difference."

When Election Day arrives, DeJesus, who is a junior at the University of Rhode Island, said she'll accompany her mother to the polls.

She'll take this message from yesterday's rally with her: "Voting is as easy as going to the ATM machine."

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RILPAC otorgó “Premios Bill Richardson” a la prensa local Providence.- El Comité de Acción Política Latino de Rhode Island (RILPAC), hizo entrega de reconocimientos a los ganadores del quinto Premio Anual de Abogacía Latina Bill Richardson, én su septimo evento de recaudación de fondos titulado: “Latinos: Asumiendo el reto” realizado en los salones de Hi Hat, el pasado martes 7 de septiembre.

RILPAC es una organización no partidista, formada para influenciar el proceso político en el estado de Rhode Island para mejorar la calidad de vida de los Latino y las comunidades urbanas.

Los homenajeados fueron: el programa Radial Hablemos, programa producido por la emisora radial WEHL 88.1 FM en la persona de su anfitrión Dr. Pablo Rodríguez; la institución periodistica Providence En Español, el semanario en español de la comunidad de RI a través de su director Victor Cuenca y Tony Méndez de WPMZ Poder 1110 como la personalidad de los medios de comunicación.

El gobernador Donald L. Carcieri estuvo presente en la actividas, convirtiendose de esta manera en el primer gobernador del estado que asiste a una actividad de RILPAC en los siete años que se realiza. El gobernador presentó citaciones/proclamaciones a miembros de los diferentes medios de comunicación de la comunidad Latina. "Todos los homenajeados hoy día han realzado el envolvimiento político de nuestra comunidad latina, además de exhortar y educar a nuestros ciudadanos ha ejercitar el derecho de votar," dijo Carcieri. Agregó que, "es importante que este segmento de nuestra población continúe participando en el proceso político” enfatizó.

Según Tomas Alberto Avila, Presidente del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island, " estos ganadores representan mejor la misión del PAC, basado en su record de influenciar el proceso político del estado con sus medios de comunicacion. Basado en el envolvimiento de los ganadores en la educación y movilización política de la comunidad Latina, ellos han sido partícipes en el crecimiento activo de los votantes Latinos en las urnas electorales, y conocen de primera mano los problemas que afectan a cada uno de nosotros en la comunidad Latina.

También vislumbró la gran participacion de candidatos Republicanos, que en años anteriores era muy reducida, tales como Bill Rodgers candidato al Congreso del distrito 2, David Quiroa candidato a la Casa de Representantes por el Distrito 73 y Lloyd Monroe candidato al Senado entre otros.

Estuvieron presentes los candidatos endosados por el Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island, Pedro Espinal pre candidato al Senado por el distrito 6, Andrew Galli pre-candidato al Senado por el distrito 7, Jeff Toste pre candidato al Senado por el distrito 5, el Representante Estatal Thomas Slater candidato por el distrito 10 y el Alcalde de Cranston Stephen Laffey. Como 187

tambien el Vice Gobernado Charles Fogarty, Secretario de Estado Matt Brown, el Fiscal General Patrick Lynch, el Alcalde de Warwick Avedisian.

Los ganadores del premio fueron escogidos de individuos que fueron nombrados por los residentes de la comunidad y miembros del comité de elección que atestan a su liderazgo en defensa de la comunidad Latina de Rhode Island y su contribución en educar a la comunidad Latina en el proceso electoral. Los ganadores son los siguientes: Tony Mendez-Cuyo trabajo en la educación de la comunidad, utlizando su radio emisora Poder 1110 ha sido de sumo beneficio para incrementar las participación en las urnas electorales.

Méndez jugó un papel muy importante en las elecciones del 2000, como miembro de Democracy Compact, al igual que formulando programas de educación cívica en la radio. Tambien fue instrumental en proveer información a la comunidad al igual que proveer espacio a los candidates para dirigirse e informar a la comunidad Latina con la creación del Minuto Politico, él fue merecedor dell premio Bill Richardson como personalidad de los medios de comunicación.

Providence En Español-A Providence en Español, se le otorgó el premio Bill Richardson, como institución de la comunicación. El semanario de la comunidad Latina, que nace justamente el mismo año que se inauguran los premios Bill Richardson, el cual desde su comienzo ha jugando un papel muy importante en el desarollo del poder politico Latino, informando a la comunidad latina por medio de su reportajes y análisis políticos. Su sección Usted Elige, se ha convertido en el centro de información política de la comunidad Latina, en la cual publican información educativa sobre el proceso político del estado como tambien presenta las plataformas de los diferentes candidatos.

Programa radial “Hablemos”-El premio Bill Richardson, al programa radial “Hablemos” que dirige el conocido Dr. Pablo Rodriguez por la 88.1 WELH, FM todos los sábados, por el cual transmite información a la radioyentes sobre el proceso político y cívico, al igual que provee oportunidades a los candidatos a dirigirse a la comunidad Latina en general, con horas de información y diálogos políticos, como la reciente Barbacoa Política, en la cual se dieron cita la mayoría de candidatos de los diferentes distritos del sur de Providence. Este programa ofrece los micrófonos a cualquier candidato o miembro de la comunidad para expresar sus opiniones politicas.

Los organizadores del evento, extendieron su agradecimiento a los auspiciadores: Stephen Laffey, alcalde de la ciudad de Cranston, David Cicilline Alcalde de la ciudad de Providence, Profesor Tony Affigne, Tomás y Eva Ávila, Sylvia Bernal, Secretario de Estado Matt Brown, Doris De Los Santos, Grace Diaz, Pedro Espinal, Vice Gobernador Charles Fogarty, Nellie Gorbea/Steven D’Hondt, Fiscal General Patrick Lynch, Bill Lynch/Partido Democrata, Tony y Yocasta Mendez, Presidente del Senado Joseph Montalbano, Lider de la Casa de Representates William Murphy, Concejal Ricardo Patiño, Senador Juan Pichardo y Janet Pichardo, Senador de los EE. UU Jack Reed, Partido Verde de RI, el Partido Republicano de RI, Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, Pablo RodriguezMasjoan/2Creative, Representate Estatal Thomas Slater, Representate Estatal Leon Tejada, Luis Torrado AIA y Myrth York

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NOTICIAS Office of the Governor State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, State House, Providence, RI 02903

www.governor.ri.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tues., Sept. 7, 2004

CONTACT:

Jeff Neal 222-8290

CARCIERI PRESENTARA PRESENTAR CITACIONES A LOS MIEMBROS DE LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN LATINOS. martes, 7 DE septiembre, 2004, a las 6:00 PM., en el club Hi-Hat, Davol Square, Providence

El gobernador Donald L. Carcieri presentara esta noche citaciones/proclamaciones a miembros de los diferentes medios de comunicación de la comunidad Latina de RI en un acontecimiento llevado a cabo por el Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Isla (RILPAC). Los homenajeados incluye: Programa Radial Hablemos, un programa producido por la emisora radial WEHL 88.1 FM; Providence En Español , el semanario en español de la comunidad de RI; y Tony Méndez de WPMZ, como personalidad de los medios de comunicación. "todos los homenajeados hoy día han realzado el envolvimiento político de nuestra comunidad Latino, además de exhortar y educar a nuestros ciudadanos ha ejercitar el derecho de votar," dijo Carcieri. Agrego que, "es importante que este segmento de nuestra población continúe participando en el proceso político.

RILPAC presentará el Premio Bill Richardson a estos homenajeados. Richardson sirvió en la administración del Presidente Clinton como secretario de energía, siendo el primer Latino en asumir esta posición en el gabinete presidencial.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Donald L. Carcieri Governor

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NEWS Office of the Governor State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, State House, Providence, RI 02903

www.governor.ri.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tues., Sept. 7, 2004

CONTACT:

Jeff Neal 222-8290

CARCIERI TO PRESENT CITATIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE LATINO MEDIA Tuesday, Sept. 7 – 6:00 p.m., Hi-Hat Club, Davol Square, Providence Governor Donald L. Carcieri tonight will award citations to members of the Rhode Island Latino media at an event held by the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC).

Honorees include: Hablemos, a program produced at WEHL 88.1 FM; Providence En Espanol, a Spanish language newspaper; and Tony Mendez of WPMZ, as media personality.

“All of today’s honorees have enhanced the political involvement of our Latino community and encouraged people to exercise their right to vote,” said Carcieri. “It is important that this part of our population continues to participate in the political process.”

Additionally, RILPAC will present the Bill Richardson Advocacy Award to the honorees.

Richardson served in the Clinton administration as Secretary of Energy, and was the first Latino to hold that cabinet position.

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CARCIERI TO PRESENT CITATIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE LATINO MEDIA Tuesday, Sept. 7 – 6:00 p.m., Hi-Hat Club, Davol Square, Providence Governor Donald L. Carcieri tonight will award citations to members of the Rhode Island Latino media at an event held by the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC).

Honorees include: Hablemos, a program produced at WEHL 88.1 FM; Providence En Espanol, a Spanish language newspaper; and Tony Mendez of WPMZ, as media personality.

“All of today’s honorees have enhanced the political involvement of our Latino community and encouraged people to exercise their right to vote,” said Carcieri. “It is important that this part of our population continues to participate in the political process.”

Additionally, RILPAC will present the Bill Richardson Advocacy Award to the honorees.

Richardson served in the Clinton administration as Secretary of Energy, and was the first Latino to hold that cabinet position.

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Latino PAC takes heat for backing only 1 Latino candidate in 5 races 01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, September 7, 2004

BY TATIANA PINA Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- The question on listeners' minds is the recent candidate endorsements made by the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, so Dr. Pablo Rodriguez goes right to the point in his talk show.

The endorsements, or lack thereof, have tongues wagging on the airwaves and over the Internet, he says on Hablemos (Let's Talk) on Exitos 88.1 FM (WELH).

The Spanish-language talk-show host has invited mostly Providence candidates for the General Assembly to a "political barbecue" out in the backyard of the radio station in Cranston.

The first four candidates to show -- Grace Diaz, running for House District 11; Wilbur Jennings, running in House District 10; Leo Medina, running in House District 12, and David Quiroa, running in House District 73, in Newport, all have one thing in common.

"None of them was endorsed by RILPAC. That's the show right there," jokes Rodriguez, who once served as president of the Latino PAC. "Why weren't these people endorsed?" Rodriguez asks.

RILPAC endorsed five candidates: Jeff Toste from the Green Party, in House District 5; Democrat Andy Galli, in House District 7; Democrat Rep. Thomas Slater, House District 10; Republican Stephen Laffey, incumbent mayor of Cranston, and Democrat Pedro Espinal, House District 6.

Espinal was the only Latino who was endorsed.

No one was endorsed in the House District 11 primary race in Providence, one of the hottest races.

There, Diaz, a political newcomer and a Democrat, is challenging Democrat incumbent Rep. Luis Tejada. Both are Dominican. The race has heated up as Tejada has been challenged by Diaz supporters and fined by the state Board of Elections for not reporting campaign finances. Both are regular guests on Spanish-language radio programs.

Diaz said RILPAC did the right thing by not endorsing a candidate in District 11. "Their regulations require a consensus and they could not come to one," she says. "What's important for District 11 is that people have more options when they go to vote."

When Tomas Avila, the president of RILPAC, arrives, Rodriguez tells him he is in the hot seat.

The backyard is getting filled with candidates and people who have come to watch.

Avila said that neither Tejada nor Diaz garnered a majority of votes from RILPAC members to 192

receive the endorsement. But he has taken heat because it's an important race, he says.

He said that RILPAC members plan to meet after the elections to talk about the endorsement process and what to do when members reach a verdict similar to the one for District 11. Does it matter if you get endorsed by RILPAC? After all, Tejada won without RILPAC's endorsement.

"The fact that people are upset by the endorsements means it's important to them," Avila says.

When David Quiroa, of Newport, a Republican who will challenge the winner of the Democratic primary for District 73, did not get endorsed, there was a groundswell of e-mails decrying the fact.

How could they not endorse a man who has worked with the Latino community and is making history by running? asked Julio Aragon, of the Mexican-American Association.

"David, there was a lot of controversy about you," Rodriguez says. "All those e-mails."

"I'M IN THE EYE of the hurricane," Quiroa says. "It's good that there is this type of energy. I did absolutely everything I had to do for the endorsement. I spent three hours on the essay."

Quiroa says that his candidacy is historic in Newport, a middle-class, Anglo community where a Guatemalan from the Republican Party has dared to run for office. Quiroa said Governor Carcieri asked him to run.

So it was a surprise to him when he went before the 12 or so members of RILPAC's endorsement committee and they spent more time talking about his participation in the Republican Party than what he stood for.

Avila says he stopped the talk "when I saw the direction it was going in." In the end, the members did not want to endorse Quiroa.

Asked whether the majority of RILPAC members are Democrat, Avila said that they reflect the state. Back in February, Avila said that he approached the Republican Party seeking members to join RILPAC to make the process more balanced, but as yet no one has approached the group.

In other primary races, such as Senate District 2 between incumbent Juan Pichardo and Rochelle Lee, and House District 12 between incumbent Joseph Almeida and Medina, none of the candidates turned in papers seeking endorsement. Avila said that in all, 21 candidates turned in endorsement papers.

After the talk show, Avila said that among the questions he has heard most is whether RILPAC is going to endorse Latino candidates. As it stands now, the organization endorses candidates whom it judges would best represent the interests of Latinos -- and that's not necessarily Latino candidates.

"This controversy goes way back to when we started, and Republican Ed Lopez ran for secretary of state and we did not endorse him. It has always been a question, and we are going to have to talk about it and decide what we need to do to respond to the community's desire," he said.

Among the other candidates who attended were Ed Morabito, a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District; Harold Metts, candidate in Senate District 6; Rep. Joseph Almeida, DDistrict 12, in Providence; Rep. Anastasia Williams, D-District 9, in Providence; Slater; Tejada, and Pichardo.

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Candidates Discuss Key Issues At Forum Five candidates for the Senate and House hear from residents of the South Side in a discussion sponsored by the Citizen Education Campaign.

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, September 2, 2004

BY KAREN A. DAVIS Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE -- More than 300 people packed into a conference room at the Elmwood Community Center last night to hear legislative candidates discuss the most critical issues facing residents of lower South Providence and Elmwood.

The forum, sponsored by the Citizen Education Campaign, featured Sen. Juan M. Pichardo, DDistrict 2, and his Democratic primary challenger, Rochelle Bates Lee, and Rep. Leon F. Tejada, D-District 11, and his Democratic challengers, Grace Diaz and Richardson D. Ogidan.

Frank D. Barnes, project director for the Citizen Education Campaign, said the attendance is evidence that "people in our community care about their families and their future."

"It's important that we send the message that we care through voting."

The Citizen Education Campaign is a nonpartisan voter education project of the Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly on Elmwood Avenue. It receives financial support from the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund, Jobs with Justice, Making Connections and local residents.

Barnes told the audience that the discussion would revolve around the community's three most important issues: jobs, education and public safety.

Most of the questions asked the candidates to elaborate on what they would do to solve problems in the neighborhoods.

When asked how the candidates would propose to get the money to create decent paying jobs for residents, Tejada took issue with recent legislation that gave tax cuts to the rich.

Because that plan "isn't working for poor people" and places a bigger burden on the working class, Tejada said he would push to increase the tax rate to 27 percent, instead of 25 percent, for the wealthy.

Ogidan, who works for the South Providence Development Corporation, said he would push for the state to allocate $5 million annually to an urban enterprise fund to help start an "economy of ingenuity" to attract new businesses. He criticized the fact that even though the South Side is in an enterprise zone recognized by the state and the federal government, the designation does not result in money to fix up the abandoned commercial buildings in the area.

Diaz, who owns a home daycare and has been active in the movement to unionize childcare providers, said South Side neighborhoods already have many small businesses. However, she said, "we need to help small businesses" to grow and expand, so new jobs can be created.

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Lee, who has worked as a high school teacher and as an advocate for affordable housing, said she believes that good jobs exist, but residents from Elmwood and the South Side are not being considered for them.

As a result, she noted, she has seen more men of color picking up trash along Route 95, under the guardianship of the Adult Correctional Institutions, than she sees working on the $450-million Route 195 realignment.

Pichardo said he has supported projects that would bring economic development to the neighborhoods, including getting state transportation officials to commit to repaving Elmwood Avenue in 2006.

He said he has also worked to provide more resources, such as loan programs for small businesses.

When asked how they would help to reintegrate former ACI inmates into the community, most candidates said they would increase the educational and vocational opportunities for them.

Richardson said he would push for more resources for agencies that help former inmates, such as the Family Life Center and make sure that there are jobs for them; Pichardo said he would continue to advocate for youths who are released from the state Training School and would create a fatherhood program for inmates returning home.

Lee said many of the returning inmates are not criminals in the traditional sense, but "kids who do not have a fair shot." She said state officials should review the laws and become involved in monitoring the criminal justice system.

The state of public schools was raised by a resident who challenged the candidates to name the schools in their district and discuss how they were performing.

Barnes said the goal of the campaign is to "get on the vote" in the primary and general elections

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New Senate district a win for minorities Three blacks and a Hispanic are candidates for the district's Democratic nomination in Tuesday's primary.

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, September 8, 2004

BY GREGORY SMITH Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE -- The new Senate District 6 was born of conflict.

The defeat two years ago of Rhode Island's only black senator by the man who is the state's only Hispanic senator prompted a legal challenge to Senate redistricting.

After the state spent more than $1 million to defend its apportionment of the population for electoral purposes, a compromise finally was struck this spring to create a Senate district in Providence that would give black voters a better chance of electing a black.

Three blacks and a Hispanic now are candidates for the district's Democratic nomination in Tuesday's primary election. While the dispute sprang from strong feelings about the treatment of minorities, the resulting contest has been gentlemanly.

Former state Rep. Harold M. Metts, who is black, and a coalition of minority groups went to court to challenge the constitutionality of the 2002 Senate redistricting. They said it unfairly diluted blacks' voting power.

In the compromise, the lawsuit was dropped and 12 of the state's 38 districts were realigned, including all seven in Providence.

No longer a litigant, Metts is a candidate.

"After fighting 2 1/2 years to win this district, it would be a shame not to win this election," Metts said of District 6. ". . . We need to win this election to make sure our [black] community is included in the state Senate."

Besides the 56-year-old Metts, assistant principal and former basketball coach at Central High School, who lives in South Providence, the candidates are Pedro J. Espinal, 39, a real-estate investor who lives in the Washington Park neighborhood, and Chris D. Lopes, 39, a technology project manager for a bank, of Mount Hope.

Bus driver Mickeda S. Barnes, 29, of Washington Park, also is on the ballot. But the other candidates say she does not seem to be campaigning.

Barnes, who did not return telephone calls seeking comment, has not participated in any of the campaign's meet-the-candidates forums.

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The Democratic nominee would be elected senator, because there are no other candidates for the seat.

The realignment gives blacks in Providence a fresh opportunity to elect one of their own since Charles D. Walton lost reelection to Juan M. Pichardo in 2002 after 19 years in the upper chamber.

It was a stretch, literally and figuratively, to form the district. Rather than combine contiguous neighborhoods, as is usually done when districts are drawn, Senate leaders and the plaintiffs stapled a small piece of the East Side to a large piece of the South Side.

The goal was to craft a district that would house as many black residents as possible. That meant using a skinny corridor through downtown as a link to connect Washington Park and South Providence to Mount Hope.

As it turns out, 25 percent of the district population is black and 32 percent Hispanic. The district in which Walton lost his seat to Pichardo in a Democratic primary two years ago was 21 percent black.

Citywide, blacks make up 14.5 percent of the population; Hispanics 30 percent.

Espinal, a Dominican-American who grew up poor in Washington Park, worked for 16 years in the Facilities Management Department of Johnson & Wales University.

He put together some money and began acquiring houses, which he fixed up and rented out.

Finding success, Espinal was able to leave Johnson & Wales and concentrate on his property management business.

He now touts as his number-one qualification for public office his ability to get things done, as a businessman and as a community activist.

A former chairman of Direct Action for Rights and Equality, a social-action group, as well as a mayoral appointee to a civilian board created to review police conduct, Espinal has been active in the Washington Park Foundation and the Washington Park Citizen Association. The latter organization oversees the Washington Park Community Center.

In his only previous election attempt, Espinal lost as an independent in a three-way general election contest in 2002 for the Senate seat now held by Pichardo.

Pichardo, the only Hispanic senator, now seeks to represent the redrawn District 2. He is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Rochelle Lee. The district, which includes some Elmwood and West End neighborhoods, is 50 percent Hispanic.

Espinal expects to spend about $30,000 on his campaign this time -- apparently two to three times as much as Lopes or Metts.

That would pay for Spanish-language radio and newspaper advertising as well as printing and distributing brochures by hand or by mail, producing signs and sponsoring catered get-togethers at the district's six housing-for-the-elderly projects.

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If elected, Espinal said he would concentrate on bringing more money to the city, especially for public education and adult education.

There are parts of South Providence, he said, in which 50 percent of the residents lack a high school diploma or a general-equivalency degree. In Mount Hope, he said, 24 percent of the residents lack them. That education deficit limits their job prospects, Espinal pointed out.

Lopes, son of former one-term City Councilman Donald J. "Danny" Lopes, had most of his political experience as a student at the University of Rhode Island in the mid-1980s.

He was president of a minority organization called Uhuru Sa Sa, which successfully campaigned for the University of Rhode Island's disinvestment in South Africa. Uhuru Sa Sa had to overcome a move by the URI administration to close its house for budgetary reasons.

Lopes has given his financial and moral support to a variety of organizations such as the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association and the Men of Pride program. Men of Pride assists inmates at the Adult Correctional Institutions who are being released and tries to strengthen the bonds between single fathers and their children by, for example, organizing trips for them.

As he travels the district, Lopes said he tries to register people to vote as well as coax them to vote for him.

"A lot of people are frustrated and they don't want to participate in the process any more," he observed.

When knocking on doors on the South Side, Lopes often is accompanied by former Councilman John H. Rollins, a Washington Park resident who flirted with a run for the seat himself.

If elected, Lopes said he wants to promote the development of more affordable housing, preserve intracity and intrastate bus service, and alleviate pressure on property taxpayers.

He also wants to ensure that corporations that receive tax breaks hire and train local people or at least provide demonstrable service to the community in which they are located.

"I'm bringing in a new breed of lobbyist, the community," he quipped.

Metts, who has not run since 1996, is relying heavily on his 14 years' service in the Rhode Island House as his ticket to the Senate.

"When I first went in, it took me two terms to learn" the job, Metts said. He contrasted his readiness with that of his two opponents.

"I can hit the ground running because I've got that 14 years of experience," he boasted.

He also has a foot planted firmly in each end of the district. While he is known as a South Providence legislator, he also is a deacon at Congdon Street Baptist Church in Mount Hope. As such, he also serves as a director of East Side Apartments, a joint project of the church and the Jewish community.

Metts is vice chairman of the South Providence Development Corporation and is active in the Urban League of Rhode Island and the Providence branch of the NAACP. He helps out as a volunteer lay minister at Sunday morning religious services in the medium-security unit of the 198

ACI. As for his policy ambitions if he wins, Metts is adamant about repairing a state program that seeks to award purchases of products and services to minorities and women, which he was instrumental in having adopted.

He said the program has fallen far short of its goals, due at least in part to a lack of enforcement.

It's a point of pride to Metts that, as he says, he successfully worked across racial and ethnic lines in the House, where he was president of the Rhode Island Caucus of Black and Minority Legislators.

"Whether it is the Africans or whether it is the Latino community," he said, "the key out of all of this is [which candidate] is committed to being a bridge builder to the various constituent groups in District 6."

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Presidente De RILPAC Aclara Endosos Del Grupo Político Roberto Taboada Providence En Español Viernes 27 de agosto, 2004 Con respecto a elegir latinos, slogan de campañas recientes, Tomás Avila dice que el hecho de haberse endosado a más a anglosajones que latinos muestra la madurez del grupo PROVIDENCE – Los endosos del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island se dieron a conocer el pasado jueves 19 de agosto, luego que se decidiera apoyar a cinco candidatos. Que el endoso de 4 anglosajones y un solo latino hayan tomado lugar no despertó tanta inquietud como el acuerdo de la membresía de no involucrarse en disputadas contiendas, como los son la que se llevan a cabo en los Distritos 11 y 73 por la Cámara de Representantes.

En estas contiendas participan candidatos hispanos, quienes respondieron al cuestionario del Comité Latino y fueron entrevistados por aproximadamente doce de sus miembros.

El Comité Latino endosaría a Jeff Toste, candidato al Senado Estatal por el Distrito 5; Andrew Galli, candidato al Senado Estatal por el Distrito 7; al Representante del Distrito 10 de Providence, Thomas Slater, quien busca la reelección; y al Alcalde de Cranston, el Republicano Stephen Laffey.

Casi de manera inmediata, uno de los fundadores del Comité Latino o RILPAC envío el anuncio de un evento pro-fondos para uno de los endosados, Pedro Espinal, quien se ha postulado al nuevo Distrito Senatorial 6 de Providence.

El evento, auspiciado por el Dr. Pablo Rodríguez y el Comité para elegir a Pedro Espinal en el Distrito 6, se llevó a cabo esta semana.

Los endosos causaron gran controversia, ya que el Comité Latino optó por no endosar a uno de los tres pre-candidatos por el Distrito 11 de la Cámara de Representantes, donde el actual Representante León Tejada busca la reelección, enfrentando a dos oponentes, la proveedora de cuidado infantil, Grace Díaz, y el político afro-americano, Richardson Ogidan.

Los tres candidatos se sometieron al riguroso proceso del Comité Latino, más ni obtuvieron la respuesta que esperaban ni una explicación satisfactoria sobre lo sucedido.

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El Presidente de la Asociación Social, Cultural y Deportiva Mexicana de Rhode Island, Julio Aragón, expresó mediante un comunicado de prensa, que se había ignorado deliberadamente a las contiendas latinas en los Distritos 11 y 73.

“Nuestros hispanos hoy más que nunca necesitan del apoyo hispano. La cual se les ha ignorado por completo o será que la ética profesional de estos candidatos no está a la altura de esta agrupación política (RILPAC). Que pena no poder apoyar lo nuestro”, concretó Aragón.

Desde el anuncio de los endosos, el Presidente de RILPAC, Tomás Avila, se mantuvo disponible, en un esfuerzo por aclarar las decisiones del grupo político.

Según Avila, el proceso al que se someten los candidatos se llevó a cabo con suma democracia.

Sin embargo, y aunque lo aseguró a nuestro semanario en más de una ocasión, dijo por igual que existen fallas que serán cambiadas en los próximos meses.

No quedó claro cuantos de los 41 miembros de RILPAC votaron, pero sí que fue un número impar que claramente no impedía que se proporcione el endoso o se niegue, de acuerdo al número de votos.

Avila, no obstante –a pesar de confirmar estos datos, y más específicamente en las contiendas por los Distritos 11 y 73– se limitó a decir que el grupo simplemente decidió no endosar en dichas campañas.

“Muchos de los temas que se discuten son por un desconocimiento de nuestro proceso. No es relevante el porcentaje de votos que se dieron, sino que el comité decidió no endosar”, dijo Avila, añadiendo que en las mencionadas contiendas hubo, además del cuestionario y las entrevistas, una reñida discusión.

Sobre esto, el candidato del Partido Republicano en el distrito 73 de Newport, David Quiroa, dijo que las razones del Comité Político se debían a la existencia de dos bandos dentro de esta organización, uno que apoya a los sindicatos y otro que es tradicionalmente demócrata.

Quiroa informó a Providence en Español que otras de las razones presentadas por miembros del grupo político tuvieron que ver con el hecho de que el candidato es republicano, y que a pesar de ser latino, no se contribuiría con una campaña destinada a quitarle el puesto a un demócrata (la representante demócrata Maxine Shavers).

Quiroa, oriundo de Guatemala, se mostró confundido ante el largo interrogatorio de los miembros de RILPAC sobre las razones por las cuales es miembro del Partido Republicano de Rhode Island. El candidato dijo que más de la mitad de la entrevista se enfocó en ello, en lugar de su historial de apoyo a causas comunitarias.

“Ellos tienen el derecho, pero pasé por el proceso, fui a la entrevista, y pensé que tenía buenas oportunidades. Creo que no fue así, ya que soy republicano. Más de la mitad de la entrevista fue un repaso de lo mismo que ya había respondido, de por qué era republicano. No fue sino hasta que Tomás Avila intercedió y pidió un cambio de tema, empezando a hablar sobre asuntos inmigrantes”, dijo Quiroa.

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El Alcalde Stephen Laffey, prominente miembro del Partido Republicano, no recibiría el mismo trato.

Pero Tomás Avila asegura que el proceso es democrático y no solo un camino más para elegir a miembros del Partido Demócrata. Avila confirmó que existen tendencias pro-sindicales dentro de RILPAC, pero que es sólo uno de los elementos dentro del grupo político.

“Se que hay una influencia laboral en el grupo, y fui firme ante eso, para asegurar que no interfiera con el proceso”, dijo Avila.

Con respecto al caso de David Quiroa, comentó: “Hay una falla en el proceso y espero arreglarla.

Si un candidato se toma el tiempo para llenar el cuestionario, va a la entrevista, y los demás no se presentan ni llenan el cuestionario, para mí, Tomas Avila, el candidato que si lo hizo debe ser endosado”.

“La mayoría no quiso endosarlo, a pesar de su envolvimiento con la comunidad. Parte del problema con el proceso, desafortunadamente, y quiero ser claro, es que muchos se alejan y no se comprometen con el 'PAC', es así que llegan nuevos miembros, sin la estabilidad necesaria, y sin un conocimiento consistente sobre los candidatos. En el caso de David Quiroa algunos lo conocen, pero otros no”, dijo, asegurando que ha hablado con David Quiroa, y que “cree fuertemente en el fortalecimiento de la comunidad latina que va más allá del compromiso verbal, sino actual, y lo ayudaré en su campaña como pueda”.

Por último, no todo fueron malas reacciones, el Alcalde de la ciudad de Cranston, Stephen Laffey, celebró que se le haya endosado una vez más, sumando el apoyo de RILPAC, al que le diera la Asociación de Negocios de Guatemala en Cranston, y la Asociación Mexicana de Rhode Island.

Laffey dijo sobre esto: “Gracias por si continuo apoyo, me mantengo decidido en mi compromiso de ofrecerles oportunidades a todos. Su lucha es mi lucha”.

Andrew Galli aseguró desconocer de la controversias que generaran los endosos, más afirmó sentirse sumamente contento con el apoyo del grupo político latino.

Miembros de RILPAC: Melba Depeña, Nellie Gorbea, Matthew Jerzyk, Laura Pérez, Juan M. Pichardo, Pablo Rodríguez, MD, Jhomphy Ventura, Anthony Affigne, Luis Aponte, Ingrid Ardaya, José Brito, Ana Cabrera, Alberto Cardona, Claudia Cardona, Daphne Clarcke, Gladys Corvera, Adriana Dawson, María Fernanda Escudero, Ernesto Figueroa, Rosendo Fonsecha, José M. Gonzalez, Catherine Horsey, Patricia Martínez, Roxana C. Parra, Ricardo Patiño, Christopher Petrarca, Johanna Petrarca, Ana-Cecilia Rosado, Héctor R. Solís, Ángel Taveras, Vanesa Toledo, y Laviña Velásquez.

Miembros que participaron del Comité de Endosos: Domingo Morel, Betty Bernal, Sylvia Bernal, Tomas Alberto Ávila, Doris M. De Los Santos, Sabina Matos, y Kathy Hellwig.

(Lista proporcionada por el Presidente del Comité Latino, Tomás Avila).

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Inmadurez política Luis Peralta OPINION Providence En Español Viernes 27 de agosto, 2004

La creación del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island (RILPAC, siglas en inglés), dio a la comunidad una percepción de poder, ya que la dotó de una imagen distinta a la que habíamos demostrado en lo atinente a activismo político, independientemente de lo que haya logrado.

RILPAC trajo elementos de opinión pública y de propaganda que son útiles en todo proceso de desarrollo político; además nos dio el semblante de una comunidad organizada. Aunque ha sido realmente la comunidad por sí misma la que ha dado el mayor y más claro ejemplo de avance político y de participación en el proceso democrático. No hay mejor demostración de lo dicho, que la campaña política de 2002.

RILPAC sí ha sido, justamente, una fuente continuadora del activismo político. “Fuente continuadora”, porque no es RILPAC la fuente original primaria del desarrollo político organizado de la comunidad latina, ya que ésta tiene una historia cuyas raíces datan de los años 70s y 80s.

RILPAC, refleja en parte lo que es hoy la comunidad latina; pero ha retrazado su madurez institucional, y tal vez de ello, todos somos culpables.

No pienso que RILPAC se niegue a crecer, pero necesita d-e-m-o-c-r-a-t-i-z-a-r su proceso de apoyo, o hundirse en el descrédito y en la insignificancia de sus decisiones. Entre otras cosas, debe simplificar el cuestionario usado por los aspirantes políticos para requerir el apoyo de la organización, el cual, por la naturaleza de las preguntas, obliga a producir ensayos con los cuales podría escribirse un volumen bastante extenso. La parte del proceso que corresponde a las entrevistas, debe tener primacía, pero los entrevistadores no deben tener fauces carnívoras, sino la serenidad de la tole-rancia, de manera que las ideas ajenas, el modo de pensar o simpatizar políticamente, tanto de quienes buscan “apoyo” como de quienes lo ofrecen, sean racionalmente respetadas, independientemente de las diferencias.

Sugiero un proceso que se acerque por lo menos a una toma de decisión democrática, donde no sea un grupito de interesados, con posiciones y pensamientos únicos, quienes tomen decisiones a nombre de la comunidad latina. Sería oportuno comenzar por limitar la permanencia de los miembros del Subcomité de Apoyo a solamente dos años, de modo que no sean perpetuos y se evite el grupismo y la imposición de intereses particulares. Que las entrevistas sean conducidas por los miembros del mencionado subcomité, pero que sean hechas garantizando el acceso a los miembros de RILPAC, de manera que los entrevistadores sean facilitadores del proceso, pero que sean todos los miembros presentes quienes seleccionen por votación, a los pre-candidatos que requieran ser apoyados.

Sinceramente pensé que RILPAC había aprendido de la experiencia de 2002, cuando se impuso un anticriterio personalista en la oferta de apoyo para una candidatura a la Gobernación, apoyando a 203

Myrth York por encima de Sheldon Whitehouse, quien había cultivado una relación de apoyo contínuo a la entidad y había demostrado sin lugar a equivocaciones, su apoyo a los latinos, nombrando en numerosas posiciones a miembros de nuestra comunidad. O sea, que lo que podíamos esperar de él, ya lo estaba haciendo, aunque lo que merecemos no se limite a puestos laborales.

Con relación a este reciente proceso de apoyo, no discuto la certeza, y en algún caso, la justicia de las decisiones tomadas, pero es discutible y difícil de explicar la ausencia de decisión concerniente a los distritos congresionales 11 y 73. En el Distrito 11, desde mi punto de vista, entiendo, a partir de mi explicación anterior, por qué no se apoyó a uno de los tres aspirantes, aunque desafortunadamente ello demuestra oquedad o vacío institucional.

En el Distrito 73, donde David Quiroa es aspirante republicano, creo que debe ser motivo de debate público, ya que todo indica que a éste se le negó el apoyo por su cercanía al Gobernador (Donald) Carcieri, y su preferencia política republicana. Seguro dirán que el anti republicanismo a que aludo es insustentable, puesto de que el Alcalde (Stephen) Laffey [R-Cranston] recibió el apoyo. Bueno, Laffey es acreedor de apoyo, pero existe una correspondencia inevitable entre acreedores y deudores. Los unos no existen sin los otros. Si se usó un criterio antirepublicano, éste demuestra ser selectivo, desafortunadamente en perjuicio de uno de los nuestros, porque sinceramente no creo que RILPAC sea capaz de negarle apoyo a un político como el Senador Lincoln Chafee, si éste lo requiriera. Aunque tal vez existe otra visión que no tiene nada que ver con política ni con beneficios a favor de la comunidad.

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Poder Fragmentado Luis Peralta OPINION Providence En Español Viernes 27 de agosto, 2004 No dejo de insistir en resaltar la necesidad de crear estrategias definidas y claras en lo relacionado a un desarrollo político sostenido y consistente, que beneficie a la comunidad latina, no sólo en términos de sus necesidades laborales, sino que posibilite progreso educativo y económico. Todo lo cual requiere una visión que no es posible encontrar en la sola disponibilidad de esfuerzos de una persona. Se requiere para ello, el trabajo de una organización fuerte, de participación amplia, que no sea dirigida por una mentalidad de empresa familiar, acostumbrada a ver el liderazgo propio con un sentido de perpetuidad, que es un problema entre nosotros los latinos.

Necesitamos una organización que sea fuerte, pero para conseguir una organización que alcance la institucionalidad como su espina dorsal, es necesario encontrar líderes que se complazcan en preocupar por dejar un legado, que es parte de nuestro problema: Mucha gente nuestra piensa erróneamente que un buen legado es poder decir o escribir en un currículo o historial la-boral, profesional y educativo: “Fuí presidente” de tal o cual organización, y no se preocupan por dejar algo que marque su paso por esa entidad. Casos de éstos legados podrían ser: La fundación de Progreso Latino, ChisPA, y el Fondo Cívico Latino creado por Nelly Gorbea durante su presidencia en RILPAC. Legar algo es haber visualizado la necesidad de algo, y concretizar esa idea con un logro específico. ¿Tenemos una visión así?

Políticamente, la comunidad latina está impregnada de individualismo, y de pequeños grupos.

Aquí hay gente con una idea personalista del poder, que piensan que ellos deben ser poderosos, y los demás deben sumárseles, y que incluso hacen esfuerzos desmedidos para cortar las alas a quienes están comenzando a emprender vuelo, porque su egocéntrica unicidad no les permite aceptar que la diversificación de li-derazgo es provechosa, puesto que tiende a cultivar el mérito impulsando una competencia racional y sana, de la que todos nos be-neficiamos.

Por ejemplo, una que otra alianza subrepticia, es determinada por una necesidad interna de impedir que otros ganen u ocupen un espacio que pensamos nos pertenece como si se tratara de una herencia; por eso nuestra capacidad de apoyo en tal sentido, existe para beneficiar a un individuo que tiene la misma visión restringida y que puede facilitar determinadas concesiones en provecho nuestro. No hay sinceridad ni propósito comunitario, ya que la comunidad es una ficción que permite ser usada como excusa de crecimiento indivi-dual. No es que sea malo trascender, debiera ser un propósito de todo individuo. No reprochable es la manera deshonesta como queremos conseguir nombradía.

Aquí se quiere ser presidente o dirigente a perpetuidad, y se hace esfuerzos en que las organizaciones no se desarrollen institucionalmente por temor a perder el rango de presidente o director, como si nos rodeara una percepción destinista de lide-razgo insustituible. A eso se debe en parte, la existencia de una multiplicidad de entidades cuyos miembros y directivos bien 205

debieran ser parte de una organización donde quepa todo el mundo, sin distinción de grupismo o individualismos exacervados.

Hace falta un movimiento permanente de discusión, una tarea de inquebrantable e indetenible integración que no únicamente nos una para celebrar la cultura de cada grupo, sino para hallar vías de trabajo conjunto, donde ningún grupo sea dejado de lado por no ser parte de un círculo o no encajar en una visión de liderazgo reduccionista.

No sé si estamos dándonos cuenta de la manera como ciertas individualidades y grupos culturalmente foráneos, están secuestrando el poder de nuestro crecimiento poblacional, y agenciándose los beneficios de nuestra participación cívica y alcance del creciente proceso de natura-lización. Eso está pasando, y aunque no lo pensamos detenidamente, realmente no nos beneficiamos de ese proceso silencioso. Por un lado, se están convirtiendo en acreedores forzoso de nuestro poder de voto, y por el otro lado, están usando la herramienta de la división para aniquilar moral, y políticamente a las pocas amenazas de liderazgo visible. ¿Estamos reaccionando? Ese movimiento está teniendo lugar, y ramificándose políticamente, quizás aprovechando la fragmentación de nuestro liderazgo, la inconsistencia de nuestra visión, y el descrédito y falta de confianza de quienes están llamados a guíamos en el camino del desarrollo.

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Estación 88.1 FM organizó importante foro político - por Elvys Ruiz Miércoles Septiembre 1 al 7, 2004 [No. 171] El director de la programación en español de la emisora radial 88.1 FM, Reynaldo Almonte, junto al Dr. Pablo Rodríguez, reconocido médico, filántropo y líder comunitario, organizaron el pasado sábado, 28 de agosto, un coloquio con la finalidad de que los contendientes que participan en las elecciones estatales que se aproximan (2004), tuvieran un espacio para la intelección de las ideas políticas, el debate y la presentación de sus plataformas. De igual manera, el foro brindó una oportunidad para que la comunidad latina participara en vivo de lo que allí sucedía y expresara sus puntos de vistas y/o formulara preguntas a los participantes de la contienda sobre sus propuestas y la repercusión que tienen para sus vecindarios.

El evento empezó alrededor de las 9:30 de la mañana y concluyó pasado las 2:30 de la tarde. Las primeras horas de la mañana se enfocaron en analizar las controversias originadas en el seno de la comunidad producto de la selección hecha por el Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island, (RILPAC, sigla en inglés), debido a que sólo apoyó a un candidato hispano y dejó sin efecto su apoyo a uno de los tres contendientes por el distrito 11, donde hay una lucha acalorada por la conquista y la defensa de ese escaño político. A su vez, la polémica surgió a raíz de que David Quiroa, quien se postula en Newport por el Distrito 73, expresara su descontento por la forma en que se condujo su entrevista, enfocándose primordialmente en su afiliación con el Partido Republicano, por lo que Tomas Ávila, Presidente de RILPAC tuvo que intervenir a fin de que la misma se manejara sin prejuicios y se basara en los temas.

El actual Representante Estatal Luis León Tejada, se identificó con Quiroa, debido a que tampoco fue escogido cuando se postuló para la contienda electoral del año 2000, resultando para la sorpresa de muchos, incluyendo los miembros de RILPAC, ganador de las urnas, victoria que le aseguró a Tejada ser el primer dominicano que ocupara una posición como Representante Estatal en la historia política de RI, y el segundo hispano en la legislatura. Resultando irónico que posterior a su logro político, la misma organización que le negó el apoyo, le entregara el premio “Bill Richardson” la más alta distinción al mérito político-comunitario.

RILPAC endosó en este año electoral a Andrew Galli, pre-candidato al séptimo distrito senatorial; Tom Slater, pre-candidato al Distrito 10 de la Cámara de Representantes; Pedro Espinal, precandidato al Sexto Distrito Senatorial de la ciudad de Providence; Jeff Toste, pre-candidato al Quinto Distrito Senatorial; y al alcalde de Cranston, el republicano Stephen Laffey.

Bajo un caluroso y radiante sol, iban llegando los invitados para ampliar la mesa redonda de la barbacoa política. Esto sin lugar a dudas fue un factor que contribuyó a la extensión del evento. Un receso de aproximadamente veinte minutos se produjo pasado el mediodía para que los 207

participantes almorzaran y para hacer arreglos de espacio, y así aumentar el número de participantes en la mesa redonda. En esta segunda parte del coloquio, los contendientes de un mismo distrito fueron colocados juntos y se les dio la oportunidad de que cada uno hiciera una pregunta a su oponente, iniciando con el aspirante. Los que no tuvieron contrincantes, pudieron brevemente hablar de sus proyectos de campaña y/o emitir algún juicio sobre alguno de los temas tratados.

Debemos de reconocer que esta actividad a diferencia de otras, ha sentado un precedente y un logro para la comunidad latina. A pesar de no haber una agenda que guiara las discusiones, debido a que lo que perseguían sus organizadores era abrir los micrófonos para que bajo el libre albedrío todos los que desearan expresar sus inquietudes, lo hicieran sin ningún tapujo. En este sentido, las discusiones se hicieron con altura en el marco del respeto mutuo. La convocatoria fue bien acogida y podemos decir que hubo una representación muy balanceada de los miembros y el liderazgo de la comunidad latina y no-latina del Estado, si tomamos en cuenta la informalidad del mismo.

Hasta la próxima.

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RILPAC endosa a 5 candidatos Providence En Español Viernes 20 de agosto del 2004 Providence, RI - Al cierre de edición, el Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island anunció sus endosos políticos a cinco candidatos.

El Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island (RILPAC, siglas en inglés) anunció su endoso a Pedro Espinal, pre-candidato al sexto distrito senatorial de la ciudad de Providence; Andrew Galli, pre-candidato al séptimo distrito senatorial; Jeff Toste, pre-candidato al quinto distrito senatorial; Thomas Slater, pre-candidato al Distrito 10 de la Cámara de Representantes; y al Alcalde de Cranston, el republicano Stephen Laffey.

Estos candidatos obtuvieron el apoyo de RILPAC después de una reunión especial para este propósito, el jueves 19 de agosto.

El voto de endoso de los candidatos se llevó a cabo luego que se enviaran cuestionarios a numerosos candidatos, en cuyas respuestas se basaron.

Tomas Avila, Presidente de Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island, dijo, "Estos candidatos representan mejor la misión del PAC, basado en sus respuestas a nuestro cuestionario y su desempeño en nuestras entrevistas personales".

RILPAC sostendrá animadamente campañas para estos candidatos y les proporcionará todo el apoyo que necesitarán para ganar sus respectivas elecciones primarias.

Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island es una organización independiente y no partidista, formada para avanzar y apoyar a candidatos de Rhode Island a posiciones electas estatales y municipales que estén conprometidos a mejorar la calidad de vida de la comunidad latina.

Información sobre cuantos candidatos fueron entrevistados, y por qué, a pesar de haber entrevistado a los aspirantes al Distrito 11 de la Cámara de Representantes, el comité político no proporcionó un endoso, no estuvo disponible al cierre de edición.

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PRESS RELEASE August 19, 2004

Contact:

Tomas Alberto Avila (401) 274-5204 E-Mail: rilpac@yahoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee endorses Pedro Espinal, Andrew Galli, Jeff Toste, Representative Thomas Slater and Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey.

Providence -- Today the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) announced their endorsement of Pedro Espinal Candidate for newly formed Senate District 6, Andrew Galli, candidate for State Senate in District 7, Jeff Toste, candidate for State Senate in District 5, Representative Thomas Slater for State Representative in District 10, and Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey. These candidates earned the RILPAC's backing after a meeting held Thursday August 19, 2004 vote on the endorsement of such candidates, based on their response the PAC's questionnaire and their personal interviews.

Tomas Avila, President of Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, said, "These candidates best represent the mission of the PAC, based on their response to our questionnaire and their performance in our personal interviews".

RILPAC will enthusiastically support the endorsed candidate's campaigns and provide them with as much support needed to win their primary elections.

The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to advance and support candidates from Rhode Island for state and local office who are committed to improving the quality of life for members of the Latino community.

RILPAC will endorse candidates who support issues benefiting Latinos and other individuals from urban communities while raising awareness on issues or candidates that could adversely impact the Latino community.

--30--

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Comunicado de Prensa 19 de agosto del 2004

Contacto:

Tomas Alberto Avila (401) 274-5204 E-Mail:rilpac@yahoo.com

Para publicacion inmediata:

El Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island anuncia su endoso de Pedro Espinal, Andrew Galli, Jeff Toste, el Representatne Estatal Thomas Slater y el Alcalde de Cranston Stephen Laffey. providencia -- Hoy El Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rode Island (RILPAC) anunció su endoso de Pedro Espinal, pre candidato al distrito senatorial 6, Andrew Galli, pre candidato al distrito senatorial 7 Jeff Toste, pre candidato al distrito senatorial 5 Thomas Slater pre candidato al distrito de representante 10 y el Alcalde de Cranston Stephen Laffey. Estos candidatos ganaron el apoyo de RILPAC después en una reunión que tuvo lugar el jueves 19 de agosto del 2004 el voto de endoso de tales candidatos, fue basado en su respuesta a el cuestionario de RILPAC y sus entrevistas personales.

Tomas Avila, Presidente de Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island, dijo, "Estos candidatos representan mejor la misión del PAC, basado en su respuesta a nuestro cuestionario y su desempeño en nuestras entrevistas personales".

RILPAC sostendrá entusiasmadamente el endoso las campañas de estos candidato y les proporcionara todo el apoyo que necesitaron para ganar sus elecciones primarias.

Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island es una organización independiente y no partidista formada para avanzar y apoyar a candidatos de Rhode Island a posiciones electas estatales y municipales que esten conpromeetidos a mejorar la calidad de vida de miembros de la comunidad latina.

XXX

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No negativity allowed 01:00 AM EDT on Monday, August 2, 2004

BY SCOTT MAYEROWITZ and LIZ ANDERSON Journal State House Bureau The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee has banned any negative comments made about its endorsed candidates on its list-serve.

The group plans to announce its endorsed slate of candidates on Aug. 19, but last month started restricting messages on the 300-person e-mail list, according to Tomas Alberto Avila The edict came down in mid-July, right after somebody posted a negative comment on the list-serve about Pedro J. Espinal , a Providence Senate candidate. Avila said the prohibition had nothing to do with the Espinal posting and that the time was just coincidental.

In his e-mail to the list-serve, Avila announced the ban saying it is necessary "in order to avoid conflicting message being sent against RILPAC endorsed candidates. Therefore effective immediately and right through the primary elections, we'll be restricting political messages and will be using the list to promote RILPAC's endorsed candidates. . ."

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Democratic Convention journal It's a feast for the eyes and ears 08:02 AM EDT on Friday, July 30, 2004

Rhode Island delegates and dignitaries mingled at Ristorante Fiore yesterday in Boston's Italian North End as Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline threw a luncheon he was calling "DNC at the DNC." His intials, get it?

Guests feasted on a buffet that included chicken saltimbocca, tortellini, baked salmon, roasted potatoes and a fresh mozzarella and tomato salad. Platters of pastries proved popular, as did the open bar.

Among those attending were Providence City Council members John Igliozzi, Miguel Luna and Rita Williams, Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee head Tomas Avila, U.S. Conference of Mayors executive director J. Thomas Cochran, Democratic pollster Diane Feldman and Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell.

Campbell, greeting a table full of Rhode Island women state senators, told them she hoped her teenage daughter would apply to Brown University.

"Senator [Rhoda] Perry represents the East Side if she decides she wants to register to vote," Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed quipped.

-- M. Charles Bakst

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Latinos celebran Día en el Capitolio Por Roberto Taboada Providence En Espanol PROVIDENCE – “Se ha realizado muy bien, tomando en cuenta los compromisos de las personas”, dijo satisfecho Tomás Avila, Presidente del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island (RILPAC, siglas en inglés), refiriéndose al evento que realizaran el pasado miércoles en la Casa Estatal. Alrededor de 150 personas se dieron cita en la Sala de Senadores del Estado, para enfocar esfuerzos en el proceso electoral de los hispanos en Rhode Island y establecer una relación más estrecha entre los votantes y sus representantes electos.

El Senador Estatal Juan Pichardo, uno de los anfitriones de la tarde, habló de la importancia de la educación en los vecindarios hispanos, al igual que de cómo “muchos están luchando por proporcionar cuidado infantil”.

El mensaje parecía alegrarle a un grupo de representantes del sindicato SEIU 1199, presentes en el evento. Las representantes sindicales distribuían volantes sobre una sesión informativa a llevarse a cabo en el concejo de la ciudad el próximo lunes 24 de mayo, tratando el tema de las proveedoras de cuidado infantil. Sobre este tema, Tomás Avila dijo que la lucha de las proveedoras es un tema importante al cual los latinos, y RILPAC por igual, deben darle un seguimiento.

“Latinos on the Hill”, se llevó a cabo este año, tal vez con un poco menos de brillo que en su primer año, a pesar de un aumento en la membresía del influyente grupo político que en la actualidad, goza de nueva membresía. No obstante, la determinación del nuevo presidente de RILPAC no ha cambiado, quien planea utilizar el dinero proveniente del estado para realizar actividades relacionadas con la inscripción de votantes.

Avila estima que de los 15 mil dólares que recibieran en noviembre del 2003, se emplearían unos 5 mil para registrar latinos. El presidente del Comité Latino dijo a Providence en Español que tienen como meta el registrar entre 2.500 a 5 mil latinos hasta el día de las elecciones.

Organizado por el Fondo Cívico Latino el evento tuvo como anfitriones al Vice-Gobernador Charles Fogarty, Representante Estatal Luis León Tejada y al Senador Juan M. Pichardo. Este último presentó reconocimientos a Tomás Avila y Ernesto Figueroa. Acompañando a los miembros de RILPAC, se encontraban Julio Ramos de la Fundación Doña Teresa, el Representante Estatal Thomas Slater, y el candidato independiente Ed Morabito.

Por otro lado, una de las ausencias más notables fue la del Gobernador Donald Carcieri, quien fuera invitado y no atendiera el evento. Carcieri, quien recientemente reactivara la Comisión de Asuntos Hispanos, no respondería a la invitación, de acuerdo con información del Presidente de RILPAC. “Nos gustaría que el gobernador esté aquí para que sepa sobre los temas de la comunidad latina”, dijo en su mensaje el Representante Estatal Luis León Tejada, quien añadió “sólo queremos que sea parte del proceso”.

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Redistricting accord expected An out-of-court settlement to be discussed today would change the configuration of 12 Senate districts, including all 6 in Providence.

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, May 21, 2004

BY EDWARD FITZPATRICK and LIZ ANDERSON Journal Staff Writers PROVIDENCE -- After a two-year legal battle, a redistricting lawsuit is headed for a settlement that would change 12 of the 38 Senate districts, officials said yesterday. Both sides are scheduled to come before Chief U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres this morning to discuss settling the suit, which claims that new state Senate districts illegally dilute black voting power on Providence's South Side. A trial has been scheduled for June 21, but Torres has a chambers conference set for 11:30 a.m. today regarding a possible resolution. And Senate leaders have scheduled a news conference for 12:15 p.m. today in the Senate lounge to discuss the matter. The Senate map had pitted the Senate's first and only black member, Charles D. Walton, against Juan M. Pichardo, who beat Walton in the 2002 Democratic primary and became the Senate's first and only Hispanic member. The proposed resolution would change the configuration of 12 Senate districts while putting Walton and Pichardo in different districts, according to senators and plaintiffs. The district that includes Walton's home would include black populations in the Washington Park and Mount Hope neighborhoods.

The proposal would change all six districts in Providence, in addition to districts in Pawtucket, East Providence, North Providence and Lincoln, according to senators and plaintiffs. Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano would see his district shift to different parts of North Providence, Pawtucket and Lincoln. The changes would affect 10 incumbent senators and the 2 districts that had been represented by former Senate President William V. Irons, D-East Providence, and former Sen. John A. Celona, D-North Providence. Irons and Celona resigned amid investigations of their financial ties to major players in the state's health-care industry. Dennis B. Langley -- director of the Urban League of Rhode Island, which was one of the plaintiffs -- praised legislative leaders for agreeing to the proposed settlement. "I think cool heads are thinking logically now," he said. "I think the new leadership is being inclusive. Also, we want to extend our appreciation to Senator Pichardo for not opposing the plan." Langley said it is not good for the state to have just one minority senator -- and no black senator -- particularly when minorities make up more than half of Providence's population. "We have entered into a society where inclusiveness is important," he said.

In February, officials said the state had already paid lawyers and consultants more than $1.1 million to defend against three lawsuits stemming from the new Senate district map. And yesterday, Langley said, "When you look at it, it's really a waste of dollars." Walton, who was not a plaintiff, hailed the proposed settlement, saying the case "was not predicated on me as a person.

It's about a community that had been left out of the process and divided up. "We have worked for more than two years to dramatize our case through the courts and the public to say we need to have greater inclusion and representation in the Senate," Walton said. And now, Walton said, "The new Senate leadership has acted in a very proactive way to say, 'We can have inclusion.' " He credited 215

Montalbano, D-North Providence, and Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed, DNewport, with "showing a genuine commitment to black inclusion in the political electoral process." Walton said the resignations of Irons and Celona gave mapmakers room to maneuver in configuring the proposed settlement. Walton, who had been in the Senate for 18 years, said, "I'd be very interested in running again if, through this process, the opportunity is there." Sen. Rhoda E. Perry, D-Providence, said she believed all of the Providence senators would be affected by the changes, and she believed all had agreed to the plan. "I think the likelihood of our getting another progressive is very great," she said. "I'm very lonely up here."

Perry said she favored the proposal for her district. She would gain all of Fox Point while losing Mount Hope and a segment of the Summit neighborhood. Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III, DProvidence, said that as far as he knew, nothing was finalized yet. But, he said, "I think there's a proposal to do it. I know that there is supposed to be a press conference [today] based on the fact they're likely to settle it." Ciccone said he was not bothered by the proposed changes to his district, which now centers on Silver Lake. "I don't think anybody really has a problem with it," he said.

"Everybody is kind of reasonable here." Pichardo, D-Providence, said, "Right now we cannot really comment on it because [today] they will be speaking with the judge. "There's been some conversations," he said. "Hopefully, we will come to a resolution of this whole matter of redistricting. I've been, from the beginning, challenging the districts so that South Providence and the West End have the representation that they deserve." The lawsuit stemmed from a redistricting plan that reflected new census figures and a voter-mandated downsizing of the General Assembly.

The House shrank from 100 to 75 members and the Senate from 50 to 38 members.

The lawsuit was filed on May 2, 2002, on behalf of seven plaintiffs, including former state Rep. Harold M. Metts, the NAACP Providence branch and the Urban League. Torres dismissed the suit in September 2002, saying such suits can only be brought by plaintiffs who could represent more than 50 percent of a district. In this case, the black population of the South Side district fell from 26 percent to 21 percent. But in March of this year, the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 5 to 2 to allow the case to proceed, sending the matter back to Torres in Providence.

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Metts v. Montalbano Settlement Request Hon. Juan Pichardo State Senator - District 2 229 Atlantic Ave. Providence, RI 02907 Sent via email & hardcopy: sen-pichardo@rilin.state.ri.us Dear Senator Pichardo: After much discussion amongst our membership, we have agreed to ask that you encourage the current Senate leadership to settle with the plaintiffs of Metts v. Montalbano to redraw the current Senate district lines.

It comes as no surprise to our membership that millions are being spent to defend a discriminatory redistricting plan. In fact, when RILPAC filed suit against this very plan, we realized there was more at stake than the creation of a district with less than 50% Latino population in Senate District 2.

The current plaintiffs’ attorneys have quite remarkably argued against such narrow definitions of the Gingles factors and will now have their day in court for all of us in the upcoming month, if this matter is not resolved now.

Therefore, we ask that you urge the Senate leadership to enter into settlement discussions immediately to redraw these districts, while ensuring that new lines in no way dilute the Latino communities’ ability to elect candidates of their choice.

We appreciate the opportunity to share these concerns with you at this critical juncture and look forward to any dialogue that can be had to assure that all voters have an equal opportunity to have their voices heard in our state government.

Muy atentamente,

Tomás A. Ávila President

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New Senate Map Settles Lawsuit Over Redistricting The departures of Senators John A. Celona and William V. Irons allow for a new district that reunites parts of South Providence.

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, May 22, 2004

BY EDWARD FITZPATRICK Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- Senate leaders announced the settlement of a two-year-old redistricting lawsuit yesterday, saying they could have won the legal battle but chose to redraw the Senate map to bolster minority voting power.

The lawsuit claims the current Senate map violates the Voting Rights Act by dividing the black community on Providence's South Side into two districts.

The new map, if approved by the General Assembly and governor, would end that divide while changing 12 of the 38 Senate districts. That would leave 10 incumbents facing new territory in an election year while creating two new districts with no incumbents.

Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano said he is confident the Senate would have prevailed in federal court. But, he said, "We were presented with a rare opportunity when two districts abutting the city of Providence became unexpectedly open. That opportunity allows us to redraw the district lines to strengthen both the African-American and the Hispanic voting power in Providence."

That opportunity arose when former Senate President William V. Irons, D-East Providence, and Sen. John A. Celona, D-North Providence, resigned amid investigations into their financial ties to CVS and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

Their departures resulted in two vacant Senate seats, giving mapmakers the wiggle room to create a new Providence district that reunites parts of South Providence while reaching north to the Mount Hope neighborhoods.

The Senate map that triggered the lawsuit had pitted the Senate's first and only black member, Charles D. Walton, against Juan M. Pichardo, who defeated Walton in 2002 to become the Senate's first and only Hispanic member.

The new map puts Pichardo and Walton in different districts. Walton is in the district reaching from South Providence to Mount Hope, which is 25 percent black and contains no incumbent.

Pichardo is in an Elmwood district that is 50 percent Hispanic and contains no other incumbent.

Senate leaders believe the new map will increase the chance of electing more than one minority senator this year.

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Montalbano, who was vice chairman of the redistricting commission, said no redistricting could have been more difficult than the one that took effect in 2002, which reflected a voter-mandated downsizing of the Assembly. The Senate shrunk from 50 to 38 members.

Given that "daunting task," Montalbano said, the mapmaking was fair and open. And, he said, "I want to make it very clear the Senate is not admitting fault."

But, Montalbano said, "They do refer to me as someone who knows how to build a consensus."

And, he said, "We were sensitive to the needs of the minority community."

A SECONDARY FACTOR in the settlement, Montalbano said later, was that ending the legal battle could save the state up to $1 million in legal bills. The state has already spent more than $1.1 million defending against three redistricting suits.

Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport, said, "I'm so proud today to be a part of this proposed settlement agreement and of the 10 senators who put the principle of inclusiveness ahead of themselves."

She said the plan is perhaps most difficult for Pichardo "because he's brand new, and he fought so hard for four years to get here."

Indeed, the new map gives Pichardo just 42 percent of his old district. "It's an ultimate sacrifice from my end," Pichardo said. So why did he agree to the plan? "It's the principle of more minority representation in the Senate," he said.

The new map also changes Montalbano's district. While he'd retain 80 percent of his old district, Montalbano lives in North Providence, and the new map would give him a larger portion of Lincoln.

"I hear now there's going to be real Republicans in my district," Montalbano said, adding that former Republican Gov. Lincoln C. Almond would be in his district. "So we are all personally affected, but we are all personally very committed to having this become a reality because of the importance of the issue."

The state's redistricting consultant, Kimball W. Brace, said, "Usually in these situations, cases do tend to go to trial, so it is unusual to see this kind of settlement, particularly when one side felt pretty confident they were going to win at trial." The key, he said, was having two Senate seats open up.

Brace said he began "playing around with different possibilities" to reconfigure the map over the past two or three months. The plaintiffs presented a map that created a Providence district with a stronger black population, but that plan included "much more major change" for other districts. So he said he came up with a map that achieved the same goal "without disrupting people as much."

AMONG THE SENATORS whose districts were redrawn, Sen. Daniel J. Issa, D-Central Falls, would be disrupted the least, maintaining 93 percent of his old district, while Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III, D-Providence, would be disrupted the most, keeping just 34 percent of his current district.

All 10 incumbents affected by the new map are Democrats, and Montalbano said he thinks all 12 219

districts will be won by Democrats. "The governor is not getting one of these seats, if I do my job," Montalbano said, referring to Republican Governor Carcieri.

The suit was filed on May 2, 2002, in U.S. District Court on behalf of seven plaintiffs: former state Rep. Harold M. Metts, Bryan Evans, Stephanie Cruz, Jean Wiggins, the NAACP Providence branch, the Urban League of Rhode Island and the Black Political Action Committee.

Metts, the lead plaintiff, said, "We believe the plan the Senate is now proposing, by uniting upper and lower South Providence in one Senate district, is fair to black voters. The plan is also fair to Latino voters because it allows them to elect their candidate of their choice to the Senate in a separate district."

Tomas Alberto Avila, president of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, said, "To our African-American brothers and sisters, I want to tell you that we are here to help you and work with you." He noted minorities make up 55 percent of Providence's population, saying, "Together we can achieve greater political power and truly be a force."

Clifford R. Montiero, president of the NAACP Providence branch, said, "This is a historical day."

He said the plaintiffs also believed they would prevail in court. "So there was no need for a settlement," he said. "But in the interest of inclusion and justice, this settlement came about. Now we need it to pass through the legislature and be signed by the governor."

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Tomás Avila Redistrciting Settlement Statement May 21, 2004 It’s a great day in the state of Rhode Island, and it’s an even greater day in the minority community of Rhode Island. On behalf of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee and the Latino community, I join our African American brothers and sisters in this great victory and want to tell you that we are with you.

I am very happy to see that this agreement has been reached, and this new district has been added that will give you the same satisfaction that we enjoyed for the last two years, of having our own Senator to represent us, just like you had one of your own previously, and now have the opportunity to have one of your own again.

I like to congratulate the Senate President Montalbano, and Majority Leader Paiva-Weed for their leadership in getting this settlement accomplished. As we know this case was their before their leadership, and the fact that we are here today in such a short time demonstrate their leadership and their commitment to settle this matter and empower the minority community of Rhode Island.

Thank you.

I also want to thank all the people that have been involved in this process from the beginning, as I see many faces with whom I met starting in 1997, whom invested their time and energy in preparation for the 2001 redistricting and who play a roll for us being here.

To our African American brothers and sisters, I want to tell you that we are here to help you and work with you in moving forward with your political empowerment and stand ready to build consensus as was expressed by the Senate President. I also like to invite us to concentrate in what we have in common, and put aside our differences as we move forward. Today we attain a second Senate seats and that’s great, but we must realize that as Cliff just mentioned we are 55% of the population of Providence, and together we can achieve greater political power and truly be a force. Congratulations once again and thank you for the opportunity of being here.

Tomás Alberto Ávila President

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Redistricting Settlement Members Notification From: "RI Latino political Action Committee" <rilpac@yahoo.com To: <rilpacmembers@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 3:05 PM Subject: [RILPAC Members] It's Official: Redistricting Settlement Dear Members; In Press Conference today at 12:15 PM, the Senate Leadership and the African American community made their out of court settlement official. As you're aware, a new vacant minority district has been added to the city of Providence. It's a great day in the State of Rhode Island and a greater day for the minority community with this historical accomplishment.

I was invited to participate in the Press Conference in showing our support to our African American brothers and sisters for the gigantic battle they have won. Needless to say this is just the beginning of the new district and what will follow during the next few months will be very important in the strategic political future of the new district. I'll be keeping you posted as I meet with different leaders from the African American community and Latino community as candidates jockey for this district.

Muy atentamente,

Tomas A. Avila President

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Common Cause of Rhode Island Settlement Statement Dear friends on the State Governing Board We have what looks like great news on one of our priority issues. Senate leaders will go before U.S. District Court Judge Ernest Torres tomorrow (Friday) at 10:30 with representatives of the African-American groups that challenged the 2002 Senate districts to present a negotiated settlement. Latino leaders have agreed to the terms and new maps. Tomas Avila, a member of our board and President of RILPAC (the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee) has been involved in negotiations and will report at the board meeting on Tuesday night.

A number of our board members attended countless meetings of the Fair Redistricting Coalition and scores of hearings by the Redistricting Commission. Special thanks to Tomas for his leadership and aloso to Cathy Speer, Kevin McAllister, Nancy Rhodes, Brian Heller and Greta Abbott. Jim Miller and Dan Siegel provided constant support.

This settlement will require ten senators to give up large or small parts of their districts and be thrust into new turf where they will lose the incumbents' advantage. I give special credit to Sen. Majority Leader Teresa Paiva-Weed for pulling this together and to Sen. President Joseph Montalbano (who headed the Redistricting Commission) for accepting this needed change. Friday looks to be historic in Rhode Island.

Tory McCagg trying to schedule a special meeting of the Ethics Committee for Monday to consider this week's developments after the Secy of State concluded he could not require lobbyists to disclose their advertising payments (ProJo stories below.) If you have comments or suggestions, please forward them to Tory or to me.

Many thanks for your good work. Hope to see you Tuesday at 5:00.

Phil West Executive Director Common Cause of Rhode Island 428 Smith Street Providence, Rhode Island 02908 401.861.2322 F: 401.331.9676 phil_west@commoncauseri.org

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"Hay que estar atento con el partido demócrata" Entrevista con Tomás Ávila Por Roberto Taboada Providence En Español viernes 9 de enero, del 2004 PROVIDENCE – El nuevo Presidente del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island dice que en su nueva posición buscará aumentar la membresía del grupo político, de manera que exista una fuente de talentos que llene las diferentes posiciones de la organización. Tomás Ávila empezó la entrevista comentando que RILPAC, desde su fundación, planeó distintas metas y objetivos que están por empezar a ejecutarse. Durante la entrevista, el hondureño trató temas relacionados con los partidos políticos en relación a la comunidad latina, su apoyo por la reunificación familiar, y cuales son los representantes estatales que desempeñan una buena labor.

Providence en Español: El Instituto Mauricio Gastón de Boston llevó a cabo una reunión de varios institutos y organizaciones minoritarias, el pasado mes de octubre, identificando una agenda de siete temas comunes: la participación cívica y política, perfiles raciales, desarrollo de viviendas, desarrollo económico, servicios de salud, educación y políticas migratorias. Usted nos comentó su deseo de encauzarse en temas que le afectan a la comunidad latina, ¿qué temas específicamente?

Tomás Ávila: "Inmigración, educación, salud y desarrollo económico. He investigado algunas iniciativas, y las agendas nacionales y locales, una de las entidades fue el Mauricio Gastón Institute, y lo que encontré fue que esos son los temas principales de lo que podríamos llamar una agenda latina. Desde su fundación, RILPAC ha planeado trabajar en una agenda, y no se ha hecho, pero existe una gran necesidad".

"Dentro de poco se cumplirá un año desde que Providence en Español hiciera un llamado al liderazgo latino del estado a que establezca un agenda. Leerlo otra vez me ha reforzado mi creencia en que esta es una necesidad. Con respecto a ella, el plan que he preparado es sobre esos 5 temas".

PE: Algunos de los comentarios sobre el Comité Latino, de algunos de sus miembros inclusive, son que la organización ha dejado de lado muchos temas. Algunas veces parece que es un caso de "atraparon a Saddam Hussein y el público responde con ¿dónde está Osama?" ¿Se le puede culpar a RILPAC por lo que aún no realiza, cómo la falta de una agenda, por ejemplo?

Tomás Ávila: "Con respecto a la agenda, y puedo decirlo por que he estado en las trincheras, por 224

decirlo así, desde que se fundó la organización hace cinco años se ha discutido bastante sobre lo que RILPAC debía hacer; si involucrarnos en la abogacía o no. La conclusión fue que la meta principal en los primeros cinco años era alcanzar un establecimiento dentro de la política.

Entendimos que había dos grandes organizaciones ocupándose de la defensa de asuntos minoritarios, con servicios de los que no necesitábamos ser parte, más sino firmes contribuidores desde la arena política. En lo que concierne a una agenda, nosotros sabíamos que eventualmente entraríamos en esa parte del desarrollo de la organización".

PE: ¿Cuál es el punto de vista sobre inmigración? ¿Debería darse una amnistía general?

Tomás Ávila: "Diría que es la espina dorsal de todo lo que tiene que ver con la comunidad latina, y desarrollar estrategias sobre como RILPAC contribuiría de manera tangible con este tema".

"No creo que debería darse una amnistía general necesariamente, pero si una resolución migratoria que permita la reunificación familiar. Mi intención es la de reunirme con individuos que están trabajando en estos temas, no tanto lograr una agenda sobre esto. Decir que RILPAC tiene la solución sería mentirte".

PE: Hace unas semanas atrás nos comentó que usted personalmente no cree en la educación bilingüe, sino en la inmersión en el idioma, como fue su experiencia. ¿Apoyaría aún así la educación bilingüe?

Tomás Ávila: "Cuando llegué a los Estados Unidos no había educación bilingüe, y en mi experiencia pienso que fue algo positivo que me dio la oportunidad de aprender el idioma y procesar el aprendizaje de manera más rápida. La educación bilingüe es un debate actual y basándome en mi experiencia apoyaría la inmersión en el idioma".

"Se necesita el programa bilingüe. Una de las rea-lidades de nuestra comunidad es que hay, y es algo bien documentado, gente que llega a este país y es analfabeta. Decir que un analfabeto tendrá éxito en una clase en inglés es una farsa, con una persona que fracasará. Algunos individuos han sido educados avanzadamente en sus idiomas y no necesitan del programa".

Tomás Ávila reveló que, a pesar de haberse registrado como demócrata, se considera una persona independiente y conservadora en la política. "Cuando me hice ciudadano estadounidense, una de las primeras experiencias que quise tener fue participar del sistema político. Me registré como demócrata y me cuestione a mi mismo el por qué lo era", explicó, compa-rando los partidos políticos de Honduras con los de Estados Unidos.

De acuerdo con el presidente de RILPAC, el Partido Liberal es prácticamente como el Partido Demócrata, y el Partido Nacional es como el Partido Republicano.

PE: Podría decirse que hasta el año 1999, el Partido Republicano ignoraba a las minorías (sin medidas necesariamente en contra, más sino con una actitud de que harían lo que tenían que hacer y si los hispanos querían votaban por ellos), mientras que el Partido Demócrata prometía mejoras para los latinos, sin preparar a futuros candidatos latinos y sin ceder posiciones de poder. ¿Está de acuerdo con este análisis general?

Tomás Ávila: "Correcto. Mi envolvimiento político ha sido más a nivel comunitario, en lugar de enfocarme alrededor de los partidos políticos, y en gran parte es por el escenario que describe. Mi 225

creencia es que mientras nosotros confinemos a la comunidad a un partido político quedaremos ignorados".

PE: Los demócratas piensan que tienen al voto latino comprado.

Tomás Ávila: "Si ves lo que sucede en el escenario nacional, porque el partido demócrata fue muy autocomplaciente con las minorías, y en particular con la comunidad latina, se ha visto un aumento en el reclutamiento del Partido Republicano, con atención a los latinos".

PE: Un gran primer paso de los demócratas en el estado ha sido el nombramiento de Melba Depeña. ¿Es una reacción local a lo que sucede a nivel nacional o es el comienzo del partido entrenando a futuros candidatos?

Tomás Ávila: "Tenemos que tener cuidado y alegrarnos del nombramiento. Es un gran cumplido y honor que se haya nombrado a Melba Depeña a esa posición. Hay que tener cuidado por que es un comienzo y tiene que tener un periodo de prueba. Tenemos que asegurarnos que será el comienzo de pasos futuros, y que se le darán las herramientas necesarias [a Depeña] para que logre lo que se espera de ella".

PE: Con posiciones firmes sobre representantes latinos e inmigración.

Tomás Ávila: "Exacto, especialmente por que [Melba Depeña] entiende el proceso político en la comunidad latina y americana. Una de las herramientas que necesitará, es un apoyo que incluya una agenda sólida de asuntos minoritarios. Por eso me alegra la nominación, aunque hay que tener cuidado con el partido demócrata".

PE: ¿Qué representantes estatales hacen un buen trabajo?

Tomás Ávila: "Creo que el alcalde David Cicilline está realizando un buen trabajo, aunque sé que muchos estarán en desacuerdo conmigo, y he escuchado ciertos comentarios contrarios. Pero, está haciendo el trabajo que necesita realizar para lograr oportunidades para todos".

PE: ¿El Gobernador Don Carcieri?

Tomás Ávila: "Si. Y lo digo por que tanto él como el alcalde son agentes de cambios".

PE: ¿El Fiscal General Patrick Lynch?

Tomás Ávila: "Bueno, sí. Y cuando digo que sí, es por que soy una persona de mucha paciencia y entendimiento. Todos queremos cambios, y ese es un proceso".

PE: ¿El Secretario de Estado Matthew Brown?

Tomás Ávila: "Les doy a todos el beneficio de la duda. Yo vivo el cambio, aceptando que las mejoras consistentes no pueden suceder cuando recién entran en sus oficinas".

PE: La aprobación de los mapas de la redistribución distrital causó que us-tedes iniciaran un proceso legal contra el estado. Luisa Murillo, Yahaira Placencia y Alma Félix Green fueron parte de la junta de aprobación de dichos mapas y, aunque conocían los deseos de la comunidad con respecto a los mapas, decidieron aprobarlos. ¿Estuvieron equivocados estos miembros de la comunidad?

Tomás Ávila: "No diría que están equivocados".

PE: ¿Estuvieron en lo correcto?

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Tomás Ávila: "No necesariamente, pero mi posición en este asunto es que para lograr alcanzar cierto control en la comunidad, se debe seleccionar a personas que entienden el proceso y han participado de él".

PE: ¿No lo entendieron?

Tomás Ávila: "No lo digo por la comisión, sino a nivel organizador, porque la redistribución distrital es un tema complicado".

PE: ¿No estaban calificadas?

Tomás Ávila: "Yo diría que otros individuos, en mi opinión, hubieran hecho un mejor trabajo".

PE: Cuando llegó la hora de una demanda legal, ustedes perdieron el argumento, y ellas sabían que eso sucedería, porque se estaba discutiendo en la comunidad, y luego en seis audiencias públicas.

Tomás Ávila: "Si, ellas lo sabían, pero tendremos otra oportunidad en el 2010, y espero que hayamos aprendido de este proceso para el 2010".

PE: ¿Cree que fue injusto?

Tomás Ávila: "No diría que fue injusto, pero pudo haberse hecho mejor".

La Redistribución Distrital continúa siendo un tema importante dentro de la política local, con una demanda legal pendiente que permitirá se presenten testimonios y la posibilidad de realizar un juicio. La demanda, que arguye que los nuevos distritos senatoriales diluyen el voto afroamericano de manera ilegal, tendrá sus audiencias la primera semana de febrero de 2.004.

Tomás Ávila reveló que en sus preparaciones para la entrevista, hizo una pequeña lista de posibles preguntas. Entre estas, si él, como otros miembros del Comité Latino, planeaba aceptar una posición en el gobierno antes de concluir su posición como presidente de RILPAC. Ávila dice que no.

Por último, el Presidente de RILPAC declinó comentar sobre el breve periodo en que ocupó la dirección de Progreso Latino. Ávila emigró de Honduras a Boston en 1.969. En 1993 se mudaría a Rhode Island, involucrándose en la comunidad latina por espacio de 7 años. Tomás Ávila es casado, y tiene 3 hijos.

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Latino PAC gets new chief Providence Journal Political Scene 01:00 AM EST on Monday, December 1, 2003

BY LIZ ANDERSON, SCOTT MacKAY and KATHERINE GREGG Journal Staff Writers

Tomas Avila is the new president of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee.

A resident of Providence's North End, Avila, 49, is one of the original founders of the Latino PAC. He is a real-estate agent, business consultant, former assistant executive director of the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, and onetime interim director of Progreso Latino.

Close newspaper readers would have spotted his name often in connection with workshops for minority-owned businesses, a series of homebuyers seminars last year entitled "Today's Renters, Tomorrow's Homeowners: Increasing Latino Home Ownership," and political campaigns from Providence to Central Falls.

In his new advocacy role, Avila replaces former RILPAC president Melba D. Depena , who opted not to run for the PAC presidency again, though she will remain on its board of directors as executive vice president.

RILPAC describes itself as "a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities."

Avila said his goal is to continue and then expand upon "the great work that Melba has done . . . as far as getting people out to vote and registering people."

Looking ahead to next fall's elections, Avila said, RILPAC now needs "to start to pay more attention to the legislature," helping potential Latino candidates gear up to run for those seats, and fostering public support for the proposed separation-of-powers amendment to the Constitution that in all likelihood will open scores of seats, now held by legislators, on boards and commissions across state government.

Other RILPAC officers elected last Monday, at the group's annual meeting, included: Domingo

Morel, vice president; Sylvia Bernal, treasurer; Ingrid Ardaya, assistant treasurer; Johanna Petrarca, secretary; Caludia Cardona, assistant secretary and Christopher J. Petrarca, legal affairs adviser. Also elected to the board as at-large members were: state Sen. Juan Pichardo, DProvidence; Nellie Gorbea, administration director for the secretary of state's office; Alberto

Cardona , who works with the Central Falls school department, and Providence College Prof.

Anthony A. Affigne. Daschle holding R.I. fundraiser 228

THE LATINO PAC ELECTS NEW BOARD Providence, RI –At its schedule annual meeting on Monday November 24, the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) elected its 2004-2006 Board of Directors. RILPAC has been very effective in influencing the local political process, by endorsing candidates, mobilizing the Latino voters to get out and vote in support of its endorsed candidates to ensure their victory.

This was evidence during the recent mayoral race in Central Falls, where RILPAC endorsed underdog Charles Moreau who had lost the primary election by 46 votes. With a supply of 20 volunteers and an effective GOTV plan RILAPC galvanized the Latino community in that city to exercise their vote and helped Charles Moreau defeat the incumbent Mayor Lee Mathews.

After votes were tallied, the new Executive Board of Directors is composed as follows: Tomas Avila, President Melba Depeña, Executive Vice President Domingo Morel, Vice President Sylvia Bernal, Treasurer Ingrid Ardaya, Assistant Treasurer Johanna Petrarca, Secretary Claudia Cardona, Assistant Secretary Christopher J. Petrarca, Legal Affairs Advisor Also elected to the Board as At-Large Members were: Hon. Juan Pichardo (D) Providence Senate District 2; Nellie Gorbea, Director of Administration at the Secretary of State’s Office; Alberto Cardona, COZY Director, Central Falls School Department and Tony Affigne, Professor at Providence College.

In his acceptance remarks, Tomas Avila acknowledged the hard work and many achievements of the outgoing Board of Directors, presided by Melba Depena and acknowledge his satisfaction that Depena will remain a part of his team. “I plan to take this organization to the next level by providing a transparent process and to continue to influencing the political process in our state” The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization formed to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island in order to improve the quality of life of Latino and urban communities.

For more information, please contact Melba Depena at 277-5202.. ##

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Endorsement Process Research Analysis Compiled by: Tomﾃ｡s ﾃ」ila September 2004

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Critical Quotes ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 What’ New with RILPAC’s Endorsement? .............................................................................................................. 4 RILPAC ENDORSEMENTS UNDER FIRE ........................................................................................................... 8 Latino PAC Takes Heat For Backing Only One Candidate In 5 .............................................................................. 11 Presidente de RILPAC aclara endosos del grupo político ....................................................................................... 14 Inmadurez política ................................................................................................................................................. 17 RILPAC Endorsement Recommendations Sub-Committee Members: Betty Bernal, Carmen Mirabal, Domingo Morel, Kathy Hellwig, Sabina Matos, Sylvia Bernal, Hector Solis, Doris De Los Santos ............................................................................................................................................................ 19 Invitation Letter .................................................................................................................................................... 20 Reference Material ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ............................................... 22 ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ............................................................................. 23 Minnesota NOW Political Action Committee Endorsement Guidelines .................................................................. 25 A - Endorsed ......................................................................................................................................................... 25 B - Supported .................................................................................................................................................... 25 or ...................................................................................................................................................................... 25 B - Supported .................................................................................................................................................... 25 C - Fair ............................................................................................................................................................. 25 D - Rejected ...................................................................................................................................................... 25 F - Failed .......................................................................................................................................................... 25 NR - Not Rated ................................................................................................................................................. 26 AFSCME COUNCIL 24 WSEU ............................................................................................................................ 27 CRITERIA FOR ENDORSED CANDIDATES ................................................................................................. 27 AFSCME COUNCIL 24 ENDORSEMENT PROCESS ......................................................................................... 28 SEIU LOCAL 415 ENDORSEMENT POLICY ..................................................................................................... 29 Coalition of University Employees (CUE) 32 Candidate Endorsements ................................................................................................................................... 32 Legislative Committee Report and Recommendation for Candidate Endorsement Process ................................... 32 29-August-2004 11: 54: 3 2 .................................................................................................................................. 3 5 Candidate Endorsement Procedure ........................................................................................................................ 36 Green Party Endorsement Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 42 GOP Endorsement Packet ...................................................................................................................................... 44 5th Legislative District Republicans ........................................................................................................................ 47 Endorsement Questionnaire ............................................................................................................................... 48 Primary Election Endorsement Process .................................................................................................................. 51 BPW/PAC Endorsement Process ........................................................................................................................... 52 Rochester Area Right to Life Candidate Endorsement Process ............................................................................... 54 Basic Rights Elect PAC CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS ................................................................... 56 The MoveOn.org PAC Primary and Endorsement Process ..................................................................................... 57 Green Party of Mendocino County (GPOMC) Endorsement Process ...................................................................... 58 WCLA Endorsements: Careful Process .................................................................................................................. 60 Electing Judges: Pro-Choice vs. No-Choice .................................................................................................. 60 Dems Endorsed; Reps Take RTL ................................................................................................................. 61 Ron Stokes for County Court ........................................................................................................................ 61 Political Candidate Endorsements for 2004 ............................................................................................................ 63 Kansas City Chamber of Commerce ...................................................................................................................... 66

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Critical Quotes But RILPAC also plays the curious role of providing a "safe" space for white politicians of both major parties to get exposed to Latinos. The organization has raised eyebrows by endorsing black candidates, most recently by supporting Marsha Carpenter over León Tejada for state representative. In a reflection of internal struggle, RILPAC endorsed both Joe Almeida and his opponent Gonzalo Cuervo.

RILPAC spokespeople have been explicitly describing the links between Latino interests and those of other "urban" communities in public forums.

Shannah Kurland Brown Power vs. Black Power Sinceramente pensé que RILPAC había aprendido de la experiencia de 2002, cuando se impuso un anticriterio personalista en la oferta de apoyo para una candidatura a la Gobernación, apoyando a Myrth York por encima de Sheldon Whitehouse, quien había cultivado una relación de apoyo contínuo a la entidad y había demostrado sin lugar a equivocaciones, su apoyo a los latinos, nombrando en numerosas posiciones a miembros de nuestra comunidad. O sea, que lo que podíamos esperar de él, ya lo estaba haciendo, aunque lo que merecemos no se limite a puestos laborales.

Si se usó un criterio antirepublicano, éste demuestra ser selectivo, desafortunadamente en perjuicio de uno de los nuestros, porque sinceramente no creo que RILPAC sea capaz de negarle apoyo a un político como el Senador Lincoln Chafee, si éste lo requiriera.

Inmadurez política Luis Peralta Providence En Español Viernes 27 de agosto, 2004 El Presidente de la Asociación Social, Cultural y Deportiva Mexicana de Rhode Island, Julio Aragón, expresó mediante un comunicado de prensa, que se había ignorado deliberadamente a las contiendas latinas en los Distritos 11 y 73.

“Nuestros hispanos hoy más que nunca necesitan del apoyo hispano. La cual se les ha ignorado por completo o será que la ética profesional de estos candidatos no está a la altura de esta agrupación política (RILPAC). Que pena no poder apoyar lo nuestro”, concretó Aragón.

Presidente de RILPAC aclara endosos del grupo político Roberto Taboada Providence En Español Viernes 27 de agosto, 2004

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What’ New with RILPAC’s Endorsement?

There is a very popular saying that states: “the more things change, the more they remained the same” and how fitting such saying to RILPAC’s bi-annual endorsement process.

During RILPAC’s first endorsement during the 1998 primaries, the committee endorsed Victor Capellán, District 20 candidate for State Representative, Miguel Luna, City Council candidate in Ward 9's primary, Sheldon Whitehouse for Attorney General, and Senator Paul Tavares candidate for General Treasurer. During the General Election we endorsed Myrth York for Governor, Sheldon Whitehouse for Attorney General, Paul Tavares for General Treasurer, James Langevin for Secretary of State, David Igliozzi for State Senate and Pat Nolan for City Council in District 9.

I remember vividly the discussion about the tight finish in the City Council District 9 between incumbent Pat Nolan and challenger Miguel Luna. This race became the most controversial of all the endorsement decisions since it was a race pitting a first time Latino candidate against an incumbent who had strong support among her constituency and among the members of RILPAC’s first official endorsement committee and the start of what has become a very controversial process that pits friends against each other in a democratic process of endorsing candidates for state and local office who are committed to improving the quality of life for members of the Latino community.

I also remembered the controversy created when State Representative James Langevin was endorsed over Ed Lopez, a Republican Latino running for Secretary of State, Santa Espinosa not being given an opportunity to participate in the endorsement process, because she was an unknown Republican. Just as it has been questioned during this year’s endorsement, the community questioned RILPAC’s commitment to support and elect Latinos, regardless of their party affiliation and gave way to accusations of being a Democratic PAC rather than a nonpartisan institution which needless to say such doubt continues despite the endorsement the first Republican during 2002 and the first Green Candidate in the same year.

As can be seen from this first endorsement, Sheldon Whitehouse was elected Attorney General, Paul Tavares became Rhode Island’s General Treasurer, James Langevin was elected Secretary of State, David Igliozzi became State Senator in the Silver Lake and Pat Nolan was reelected City Council in District 9, setting up a trajectory of supporting winning candidates despite all controversies faced by the organization.

No sooner had the 98 endorsement season ended, we were back at it again during the PAC’s 2 nd endorsement in which we endorsed Juan M. Pichardo Senate District 10, Gonzalo Cuervo, State Representative District 20, Joseph Almeida State Representative District 20 and Marsha Carpenter State Representative District 18's primary elections. Once again RILPAC endorsement was being questioned and criticized. In particular the endorsement of both State Representative District 20 candidates Gonzalo Cuervo and Joseph Almeida, rather than reaching a conclusive and determining decision for either candidate. RILPAC also faced heavy criticism for its endorsement of Marsha Carpenter in Representative District 20 an African American female being challenged by first time Latino candidate Leon Tejada.

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This endorsement season also became very controversial in regards to Angel Taveras candidacy as the first Latino seeking a Congregational seat running against Secretary of State James Langevin, Activist Kaye Coyne-McCoye and Attorney Kevin McAllister. The sentiment in the community and some members of the PAC was very strongly that RILPAC should endorsed Attorney Taveras even though the organization initial board had decided to be a state PAC for the first 5 years. Just like any other races, the membership was divided as to whether the PAC should endorsed Angel or not, and as usual the issue was put for a vote with the outcome not modify the organization’s operations and the decision was made not to endorsed the first Latino congregational candidate.

In 2002 the committee endorsed Myrth York, for Governor, Paul Tavares for General Treasurer, Matt Brown for Secretary of State, Patrick Lynch for Attorney General, Juan Pichardo for State Senator, District 2, Jeff Toste for Senate District 5, David Cicilline for Mayor City of Providence, Miguel Luna City Council and Stephen Laffey for Mayor City of Cranston.

During this election season, the heated endorsement was the Democratic gubernatorial race between Myrth York and Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, which was narrowly decided in favor of Myrth York, creating voting controversy once again among the voting members and even caused the loosing side to form their own RILPAC supporters for Sheldon Whitehouse and going as far as organizing a press conference to announce their support for Sheldon, and their disappointment that the general membership did not endorsed Mr. Whitehouse.

Needless to say despite individual members claims that Myrth’s endorsement was obtained by their individual efforts, RILPAC’s endorsement of Myrth during the 1998 gubernatorial elections and Sheldon Whitehouse for Attorney General shows that both candidates had a track record of supporters in the organization prior to the 2002 endorsement process. This also shows the evolution of the endorsement process, since Sheldon Whitehouse was considered a favorite by the majority of the PAC. As can be seen so far, the experience faced during our 2004-endorsement process is nothing new or nothing different than in the past, but what has been consistent in this process is the evolution of the participants in the election process quite interestingly producing the same results and the same controversies. Looking at the participating embers in this year endorsement committee, the only members that remain participating in the process from the inception of the PAC are yours truly and Betty Bernal other tan that the participant have changed throughout the years which is a positive, but at the same time it has not allowed the process to evolve and mature with the agenda needs of the community rather than personal agendas. It’s my opinion that if many of the senior members of the organization will remain active in the process while new membership keeps the organization growing and evolving the results may be different.

First of all I like to thank Tony for taking the initiative and starting the conversation regarding this matter. Secondly I like to say that I agree totally with your assessment of the matter.

As I stated prior to the voting, “every single one of us” have a personal agenda as to why we are members of this organization and why we invest the time that we do as active members and participants of the endorsement process. As I also stated that night my agenda “is the political empowerment of the Latino community, and as I shared with members of the labor movement, “to protect what we have and elect as many Latino as we can”, but needless to say living in a democratic system and dealing with a democratic process within RILPAC, I like every other 234

member should respect the decision of the voting majority and the decision of the voting results.

This is the right thing to do and the democratic principle to respect.

I have spoken to many of the members of the endorsement committee and I’m aware of their disappointment with individuals who as soon as the voting was over called their particular candidates and reported to them their PERCEPTION as to who voted against them and then proceeded to create suspicion of the democratic process that took place in the endorsement voting, obviously this behavior leaves a lot to be desire of the professional ethics of these individuals and their commitment to the organization, the community the integrity of the process.

Let me assure you that there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that the endorsement voting was open, fair and democratic as it has been since the inception of the PAC. Let me also assure you that just like it has taken place since the beginning, there were individuals who promised and guaranteed endorsements to particular candidates and just like before, these same individuals are the ones trying to discredit the process and the organization.

I call this individuals to stop thinking about themselves and their dissatisfaction of not delivering their unmet promises and join the rest of the members that accept the fact that none of us is BIGGER than the organization and as such respect the choices made by the majority which is the appropriate and ethical decision to make.

As you may be aware I have been fielding many different interviews with the local media and many residents from the community, and I am very happy to report that beside the doubts that the disenchanted members have brought forward, the question that I am getting asked the most are: why RILPAC did not endorsed any of the candidates in district 11? Why RILPAC did not endorsed Senator Juan Pichardo? and why RILPAC did not endorsed David Quiroa? Needless to say once I explain the process we arrived to such decisions, most people have been understanding and receptive of the process utilized to arrive to our decision. They have also been very grateful of my openness, accessibility and willingness to discuss and clarify the perception with the reality.

I have also spoken with David Quiroa whom although disappointed that the committee chose not to endorse him, he expressed his surprise about the support the endorsement controversy has developed for his campaign and the interesting synergies developed among individuals who have personal disagreements, coming together around his campaign and their commitment to support him. Obviously there is a silver lining of not being endorsed by the PAC. To end let me say that in my opinion the best “democracy” offers is the freedom to agree to disagree while respecting the decision of the majority and if we truly believe in democracy lets accept the decision produced by a democratic process and let us now FOCUS our energies to helping elect the candidates our organization endorsed. Let’s concentrate our minds in considering what we need to improve in order to change the outcome; shall we consider automatic endorsements of individuals with proven track records? Shall we interview every previously endorsed candidate every 2 years? Shall we keep track of Legislative voting record? Shall we develop a Latino agenda to compare Legislative agendas to? Let’s move on, very soon 2006 will be here and we SHALL do it again.

Tomás Alberto Ávila President 235

RILPAC ENDORSEMENTS UNDER FIRE

By Ana Cabrera Providence American The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, (RILPAC) a group that established itself about more than a decade ago in hopes of influencing political outcomes, last week held its yearly reunion at the Hi Hat lounge in Providence. But while a fair contingent of politicians showed up, some present noted that there were fewer members of the community itself attending than in prior years.

So is the group losing steam, or has it crystallized itself into a smaller, albeit more influential body? It’s anybody’s guess, because this year there was some infighting within the ranks, most notably over the issue of the PAC’s endorsements and the process used by the group to grant them. Some in the community believe that any Latino candidate should get the nod because they think the group should support their own. However, some within the PAC say that there should be more to these endorsements, that they should go to any candidate who espouses the causes of interest to Latinos.

This year, RILPAC endorsed the Green Party’s Jeff Toste, Senatorial candidate in district 5; Democrat Andy Galli, Senatorial candidate in district 7, incumbent Rep. Thomas Slater (DDistrict 7) and Republican Cranston Mayor Steven Laffey. They also endorsed Pedro Espinal in his Senate District 6 bid against fellow Democrats Harold Metts and Chris Lopes.

The PAC, however, did not endorse the candidacy of incumbent Rep. Luis Tejada (DProvidence) or his Democratic challengers, Grace Diaz and Richardson Ogidan. They also did not give the nod to Republican David Quiroa, who was challenging incumbent Rep. Maxine BradfordShavers in District 73. Tejada, Diaz and Ogidan all went through the questioning process, as did Quiroa: Bradford-Shavers did not.

The official answer to why they did not endorse in either case is that the votes just were not there. But Quiroa says there were more reasons why he did not get the green light. He claims that he suffers from geographic discrimination, because the bulk of RILPAC members live closer to Providence and simply have no interest in other parts of the state. Further, Quiroa has been quoted as saying that the PAC told him they were unlikely to support his candidacy against the Democrat Shavers.

Quiroa says he does not believe one bit that the group is non-partisan. “I think they are heavily philosophically controlled by the labor party wing of the Democratic party and the unions, and the status quo of the Democratic leadership. That’s my personal opinion and I stand by that.”

“What’s going on with the endorsement is that the process works,” said Pablo Rodriguez, one of the founders of RILPAC, who said he did not participate in the process this time around and denied anything less than a bipartisan effort, pointing out the Laffey and Toste endorsements as proof that the PAC will support candidates from other parties.

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But some have criticized that same process this year because only about a dozen or so RILPAC members actually participated in the endorsement interview and voting proceedings, representing a miniscule fraction of the more than 100,000 Latinos who live in the state.

Historically, many of this state’s Latinos vote Democrat, and some have charged that RILPAC, which is supposed to be non-partisan, has always shown a bent towards the Democrats.

Party chair Bill Lynch said he knew nothing about partisanship within RILPAC, but added that “the philosophy of the Democratic party and the philosophy of RILPAC are one and the same: working families, education, diversity, assisting people who need help” so he thought it natural that many members would support his party.

But several Republicans who were present at the RILPAC funder noted that their party is looking to change the situation not just in RILPAC, but within the entire state.

Governor Donald L. Carcieri said, “We are trying to reach out, frankly, because we have such an imbalance, partisan wise. We need debate…that’s not fair to the voters, that they have no choice.”

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian agrees. “The goal is to find quality people.” Avedisian, who is seeking re-election this November, said he hoped to enlist the support of Latinos in his community towards that end.

Ditto for Cranston Mayor Steven Laffey, a man who that evening seemed to be almost continually surrounded by a small flock of certain RILPAC members. There has been some criticism levied against RILPAC in the past for allegedly cutting back room endorsement deals with some political figures in exchange for employment of a member of their ranks. Both Laffey and Pablo Rodriguez denied that any such promises had been made this year in exchange for the PAC’s endorsement or in the past, for that matter.

Rodriguez said that Laffey was endorsed because he gave the right answers to the questions posed to him by the PAC and his history of hiring Latinos.

Some of Laffey’s critics within the community, however, point out that even though Laffey indeed took on Latinos for city jobs, none have been very high paying positions.

Republican Congressional candidate David Rogers said that it has been very tough for the party to figure out what is the central mission of the organization. This year, he says, they have decided to break the Democratic stranglehold by simply recruiting more candidates to run in all races. He pointed to the support that Republicans have found within Miami’s Cuban community, adding he believes this phenomenon could happen here in Rhode Island. Rogers commented on RILPAC’s traditionally Democratic leanings, saying that “as long as one organization allows itself to be one sided, the party that it caters to knows it does not have to work for those votes.”

The night also gave an opportunity to speak with some politicians about their future plans.

One such person was Secretary of State Matt Brown, about whom there has been speculation he might run against Senator Lincoln Chafee in two years. But when asked this question outright, Secretary Brown guffawed aloud, and hemmed a little before stating that he was “entirely focused” 237

on this upcoming election and doing continuing work to make government more accountable. He did not, however, deny the rumor.

It was a night to ask Greg Gerritt of the Green Party whether or not Ralph Nader’s continued candidacy upsets the apple cart for Democratic candidates. “I’m not supporting Nader this year,” said Gerritt, who blamed what he called the outdated electoral college system, not third party candidates, for what happened during the last election.

But Providence City Councillor Luis Aponte disagrees with Gerritt, saying that he wholeheartedly believes in the two-party system.

At the end of the evening, The Providence American was finally able to corral RILPAC president Tomas Avila for a quiet one on one chat. Avila pointed out that RILPAC is not geographically situated, noting that the group endorsed Woonsocket candidates in the past.

“As far as I know, nobody from the PAC is going to work for Mayor Laffey,” Avila said laughingly when questioned about whether or not a deal had been cut to that effect. When pressed further about the perceived public notion that two of RILPAC’s past presidents (Nellie Gorbea and Melba DePena) have gone on to politically bigger and better things as a result of deals cut by the group, Avila denied that this had been the case and emphatically stated that he did not have any such plans in his future.

“What I am looking for is what I have done for the last six years,” said Avila, “to empower the Latino community, to influence the political process as the mission of RILPAC calls for. That is what I will do for the two years of my presidency.”

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Latino PAC Takes Heat For Backing Only One Candidate In 5 01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, September 7, 2004

BY TATIANA PINA Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE -- The question on listeners' minds is the recent candidate endorsements made by the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee, so Dr. Pablo Rodriguez goes right to the point in his talk show.

The endorsements, or lack thereof, have tongues wagging on the airwaves and over the Internet, he says on Hablemos (Let's Talk) on Exitos 88.1 FM (WELH).

The Spanish-language talk-show host has invited mostly Providence candidates for the General Assembly to a "political barbecue" out in the backyard of the radio station in Cranston.

The first four candidates to show -- Grace Diaz, running for House District 11; Wilbur Jennings, running in House District 10; Leo Medina, running in House District 12, and David Quiroa, running in House District 73, in Newport, all have one thing in common.

"None of them was endorsed by RILPAC. That's the show right there," jokes Rodriguez, who once served as president of the Latino PAC. "Why weren't these people endorsed?" Rodriguez asks.

RILPAC endorsed five candidates: Jeff Toste from the Green Party, in House District 5; Democrat Andy Galli, in House District 7; Democrat Rep. Thomas Slater, House District 10; Republican Stephen Laffey, incumbent mayor of Cranston, and Democrat Pedro Espinal, House District 6.

Espinal was the only Latino who was endorsed.

No one was endorsed in the House District 11 primary race in Providence, one of the hottest races.

There, Diaz, a political newcomer and a Democrat, is challenging Democrat incumbent Rep. Luis Tejada. Both are Dominican. The race has heated up as Tejada has been challenged by Diaz supporters and fined by the state Board of Elections for not reporting campaign finances. Both are regular guests on Spanish-language radio programs.

Diaz said RILPAC did the right thing by not endorsing a candidate in District 11. "Their regulations require a consensus and they could not come to one," she says. "What's important for District 11 is that people have more options when they go to vote."

When Tomas Avila, the president of RILPAC, arrives, Rodriguez tells him he is in the hot seat.

The backyard is getting filled with candidates and people who have come to watch.

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Avila said that neither Tejada nor Diaz garnered a majority of votes from RILPAC members to receive the endorsement. But he has taken heat because it's an important race, he says.

He said that RILPAC members plan to meet after the elections to talk about the endorsement process and what to do when members reach a verdict similar to the one for District 11. Does it matter if you get endorsed by RILPAC? After all, Tejada won without RILPAC's endorsement.

"The fact that people are upset by the endorsements means it's important to them," Avila says.

When David Quiroa, of Newport, a Republican who will challenge the winner of the Democratic primary for District 73, did not get endorsed, there was a groundswell of e-mails decrying the fact.

How could they not endorse a man who has worked with the Latino community and is making history by running? asked Julio Aragon, of the Mexican-American Association.

"David, there was a lot of controversy about you," Rodriguez says. "All those e-mails."

"I'M IN THE EYE of the hurricane," Quiroa says. "It's good that there is this type of energy. I did absolutely everything I had to do for the endorsement. I spent three hours on the essay."

Quiroa says that his candidacy is historic in Newport, a middle-class, Anglo community where a Guatemalan from the Republican Party has dared to run for office. Quiroa said Governor Carcieri asked him to run.

So it was a surprise to him when he went before the 12 or so members of RILPAC's endorsement committee and they spent more time talking about his participation in the Republican Party than what he stood for.

Avila says he stopped the talk "when I saw the direction it was going in." In the end, the members did not want to endorse Quiroa.

Asked whether the majority of RILPAC members are Democrat, Avila said that they reflect the state. Back in February, Avila said that he approached the Republican Party seeking members to join RILPAC to make the process more balanced, but as yet no one has approached the group.

In other primary races, such as Senate District 2 between incumbent Juan Pichardo and Rochelle Lee, and House District 12 between incumbent Joseph Almeida and Medina, none of the candidates turned in papers seeking endorsement. Avila said that in all, 21 candidates turned in endorsement papers. After the talk show, Avila said that among the questions he has heard most is whether RILPAC is going to endorse Latino candidates. As it stands now, the organization endorses candidates whom it judges would best represent the interests of Latinos -- and that's not necessarily Latino candidates.

"This controversy goes way back to when we started, and Republican Ed Lopez ran for secretary of state and we did not endorse him. It has always been a question, and we are going to have to talk about it and decide what we need to do to respond to the community's desire," he said.

Among the other candidates who attended were Ed Morabito, a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District; Harold Metts, candidate in Senate District 6; Rep. Joseph Almeida, DDistrict 12, in Providence; Rep. Anastasia Williams, D-District 9, in Providence; Slater; Tejada, 240

Presidente de RILPAC aclara endosos del grupo político Roberto Taboada Providence En Español Viernes 27 de agosto, 2004 Con respecto a elegir latinos, slogan de campañas recientes, Tomás Avila dice que el hecho de haberse endosado a más a anglosajones que latinos muestra la madurez del grupo PROVIDENCE – Los endosos del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island se dieron a conocer el pasado jueves 19 de agosto, luego que se decidiera apoyar a cinco candidatos. Que el endoso de 4 anglosajones y un solo latino hayan tomado lugar no despertó tanta inquietud como el acuerdo de la membresía de no involucrarse en disputadas contiendas, como los son la que se llevan a cabo en los Distritos 11 y 73 por la Cámara de Representantes.

En estas contiendas participan candidatos hispanos, quienes respondieron al cuestionario del Comité Latino y fueron entrevistados por aproximadamente doce de sus miembros.

El Comité Latino endosaría a Jeff Toste, candidato al Senado Estatal por el Distrito 5; Andrew Galli, candidato al Senado Estatal por el Distrito 7; al Representante del Distrito 10 de Providence, Thomas Slater, quien busca la reelección; y al Alcalde de Cranston, el Republicano Stephen Laffey.

Casi de manera inmediata, uno de los fundadores del Comité Latino o RILPAC envío el anuncio de un evento pro-fondos para uno de los endosados, Pedro Espinal, quien se ha postulado al nuevo Distrito Senatorial 6 de Providence.

El evento, auspiciado por el Dr. Pablo Rodríguez y el Comité para elegir a Pedro Espinal en el Distrito 6, se llevó a cabo esta semana.

Los endosos causaron gran controversia, ya que el Comité Latino optó por no endosar a uno de los tres pre-candidatos por el Distrito 11 de la Cámara de Representantes, donde el actual Representante León Tejada busca la reelección, enfrentando a dos oponentes, la proveedora de cuidado infantil, Grace Díaz, y el político afro-americano, Richardson Ogidan.

Los tres candidatos se sometieron al riguroso proceso del Comité Latino, más ni obtuvieron la respuesta que esperaban ni una explicación satisfactoria sobre lo sucedido.

El Presidente de la Asociación Social, Cultural y Deportiva Mexicana de Rhode Island, Julio Aragón, expresó mediante un comunicado de prensa, que se había ignorado deliberadamente a las contiendas latinas en los Distritos 11 y 73.

“Nuestros hispanos hoy más que nunca necesitan del apoyo hispano. La cual se les ha ignorado por completo o será que la ética profesional de estos candidatos no está a la altura de esta agrupación 241

política (RILPAC). Que pena no poder apoyar lo nuestro”, concretó Aragón.

Desde el anuncio de los endosos, el Presidente de RILPAC, Tomás Avila, se mantuvo disponible, en un esfuerzo por aclarar las decisiones del grupo político.

Según Avila, el proceso al que se someten los candidatos se llevó a cabo con suma democracia.

Sin embargo, y aunque lo aseguró a nuestro semanario en más de una ocasión, dijo por igual que existen fallas que serán cambiadas en los próximos meses.

No quedó claro cuantos de los 41 miembros de RILPAC votaron, pero sí que fue un número impar que claramente no impedía que se proporcione el endoso o se niegue, de acuerdo al número de votos.

Avila, no obstante –a pesar de confirmar estos datos, y más específicamente en las contiendas por los Distritos 11 y 73– se limitó a decir que el grupo simplemente decidió no endosar en dichas campañas.

“Muchos de los temas que se discuten son por un desconocimiento de nuestro proceso. No es relevante el porcentaje de votos que se dieron, sino que el comité decidió no endosar”, dijo Avila, añadiendo que en las mencionadas contiendas hubo, además del cuestionario y las entrevistas, una reñida discusión.

Sobre esto, el candidato del Partido Republicano en el distrito 73 de Newport, David Quiroa, dijo que las razones del Comité Político se debían a la existencia de dos bandos dentro de esta organización, uno que apoya a los sindicatos y otro que es tradicionalmente demócrata.

Quiroa informó a Providence en Español que otras de las razones presentadas por miembros del grupo político tuvieron que ver con el hecho de que el candidato es republicano, y que a pesar de ser latino, no se contribuiría con una campaña destinada a quitarle el puesto a un demócrata (la representante demócrata Maxine Shavers).

Quiroa, oriundo de Guatemala, se mostró confundido ante el largo interrogatorio de los miembros de RILPAC sobre las razones por las cuales es miembro del Partido Republicano de Rhode Island.

El candidato dijo que más de la mitad de la entrevista se enfocó en ello, en lugar de su historial de apoyo a causas comunitarias.

“Ellos tienen el derecho, pero pasé por el proceso, fui a la entrevista, y pensé que tenía buenas oportunidades. Creo que no fue así, ya que soy republicano. Más de la mitad de la entrevista fue un repaso de lo mismo que ya había respondido, de por qué era republicano. No fue sino hasta que Tomás Avila intercedió y pidió un cambio de tema, empezando a hablar sobre asuntos inmigrantes”, dijo Quiroa.

El Alcalde Stephen Laffey, prominente miembro del Partido Republicano, no recibiría el mismo trato.

Pero Tomás Avila asegura que el proceso es democrático y no solo un camino más para elegir a miembros del Partido Demócrata. Avila confirmó que existen tendencias pro-sindicales dentro de RILPAC, pero que es sólo uno de los elementos dentro del grupo político.

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“Se que hay una influencia laboral en el grupo, y fui firme ante eso, para asegurar que no interfiera con el proceso”, dijo Avila.

Con respecto al caso de David Quiroa, comentó: “Hay una falla en el proceso y espero arreglarla. Si un candidato se toma el tiempo para llenar el cuestionario, va a la entrevista, y los demás no se presentan ni llenan el cuestionario, para mí, Tomas Avila, el candidato que si lo hizo debe ser endosado”.

“La mayoría no quiso endosarlo, a pesar de su envolvimiento con la comunidad. Parte del problema con el proceso, desafortunadamente, y quiero ser claro, es que muchos se alejan y no se comprometen con el 'PAC', es así que llegan nuevos miembros, sin la estabilidad necesaria, y sin un conocimiento consistente sobre los candidatos. En el caso de David Quiroa algunos lo conocen, pero otros no”, dijo, asegurando que ha hablado con David Quiroa, y que “cree fuertemente en el fortalecimiento de la comunidad latina que va más allá del compromiso verbal, sino actual, y lo ayudaré en su campaña como pueda”.

Por último, no todo fueron malas reacciones, el Alcalde de la ciudad de Cranston, Stephen Laffey, celebró que se le haya endosado una vez más, sumando el apoyo de RILPAC, al que le diera la Asociación de Negocios de Guatemala en Cranston, y la Asociación Mexicana de Rhode Island.

Laffey dijo sobre esto: “Gracias por si continuo apoyo, me mantengo decidido en mi compromiso de ofrecerles oportunidades a todos. Su lucha es mi lucha”.

Andrew Galli aseguró desconocer de la controversias que generaran los endosos, más afirmó sentirse sumamente contento con el apoyo del grupo político latino.

Miembros de RILPAC: Melba Depeña, Nellie Gorbea, Matthew Jerzyk, Laura Pérez, Juan M. Pichardo, Pablo Rodríguez, MD, Jhomphy Ventura, Anthony Affigne, Luis Aponte, Ingrid Ardaya, José Brito, Ana Cabrera, Alberto Cardona, Claudia Cardona, Daphne Clarcke, Gladys Corvera, Adriana Dawson, María Fernanda Escudero, Ernesto Figueroa, Rosendo Fonsecha, José M. Gonzalez, Catherine Horsey, Patricia Martínez, Roxana C. Parra, Ricardo Patiño, Christopher Petrarca, Johanna Petrarca, Ana-Cecilia Rosado, Héctor R. Solís, Ángel Taveras, Vanesa Toledo, y Laviña Velásquez.

Miembros que participaron del Comité de Endosos: Domingo Morel, Betty Bernal, Sylvia Bernal, Tomas Alberto Ávila, Doris M. De Los Santos, Sabina Matos, y Kathy Hellwig.

(Lista proporcionada por el Presidente del Comité Latino, Tomás Avila).

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Inmadurez política Luis Peralta Providence En Español Viernes 27 de agosto, 2004 La creación del Comité Latino de Acción Política de Rhode Island (RILPAC, siglas en inglés), dio a la comunidad una percepción de poder, ya que la dotó de una imagen distinta a la que habíamos demostrado en lo atinente a activismo político, independientemente de lo que haya logrado.

RILPAC trajo elementos de opinión pública y de propaganda que son útiles en todo proceso de desarrollo político; además nos dio el semblante de una comunidad organizada. Aunque ha sido realmente la comunidad por sí misma la que ha dado el mayor y más claro ejemplo de avance político y de participación en el proceso democrático. No hay mejor demostración de lo dicho, que la campaña política de 2002.

RILPAC sí ha sido, justamente, una fuente continuadora del activismo político. “Fuente continuadora”, porque no es RILPAC la fuente original primaria del desarrollo político organizado de la comunidad latina, ya que ésta tiene una historia cuyas raíces datan de los años 70s y 80s.

RILPAC, refleja en parte lo que es hoy la comunidad latina; pero ha retrazado su madurez institucional, y tal vez de ello, todos somos culpables.

No pienso que RILPAC se niegue a crecer, pero necesita d-e-m-o-c-r-a-t-i-z-a-r su proceso de apoyo, o hundirse en el descrédito y en la insignificancia de sus decisiones. Entre otras cosas, debe simplificar el cuestionario usado por los aspirantes políticos para requerir el apoyo de la organización, el cual, por la naturaleza de las preguntas, obliga a producir ensayos con los cuales podría escribirse un volumen bastante extenso. La parte del proceso que corresponde a las entrevistas, debe tener primacía, pero los entrevistadores no deben tener fauces carnívoras, sino la serenidad de la tole-rancia, de manera que las ideas ajenas, el modo de pensar o simpatizar políticamente, tanto de quienes buscan “apoyo” como de quienes lo ofrecen, sean racionalmente respetadas, independientemente de las diferencias.

Sugiero un proceso que se acerque por lo menos a una toma de decisión democrática, donde no sea un grupito de interesados, con posiciones y pensamientos únicos, quienes tomen decisiones a nombredelacomunidadlatina.Seríaoportunocomenzarporlimitarlapermanenciadelos miembros del Subcomité de Apoyo a solamente dos años, evite el grupismo y la imposición de intereses particulares

de modo que no sean perpetuos y se

. Que las entrevistas sean conducidas por los miembros del mencionado subcomité, pero que sean hechas garantizando el acceso a los miembros de RILPAC, de manera que los entrevistadores sean facilitadores del proceso, pero que sean todos los miembros presentes quienes seleccionen por votación, a los pre-candidatos que requieran ser apoyados.

Sinceramente pensé que RILPAC había aprendido de la experiencia de 2002, cuando se impuso un anticriterio personalista en la oferta de apoyo para una candidatura a la Gobernación, apoyando a Myrth York por encima de Sheldon Whitehouse, quien había cultivado una relación 244

de apoyo contínuo a la entidad y había demostrado sin lugar a equivocaciones, su apoyo a los latinos, nombrando en numerosas posiciones a miembros de nuestra comunidad. O sea, que lo que podíamos esperar de él, ya lo estaba haciendo, aunque lo que merecemos no se limite a puestos laborales.

Con relación a este reciente proceso de apoyo, no discuto la certeza, y en algún caso, la justicia de las decisiones tomadas, pero es discutible y difícil de explicar la ausencia de decisión concerniente a los distritos congresionales 11 y 73. En el Distrito 11, desde mi punto de vista, entiendo, a partir de mi explicación anterior, por qué no se apoyó a uno de los tres aspirantes, aunque desafortunadamente ello demuestra oquedad o vacío institucional.

En el Distrito 73, donde David Quiroa es aspirante republicano, creo que debe ser motivo de debate público, ya que todo indica que a éste se le negó el apoyo por su cercanía al Gobernador (Donald) Carcieri, y su preferencia política republicana. Seguro dirán que el anti republicanismo a que aludo es insustentable, puesto de que el Alcalde (Stephen) Laffey [R-Cranston] recibió el apoyo. Bueno, Laffey es acreedor de apoyo, pero existe una correspondencia inevitable entre acreedores y deudores. Los unos no existen sin los otros. Si se usó un criterio antirepublicano, éste demuestra ser selectivo, desafortunadamente en perjuicio de uno de los nuestros, porque sinceramente no creo que RILPAC sea capaz de negarle apoyo a un político como el Senador Lincoln Chafee, si éste lo requiriera. Aunque tal vez existe otra visión que no tiene nada que ver con política ni con beneficios a favor de la comunidad.

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RILPAC Endorsement Recommendations Sub-Committee Members: Betty Bernal, Carmen Mirabal, Domingo Morel, Kathy Hellwig, Sabina Matos, Sylvia Bernal, Hector Solis, Doris De Los Santos Working Notes: Process Announcement: A general outline of the endorsement process and schedule will be publicly announced.

Endorse the following Offices: No less than 5 and no more than 10 districts chosen by RILPAC members.

Dual endorsements: A dual endorsement may be considered, however to emphasize RILPAC’s intention to avoid dual endorsements (except in the rarest situations) such action will require the majority vote of the endorsements and the executive committees.

Endorsement Levels: endorsed, neutral, not endorsed Endorsement Process: 1. Questionnaires are sent out to all candidates July 20th; 2004 2. Candidates are invited to half-hour "meet the PAC" sessions. August 2nd – 6th (15 minutes candidates give their prepared comments, 15 minutes wide-open questions from RILPAC members) 3.

Copies of the questionnaire responses are available to all PAC members at the "meet the PAC" sessions.

4.

ALL eligible (active) RILPAC members may vote on all candidates, except for those RILPAC members who are themselves a candidate, employed by a candidate or who are directly working as a volunteer for a candidate’s campaign. RILPAC members who fall under these exemptions must abstain from voting for said office.

5.

Voting process: each RILPAC member (present) is given a voting slip with the names of candidates for each office in alphabetical order.

6.

Members individually rank each list of office seekers by office (e.g. you rank order the three or four candidates for a specific office from "1" most worthy of RILPAC support, "2" second most worthy, etc.)

7.

Rankings are tabulated at the meeting and the highest scorer is endorsed for that office.

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Invitation Letter July 20, 2004

«First_Name» «mi» «Last_Name» «no» «Address» «city», RI «Zip_Code» Dear Mr./Ms. «Last_Name»: The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) is dedicated to increasing the participation of the Latino community in the political process and to supporting the candidacy of individuals working to create an inclusive society.

An important part of our work is the public endorsement of individuals who we believe share our goals. As such, we invite you to submit an application to RILPAC for possible endorsement of your candidacy. The process will be open. We have selected offices and races that we believe to be of greatest significance to our community. We invite all interested candidates within those races to submit an application and meet with our membership. Finally, all active RILPAC members will vote for endorsement.

Please find attached an outline of our endorsement process and an application form. Please return the completed form by no later than: July 30th, 2004 to Carmen Mirabal 35 Rand Street, Central Falls, RI 02863

If you have any questions, please email us at: rilpac@yahoo.com

Sincerely,

Carmen Mirabal Chair, Endorsement Committee Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee

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Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee

RILPAC Endo rsement Questionnai re Candidate Information: Name: ____________________________________ Party Affiliation:________________ Address: __________________________________ Office Sought: _________________ Total Funds Raised to Date: _______ Phone: ____________________________________ (candidate $) ___________________ Fax: ______________________________________ (PACs $) ______________________ Email: ___________________________________ (other $) Education: Work History:

Public Offices Held: Prior (Successful/Unsuccessful) Campaigns

Topics: For each of the seven topics listed below submit a response (not to exceed one page per topic) with: 路 路 路

Your analysis of the recent history / current status of this issue.

Your personal track record (submit addenda as appropriate) with this issue.

Your plans (should you be elected) for this issue

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

School Funding Bi-Lingual Education Health Care Access Government Funded Services and the Undocumented Government Funded Services and Limited English Speakers Public Safety and the Latino Community Economic Development and the Latino Community

Final Question: Submit a response (not to exceed one page) to the question: Why should RILPAC support your candidacy?

Candidate Signature / Date

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Reference Material

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Endorsement Of Candidates For Public Office Candidate Endorsement Each year, prior to the final filing date for a Primary Election, the President may convene the Membership for the purpose of endorsing candidates for State and Federal public office.

Establishment and Purpose of Endorsement Committee At a regular meeting of the Membership, prior to any meeting at which a vote may be taken to endorse a candidate or candidates for Public Office, the President shall appoint a special committee of no more than eleven (11) nor less than seven (7) members to prepare resumes of various candidates and lay down rules of procedure for endorsement votes; which rules shall not restrict free and open debate or prohibit caucuses. These appointments shall be approved by a majority of the Membership.

Duties of Candidate Endorsement Committee The Candidate Endorsement Committee shall propose such voting procedures as they deem most likely to achieve the greatest possible consensus vote of the Membership: The Candidate Endorsement Committee's proposed rules of procedure shall be subject to amendment by majority vote of members present prior to the commencement of any Endorsement proceedings, but shall not be amended further without an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present once the Endorsement proceedings commence.

The Candidate Endorsement Committee shall require a final Roll Call vote before an endorsement may be considered official, regardless of the preliminary or subsequent voting mechanisms used to establish the greatest possible consensus of the Membership.

Nomination Papers Whenever it is necessary for a candidate to file Nomination Papers with the Board of Canvasser in order to appear as a candidate of the Party at the November election, that candidate must first receive the endorsement of the Membership, by majority vote as evidenced by the signatures of the Chairman and Secretary, prior to the circulation of such Nomination Papers.

Cooperative Responsibilities a) Support of Endorsed Candidates Endorsed Candidates shall be obliged to support all Endorsed Candidates of RILPAC. b) Circulation of Nomination Papers Endorsed Candidates shall cause to be circulated only Nomination Papers containing the names of all Endorsed Candidates of RILPAC, where legally permitted. c) Prohibition on Obstruction Endorsed Candidates shall refrain from obstructing Endorsed Candidates, Resolutions of the Membership or The Party Principles.

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Revocation of Endorsement of Candidate for Public Office a) A Motion to revoke the nomination of a candidate for Public Office may be considered in order if 1) an Ethics Committee investigation results in the recommendation to revoke a candidate's endorsement , or 2) a petition to revoke endorsement, signed by one-third (1/3) of the members, excluding vacancies, is presented to the State President or 3) a petition containing the signatures, printed names, addresses and voting districts of 25% of the Party Membership is presented to the State President. b) Should such a motion be in order, the President shall call a Special Meeting to consider the revocation of endorsement of the particular candidate, or shall include notice of the impending motion in the Agenda sent two weeks prior to an already scheduled meeting. c) If such motion is presented without required notice at a Regular Meeting, it shall not pass unless three-fourths (3/4) of the Members present vote to rescind the previous endorsement vote. d) If such motion is presented at a Special Meeting called for that purpose and two weeks notice was provided or the notice provisions were suspended by Emergency Vote, a twothirds (2/3) of Members present shall be sufficient to rescind the candidate's previous endorsement vote. e) A vote to rescind an endorsement shall not be official until a Roll Call Vote is taken, regardless of any preliminary balloting mechanisms used to ensure consensus on the matter.

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Minnesota NOW Political Action Committee Endorsement Guidelines Adopted by the Minnesota NOW State Board 4/25/98 Whereas the Minnesota NOW Political Action Committee (hereafter referred to as the "PAC") recognizes the following 6 core issues: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

ratification of an unamended Equal Rights Amendment repeal of all laws restricting safe, legal abortion protection of lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender civil rights eliminating racism freedom from violence opposition to punitive welfare reform

Therefore be it resolved that the PAC adopt the following criteria (commonly known as the PAC Scale) in evaluating a candidate’s positions for the purpose of determining their grade based on the 6 core issues and the platform issues (hereafter collectively referred to as "our issues"): A - Endorsed · · ·

Solid on all 6 core issues, Good on all of platform issues, and Takes leadership on our issues.

B - Supported · ·

Supports 5 of the 6 core issues, and Takes leadership on our issues. or

B - Supported · ·

Solid on all 6 core issues, and Has not demonstrated leadership on our issues.

C - Fair · ·

Supports 4 of the 6 core issues, and Mixed on platform issues.

D - Rejected

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·

Opposed to 2 or more of the 6 core

issues. F - Failed · ·

Opposed to 2 or more of the 6 core issues, and/or Takes prominent leadership in opposition to any of our issues.

NR - Not Rated · · ·

Not a serious candidate, or Candidate is seeking a poor rating to promote opposition to any of our issues, or The PAC feels the candidate is unsuitable in any way.

Be it further resolved that the Minnesota NOW PAC may: 1. Endorese A's, 2. Support A's and B's when: A. money is needed (there is a contest and the campaign is not overfunded), and 1.) the opponent has a lower rating on the PAC Scale, or 2.) the candidacy is viable, or 3.) the candidate has a leadership of importance to us, or 4.) the candidate’s opponent has a leadership position of importance to us or has been effective in opposing any of our issues.

3. Support C’s when: A. there is a request from a local NOW Chapter to be allowed to raise local money on behalf of the candidate, and B. money is needed (there is a contest and the campaign is not overfunded), and 1.) the opponent has a lower rating on the PAC Scale, or 2.) the candidacy is viable, or 3,) the candidate has a leadership position of importance to us, or 4.) the candidate’s opponent has a leadership position of importance to us or has been effective in opposing any of our issues, or 5.) the candidate has a leadership position which can help us and will not be detrimental to any of our issues.

Endorsement - includes the use of the Minnesota NOW PAC name and may include any or all of the benefits listed under "support" below.

Support - may include the use of the Minnesota NOW membership list and labels, permission to purchase an ad in the Minnesota NOW Times, a PAC contribution, listing as a graded candidate in the Minnesota NOW Times and volunteer help from Minnesota NOW members on an organized basis.

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A F SC ME C OU NC I L 24 W S E U STATE EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE MICHAEL A. SANSONE, CHAIRMAN CRITERIA FOR ENDORSED CANDIDATES In the interest of providing a meaningful and reasonable recommendation for endorsement from all of the WSEU affiliated local unions the below criteria is suggested by SEPAC. These same criteria will be utilized by SEPAC in order to achieve a uniform and fair review of the recommendation(s).

Not all criteria has to be utilized by local unions and/or SEPAC but it is suggested to adhere to as many of the criteria as possible when making a recommendation for endorsement.

Accountability 1. Candidate questionnaire and campaign profile 2. Candidate interviews 3. Candidates past relationship with labor (including union membership) Organizational Interests 1. Ability for labor to make a difference in the campaign outcome 2. Union density and capacity in district – both current and potential growth 3. Net expenditure or ability to leverage resources from union involvement 4. Visibility of labor and our issues in the race 5. Importance of candidate to our legislative agenda Candidate Quality 1. Agrees with WSEU on most of our key issues – and their willingness to be out front on our issues 2. Personal willingness to work hard/overall effectiveness 3. Interest in having labor’s support Candidate’s Ability to Win 1. District make-up/voting history and patterns 2. Assessment of candidates campaign organization 3. Candidate status, i.e.; incumbent, challenger or open seat 4. Other political factors, e.g.; vulnerability of opponent

“Helping You Make an Informed Choice” U ni o n Labo r 20021007

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AFSCME COUNCIL 24 WSEU STATE EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE MICHAEL A. SANSONE, CHAIRMAN

A F SC ME C OU NC I L 24 E ND OR SE ME N T P ROC E S S The process is quite simple and is designed for Local Unions to submit to SEPAC a recommendation for an endorsement of a candidate or no endorsement of a candidate.

Here are some simple steps: 1. Local Union determines whether or not they wish to submit a recommendation of endorsement or no endorsement of specific political candidate(s) to SEPAC. 2. The recommendation is emailed (subject to verification), mailed, faxed or hand delivered to SEPAC. (Local Unions are encouraged to provide a supporting statement along with the recommendation) 3. SEPAC will review the recommendation and then either concur or not concur with the Local Union recommendation and will then advance the committees concurrence or non-concurrence along with the Local Unions written recommendation to the WSEU Executive Board. (The WSEU Executive Board is the final authority in making endorsements.)

Here are some other points of information: 1. SEPAC will consider only recommendations for endorsement or no endorsement of a specific state constitutional office, state judicial office, state assembly and state senate candidate.

2. SEPAC does not determine amounts of financial contributions if a financial contribution is to be made.

3. If SEPAC should not concur with the recommendation of the Local Union, the Local Union will be notified of this action and provided with the opportunity to appeal to the WSEU Executive Board in writing or in person.

Contacting SEPAC: Write to: AFSCME Council 24 WSEU State Employees Political Action Committee 8033 Excelsior Dr., Suite C Madison, WI 53717-2900 Fax to: (608) 836-0222 Email to: info@wseu-sepac.org Internet: www.wseu-sepac.org

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Helping You Make an Informed Choiceâ&#x20AC;?

U ni o n Labo r 2 00 210 07

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S EIU L OCAL 41 5 END ORSEM ENT P OL ICY I. PURPOSE.

A. Endorsements of SEIU Local 415 are governed by SEIU State Council Endorsement Policy and Procedures. This policy sets forth the procedure for the Local to recommend to the appropriate bodies (i.e. SEIU CLC Caucus, SEIU Regional Council, etc.) endorsements for local races and local ballot measures.

B. Unless otherwise specified, “member” means a member in good standing of SEIU Local 415 as defined in the SEIU Local 415 Constitution and Bylaws.

C. Unless otherwise specified, “meeting” means a regular meeting of COPE or another meeting called by COPE for the purpose of considering the matter specified.

D. Members shall be notified of any meeting or interview/forum where an endorsement recommendation is to be considered at least two (2) weeks in advance of the date of such meeting, whenever possible.

II. LOCAL RACES. A. Incumbents.

1. The decision to recommend or not recommend an endorsement of an incumbent previously endorsed for the same office shall be based on a written analysis of the incumbent’s voting record and performance in office on issues directly impacting SEIU members and working families.

2. The criteria for making an incumbent endorsement recommendation shall be as follows: a. The candidate has a 100% voting record on Local priorities. b. The candidate has been accessible to the Local. c. The candidate has been an active supporter of the Local. d. The candidate has signed the Organizing Pledge.

3. Incumbents who meet the above criteria may receive an endorsement recommendation with a sixty (60) percent vote of members present and voting at a meeting.

4. Incumbents who fail to meet the above criteria shall be subject to the endorsement process outlined in (B.) below.

B. Endorsement Recommendations.

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1. Criteria. Candidates shall be judged by the following criteria: a. Commitment to SEIU’s agenda and working family issues, based on questionnaire responses, statements in the public record, and actions the candidate has taken to demonstrate such commitment. b. Responses to questions posed in endorsement interviews/fora. c. Candidate’s commitment and ability to raise funds adequate to win. d. Base of support, as demonstrated by endorsements and contributions from individuals and groups that make a difference in winning elections. e. Candidate’s viability, based on name recognition, personal history, polling data (if available), and match-up with other candidates. f. Adequacy of candidate’s campaign plan and campaign team.

2. Questionnaire. a. All candidates running for office in open seats or in seats where the incumbent fails to meet the criteria in II. (A.) (2.) above shall normally be required to complete a written questionnaire in order to be considered for endorsement recommendation. However, candidates who fail to complete a written questionnaire may be considered by a simple majority vote of COPE members present and voting at a meeting. b. All questionnaires shall ask the candidate to sign the Organizing Pledge and shall include information regarding the candidate’s funding and base of support, as well as the name, address, phone number, FPPC identification number, and treasurer of the campaign. c. All known candidates, regardless of party, shall be invited to participate in the evaluation process through completion of a questionnaire. d. Questionnaires shall be sent far enough in advance to afford members adequate time to complete their endorsement process and implement a political organizing program.

3. Interview/Forum. Candidates shall be interviewed in an endorsement interview/forum open to all members as part of the evaluation process whenever possible. All members shall be encouraged to attend.

4. Endorsement Recommendation Vote. Endorsement recommendations shall be determined by a sixty (60) percent vote of members present and voting at an endorsement interview/forum.

5. Early Endorsement Recommendations. Early endorsement recommendations are those made before all major candidates that may enter a race are known. Early endorsement recommendations may be made only when the following criteria are met: a. Three-fourths of members present and voting at a meeting vote to engage in an early endorsement recommendation process.

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b. The candidate being considered for early endorsement recommendation fulfills all of SEIUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Candidate Evaluation Criteria in II. (B.) (1.) above.

6. Dual Endorsements. Members shall avoid endorsing more than one candidate for an office. In the event of a dual endorsement for a primary election, there shall be a separate endorsement process for the race for the general election.

III. LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES. A. Endorsement recommendations shall be determined by a sixty (60) percent vote of members present and voting at an endorsement interview/forum or meeting.

B. If either the proponent or opponent of a local ballot measure is invited to address members at a meeting or an endorsement interview/forum, the opposing party shall normally be invited as well.

An exception may occur when members, by a three fourths vote of members present and voting at a meeting, determine that a local ballot measure is obviously in the interest, or contrary to the interest, of SEIU members and working families and vote to make an endorsement.

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Coalition of University Employees (CUE) Candidate Endorsements

Legislative Committee Report and Recommendation for Candidate Endorsement Process What follows is the endorsement policy recommended unanimously by the Legislative Committee members present at our meeting of 9/6/03 with some additions agreed to (also unanimously) on our phone meeting of 9/15/03.

There are still a couple details to be resolved (see various footnotes) which the committee will take up as needed after the CUE Statewide Executive Board considers this recommended procedure at their phone meeting on Thursday, September 25.

If you have reactions, opinions or suggestions, please share them with either of the co-chairs of the committee: Diane Matthews or Michael-David Sasson.

Once a candidate endorsement policy is decided upon by the Executive Board, an e-mail should be sent to the entire jurisdiction which will both have links to the policy off the Legislative Committee web-page as well as the full text of the new policy. Hard copies shall be mailed to members of the jurisdiction for whom CUE does not have e-mail. This communication will include information about both how caucus PACs may be set-up (see below) as well as how members can suggest candidates to be considered for endorsement.

The Legislative Committee will organize the logistics of the endorsement process, including drafting questionnaires (to be amended and approved by the Executive Board) and scheduling and conducting interviews. New members of the committee will be solicited regularly.

CUE will only consider endorsements in races where at least one member has come forward to ask us to support a particular candidate. Once CUE decides to consider endorsing in particular races, however, CUE will send a notice to the full membership and solicit any other candidates that they would like CUE to consider in those races. CUE guarantees access to all candidates so named to the endorsement process.

The Statewide Executive Board has final authority on CUE election endorsements. The Legislative Committee will have the responsibility for making recommendations for endorsements to the board. This shall not preclude other sources of recommendations to the eboard within CUE. Also, the Legislative Committee shall provide all available information leading to its recommendations upon request. Statewide endorsements in particular races shall not preclude either locals or caucuses from taking other positions.

Candidates will only be invited for an in-person interview if their campaign returns a questionnaire to CUE. Other than the individual candidate being interviewed, only members of CUE will be able 259

to be present1.

Locals where people communicate interest and capacity will organize interview meetings.

Candidates will continue to be considered for endorsement only if they (or a representative of their campaign2) participate in any scheduled in-person interview after having returned their written questionnaire.

All candidates will be asked to respond to the same series of questions.

Find out where candidate's current funding and support is coming from to the degree possible.

All meetings to discuss political endorsements will be open to all members and advertised. We will figure out ways for the broadest possible group to be able to participate in the discussion.

Candidates will be considered for endorsements regardless of party affiliation.

Their track record to be researched by us or our allies: 路 路 路 路

legislation authored, voting record and legislation authored as it relates to our guidelines (re: govt revenue and spending policies) public stands and stated position on the guidelines if they have no voting record positions on education, public employees, and unionism ties to AFL-CIO as compared to independent unions

For each election cycle, CUE could determine 1-4 key litmus test issues that candidates would need to support to be seriously considered. Having our position on these priority issues would be necessary but not sufficient to receive an endorsement.

What does CUE mean when we endorse a candidate (ie money, publicity, phone-banking, etc.)?

Our definition: An endorsement is an organizational commitment to mobilize information and resources to help get a candidate elected.

A candidate or campaign would get to use CUE's name on their literature and in public and we would tell our members about the union's recommendation.

If we were really excited about a particular candidate, we would organize phone-banks and walk door-to-door (possibly carrying our own literature highlighting our priorities), etc.

CUE will limit money provided to an endorsed candidate to purchasing a nominal number of tickets to one fundraising event (idea is these are important networking opportunities).3 If the candidate is running for statewide or national office (i.e., that represents people in both Northern

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and Southern California) CUE could purchase tickets to one fundraiser each in Northern and Southern California. The cost of fundraisers for candidates at a similar level shall be comparable.

Initial discussion/interview will be conducted in legislative committee and a recommendation made to the full board with pro and con arguments.

When candidate recommendations are presented to the statewide Executive Board, the board will be asked to have two separate rounds of voting: 1.

2.

Whether or not to endorse specific candidates. A majority vote (50% plus 1) of the Executive Board will indicate an endorsement.4 What level of support to provide to candidates we have chosen for endorsement.5

During round 1 of the Executive Board's voting on endorsements, any Executive Board member could move to endorse candidates other than the one recommended by the Legislative Committee but in no event can a candidate be considered for endorsement at this point who has not met the requirements and been considered by the legislative committee during the preceding portions of the endorsement process. Caucuses (see below) shall be able to provide information to the full board regarding their recommendations before a vote is taken.

Various caucuses can be set up in CUE (a minimum of 25 members to be necessary before being granted official CUE political caucus status). · · · ·

· · ·

·

A caucus can endorse separately from CUE. A caucus can have separate PAC (political action committee) to which members can make voluntary contributions.6 The financial affairs and legal reporting of the various caucuses' expenditures will be administered by CUE (or CUE's agent).

Interested members may register as members of one or more caucuses.

Each caucus shall determine their own internal rules which shall be consistent with the law.

Caucus by-laws shall be made available to CUE. The caucus shall report to CUE the authorization for its expenditures. PAC record-keeping shall be consistent with CUE statewide standards.

Caucus leadership will be provided with copies of enrollment forms to their caucus.

CUE's ability to set up this voluntary caucus-system -- with one option being to have a CIPELC caucus/PAC -- will be a condition of our participation in CIPELC. There shall be place on CUE membership form to volunteer to donate monthly to a CUE political fund as well as instructions/URL address where members can get a more substantial form that will allow them to join internal CUE PACs where they would like a portion of their donation to be directed.

The default, if no particular caucus is joined, will be to have the full contribution go to statewide CUE's political work. A minimum of 20% of the donation will go to the general CUE PAC and/or to cover administrative costs. Up to 80% may be designated by the member to be provided to one or a number of caucus PACs that have been registered with CUE.

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1. This and other parts of the proposal imply deadlines and a calendar which, should this proposal be adopted, the Legislative Committee will develop.

2. Most candidates will need to appear in person (including any office that would place a politician on the Board of Regents such as Lt. Governor). Candidates running for President or Vice President of the United States would be invited to come, but would be allowed to send a campaign representative in their place. Candidates for offices elected by voters across the state (such as US Senate or California Attorney General) would also be permitted to send a representative in their place.

3. Regarding financial contributions, the committee had a lively discussion but could not reach consensus on additional exceptions (including whether there should be any or if so of what kind). If the board would like the committee to come up with proposals for exceptions at a future date, the legislative committee offers to take responsibility for the accomplishment of this task. If any member of the board has any specific suggestions, we would be happy to consider these.

4. The legislative committee is still in discussion as to the best manner of conducting this vote if more than two candidates in a particular race are proposed to the e-board for consideration. Some thoughts have included conducting separate votes for each recommendation or having one vote per office using a ranked choice ballot (aka instant runoff voting see Center for Voting and Democracy's Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) website for more info). There is also a question as to whether if we used IRV we would include a “None of the Above” option on each e-board ballot.

5. Similarly, we are still discussing whether or not we would recommend that CUE be able to purchase tickets for fundraisers for candidates who have not received our endorsement (like we did for Burton’s birthday party). For example, CUE attended a Burton fundraiser to network even though we had not endorsed him because it provided us with opportunities to network and maybe we would want to be able to continue to do that for candidates we did not feel should be officially endorsed.

6. The legislative committee wanted to know the cost of having UC electronically transfer these voluntary political contributions to the general CUE PAC fund. We understand that CUE would have to do the work to divide these funds between the different caucus accounts and depending on the actual cost would decide whether we wanted to recommend recharging the caucus’ for their portion of that fee.

29-August-2004 11:54:32

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Candidate Endorsement Procedure The Republican Party of San Diego County will continue its highly successful program of aggressively using its power to endorse and support Republican candidates for local offices throughout San Diego County.

To facilitate the consideration of endorsements in the November 2002 election, the Republican Party of San Diego County has adopted a three-tiered endorsement procedure.

1.

Republican incumbents seeking re-election to the same post who are current members of the San Diego Association of Republican Elected Officials qualify for expedited consideration of a request for endorsement. Such requests will be considered at our July 8 meeting.

The names of all Association members seeking re-election to the same post requesting an endorsement using the Request Form (obtained from Party headquarters) will appear on a “Consent List.” Any Central Committee member may request a name be removed from the Consent List. The Committee will then approve the remaining candidates on the Consent List, after which endorsements of individuals who were removed from the Consent List will be considered.

Endorsements are granted upon a 2/3rds affirmative secret ballot vote by the Committee.

Republican incumbents seeking re-election to the same post are strongly encouraged to join the Association and use this procedure. For a copy of the request form, contact Chip Englander.

2.

The Chairman will, at his discretion, issue endorsements on behalf of the Republican Party of San Diego County for Republican candidates who face no Republican opponent in the November 2002 election. These endorsements will be issued shortly following the end of the filing period.

3.

Republican candidates with at least one Republican opponent may request the Party’s endorsement, provided that 10 Central Committee members sign a letter requesting consideration of the endorsement and it is received by close of business on Friday, August 9. (See sample letter below.) Such requests will be considered at the August 12 meeting will be granted upon a 2/3rds affirmative secret ballot vote by the Committee.

Candidates endorsed by the Republican Party of San Diego County will be featured on Republican Party campaign literature (subject to space limitations), in its newsletter, and on its website. For more information, contact Chip Englander at 858-573-0222 or by email at Englander@sandiegorepublicans.org

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Sample letter requesting consideration of an endorsement.

Letters must be received before Friday, August 9, 2002.

This letter for use by Republican candidates facing at least one Republican opponent in the November 2002 election.

Mr. Ronald Nehring Chairman Republican Party of San Diego County 5173 Waring Road, Suite 447 San Diego, CA 92120 Dear Chairman Nehring: I am a candidate for the office of (name of office) in the November 2002 election. I am a Republican and I have at least one Republican opponent in this election. [or, I am a supporter of (name of candidate), a Republican and a candidate for the ofice of (name of ofice) in the November 2002 election. This candidate has at least one Republican opponent in this election.]

Pursuant to the rules of the Republican Party of San Diego County adopted May 2002, I hereby request the Committee consider an endorsement at the Monday, August 12, 2002 meeting. The signatures of at least ten voting members of the San Diego County Republican Central Committee appear below.

Sincerely, NAME OF CANDIDATE This letter must also be signed by at least 10 voting members of the Central Committee.

1.

3.

5.

6.

2.

4.

8.

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7.

9.

10.

Election C andidate Endorsement Procedure Note: This rule was adopted and utilized for the consideration of endorsements in the March 2002 primary election only.

On Monday, November 12, 2001 the Republican Party of San Diego County unanimously adopted a procedure for the consideration of the endorsement of Republican candidates for nonpartisan office in the March 2002 primary election. Endorsements for this election will be considered at the Monday, January 14, 2002 meeting only.

The following is the procedure adopted by the Committee: 1. The Committee will not make endorsements in contested partisan Republican primaries in the March 2002 election.

2. The Committee will consider making an endorsement for a candidate for a non-partisan office in the March 2002 primary in a race in which more than one Republican is running only if all of the following conditions are met: (a) A written request is made by a candidate (or supporter thereof) asking the Committee to endorse in a specific non-partisan race; (b) This written request is signed by at least ten voting members of the Committee; (c) This written request is received by the Chairman no later than December 15, 2001.

3. If a timely written request to endorse is received, meeting the above requirements, the Committee will schedule a vote on this candidate's proposed endorsement at the Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s January regular meeting.

4. If a timely and sufficient written request is received, and there is a quorum at the committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s January regular meeting, the Committee can make such an endorsement only if the endorsement is approved by 2/3 of the voting members of the Committee present. (For example, if there are 45 voting members at the January meeting, the candidate would need the approval of 30 members to receive the endorsement.)

5. Any such endorsement vote will be conducted by written secret ballot.

6. These Temporary Rules will not apply to any other election other than the March 2002 Primary.

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Sample letter requesting consideration of an endorsement.

Letters must be received before December 15, 2001.

Mr. Ronald Nehring Chairman Republican Party of San Diego County 5173 Waring Road, Suite 447 San Diego, CA 92120 Dear Chairman Nehring: I am a candidate for the office of (name of office) in the March 2002 primary election. I am a Republican and I have at least one Republican opponent in this election. [or, I am a supporter of (name of candidate), a Republican and a candidate for the ofice of (name of ofice) in the March 2002 primary election. This candidate has at least one Republican opponent in this election.]

Pursuant to the rules of the Republican Party of San Diego County adopted November 12, 2001, I hereby request the Committee consider an endorsement at the Monday, January 14, 2002 meeting. The signatures of at least ten voting members of the San Diego County Republican Central Committee appear below.

Sincerely, NAME OF CANDIDATE

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This letter must also be signed by at least 10 voting members of the Central Committee.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Special Notice Pursuant to the rule adopted in November, the Committee will consider the requests received from several candidates for the Committee’s endorsement in compliance with the rule. In accordance with both the rule and established parliamentary procedure, those individual candidates who requested the Committee’s endorsement in compliance with the established rule will be included on the final agenda to speak in open session.

In effect, the Committee will hear each candidate’s request for an endorsement, after which the Committee will debate the merits of those requests to the extent the Committee wishes to do so, during the closed session.

Concerning those candidates who did not request the party’s endorsement and may have expressed an interest in speaking to the Committee, such requests were not part of the rule we adopted.

However, in the interest of fairness, if a Member of the Central Committee wishes for the Committee to hear from an opposing Republican candidate (who did not request the party’s endorsement,) any member of the Committee may put such a request in writing and mail/fax/deliver it to the party headquarters, to be received by Noon on Monday. The Committee would allow the opposing candidate to come into the meeting room during the closed session and speak to the Committee for up to three minutes. The candidate who did request the party’s endorsement also would be allowed to enter the room, and would be given three minutes rebuttal.

In the opinion of our Parliamentarian Bill Baber and my self, this procedure is consistent will parliamentary rule, our internal bylaws, and the rule adopted in November.

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Only Members of the Committee will be recognized for the purpose of making motions or may otherwise have the floor during any portion of the meeting.

Members of the Committee are respectfully requested to arrive on time for this 7:00 PM meeting.

Members of the Committee are also requested to be seated in one of the first four rows in the meeting room, as we will be voting during the meeting.

Sincerely, Ronald Nehring Chairman

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Green Party Endorsement Procedure The process by which the GPCA endorses Green Candidates running for partisan office shall be as follows: 1. Organizational Structure 1-1. The Campaigns and Candidates Working Group (CCWG) is responsible for facilitating the endorsement of partisan candidates.

1-2. Endorsements for candidates running for the statewide constitutional offices shall be ratified by the General Assembly.

1-3. Endorsements for candidates running for the State Assembly, State Senate, and the U. S. House of Representatives shall be ratified by the statewide consensus polling process.

2. Candidate Endorsement Process 2-1. Candidates must demonstrate support from Green Party County Organizations in their electoral district by submitting endorsements in writing from locals to the CCWG and CC. If for any reason there are counties that don't endorse a candidate, the CC and CCWG will in good faith continue the endorsement process without local endorsement.

2-2. Each candidate must complete a brief questionnaire describing their candidacy and submit it to the CCWG for approval.

2-3. The CCWG shall recommend campaign endorsements and submit them to the appropriate body for ratification.

3. Procedures for Ratification 3-1. The General Assembly

Upon recommendation of the Campaigns and Candidates Working Group, the General Assembly of the GPCA may endorse candidates for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Board of Equalization and the U.S. Senate.

Uncontested pre-primary endorsements shall be by consensus or 80 percent of the voting 269

delegates at the first plenary past the filing deadline. Voting may not take place before the filing deadline.

Post-primary endorsements shall be determined by consensus or 80 percent of the voting delegates at the first plenary.

3-2. Statewide Consensus Polling Until March 2, 2004, Green Party candidates for the State Assembly, State Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives shall be endorsed by the following process: a. The CC and CCWG will conduct the polling of GPCO's in a uniform and impartial manner. b. The question presented will be "are there any concerns? If there are none, the endorsement will be made official. c. If there are unresolved concerns, the endorsement decision will be made by the General Assembly.

4. Sunset a. This proposal sunsets March 1, 2004

5. Reconsideration

a. This proposal shall be brought back to the General Assembly at the March Plenary for reconsideration.

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GOP Endorsement Packet Greetings, Thank you for your interest in obtaining an endorsement from the 5th Legislative District Republicans and requesting this Endorsement Packet. My name is Steven Webb and I serve as the 5th Legislative District Republicans Endorsement Committee Chair.

Let me take a few moments to explain our endorsement process and what you need to know as a requestor.

If you are a first time candidate, have not previously received our endorsement, are seeking a different office than the one for which you previously received our endorsement or you represent an issue campaign (i.e., initiative, referendum, etc.), you will be required to complete an Endorsement Questionnaire and be available for a personal interview with our Endorsement Committee (EC). If you are running as an incumbent and we have previously endorsed you for that office, you need only send us a letter outlining your record as it relates to issues of mutual concern and your request for our endorsement. Our EC will then review the request and either make a recommendation based upon it or ask for additional documentation and/or an interview.

Once you have returned the completed Endorsement Questionnaire to us, you will need to send an email to: endorsement.chair@5ldgop.org to schedule an appointment for a Personal Interview.

Interviews will be scheduled at least 10 days following the receipt of the Endorsement Questionnaire in order to convene an evaluation meeting with the EC. Included in this endorsement packet is a Potential Interview Topics and Questions form. You will want to familiarize with the topics on this form prior to the actual interview.

During the interview, EC members will query you about your responses to the items on the questionnaire, address some of the topics mentioned in the candidate packet and, possibly, explore other issues including some not directly related to the endorsement packet.

Once the interviews are completed, the members of the EC will review and evaluate each candidate/issue. No decision to endorse will be made until the filing deadline for the office sought has closed, thus giving all candidates an opportunity to participate in the endorsement process.

Once all of the candidates who have expressed an interest in our endorsement have completed our endorsement process, the EC will, according to its policies and procedures, decide on a recommendation for endorsement. The endorsement recommendation will then be presented to the 5th Legislative District Republicans Executive Board (EB) at the next regularly scheduled Executive Board meeting or special session. A vote of the members in attendance at that meeting will determine whether the EB accepts or rejects the recommendation of the EC. The ECC will then present the endorsement recommendation of the EC, along with the EB decision, to the Precinct Committee Officers (PCO) at the next regularly scheduled PCO meeting or special session. A vote of the PCOs in attendance at that meeting will determine whether the 271

recommendation of the EC will be accepted or rejected. The decision of the PCOs will constitute a 5th Legislative District Republicans endorsement or denial. The ECC will then notify all of the candidates, by e-mail, of the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision. An official endorsement letter will then be mailed to the successful candidate allowing them to announce the endorsement and use it in their campaign literature.

Finally, it is preferred to conduct most communications with the candidates / representatives regarding their campaigns via e-mail. This allows better process tracking of each individual candidate or issue.

Thank you again for your interest in our endorsement process. If you have any questions, please email me at: endorsement.chair@5ldgop.org.

Sincerely,

Steven Webb Endorsement Committee Chair 5th Legislative District Republicans

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5th Legislative District Republicans Potential Interview Topics

As mentioned in the cover letter, the EC will review your preliminary questionnaire and schedule an in person interview. Members of the EC may then ask additional questions in an effort to explore your interest and depth of knowledge in topics important to the 5th Legislative District Republican Party.

The following are typical of those topics / questions covered during the interview: 1. Why should the 5th Legislative District Republicans endorse you for this office? If you are now an elected official, does your voting record reflect support for the principles of the Republican Party? What are your justifications for voting the way in which you did?

2. What specifically have you done to further Republican Principles on key issues (legislation, drafting/proposing of bills, ordinances, budget issues, legal decisions, etc.)?

3. What are your political/personal goals? What is your plan to navigate and manage the bureaucracy in order to accomplish your goals?

4. By obtaining our endorsement, what do you hope to say to the voters? Why is this important and how does this support your election platform?

5. What leadership skills (military, management, previous jobs or offices) have you acquired that directly relate to the office with which you are seeking? How do you think they specifically relate to this office?

6. What type of formal management, leadership training or education, if any, do you have? How will this training apply to the office you are seeking?

7. When faced with budgetary shortfalls, how would you make cuts? What criteria will you use to calculate or justify making those cuts? What services do you believe government is obligated to provide over and above other services? Do you believe in across the board cuts? Why or why not?

8. What does leadership mean to you? What is the difference between a leader, a manager and a politician? How do you see yourself; leader, manager or politician?

9. Are you familiar with the King County and Washington State Republican platforms?

10. Do you have any additional comments, concerns, clarifications on responses, or questions for this committee?

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5th Legislative District Republicans

Endorsement Questionnaire Candidate Edition

As mentioned in the cover letter, this questionnaire is part of your endorsement packet. Please complete it carefully and thoroughly. You may attach your typed responses to the questions as necessary. It is important that you return the completed questionnaire to the 5th Legislative District Republicans Endorsement Committee as soon as possible so that an interview can be scheduled. If you feel you do not have time to mail back the questionnaire, you may send it to us as a Word document attachment via e-mail (endorsement.chair@5ldgop.org).

1. Full name ___________________________________________________________ 2. Campaign manager name ______________________________________________ 3. Campaign address ____________________________________________________ 4. Campaign e-mail address ______________________________________________ 5. Campaign phone number _______________________________________________ 6. Office/Position Sought 7. Is your race partisan or non-partisan? Partisan Non-partisan 8. Political Party affiliation: Republican Democrat Other ____ ___________________ 9. Current office held

10. ________________________________ ____________________________ Previous elective offices __________________________________________________________ 11. ________________________________ ____________________________ Current employer other than elective office (if any) ____________________________________ 12. ________________________________ ____________________________ Past work experience ______________________________________________________________

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13. ________________________________ ____________________________ Military experience ______________________________________________________________ 14. ________________________________ ____________________________ Education al background ___________________________________________________________ 15.

Have you ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of any misdemeanor or felony in this state or any other state? Yes No (If so, please give a detailed explanation. This excludes traffic-related misdemeanors.)

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16. Affiliations with clubs or other organizations 17. Exper ience directly relating the office you are seeking 18. Do you have any management training or experience? Yes No (If so, please elaborate.) ______________________________________________________________ 19. Your personal goals __________________________________________________

20. Your political goals

21. Why are you seeking this office?

22. What is the platform for your election?

23. What makes you the most qualified person for this office?

24. Name three politicians you admire and describe why you admire them

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25. Have you served your local Republican Party? Yes No (If so, in what capacity?)

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26.

Is there anything in your background that could lead to questions regarding your integrity, character or ability to serve in the office you seek? Yes No (If so, please describe.)

27.

Have you sought or are you planning on seeking the endorsement of other group(s) or political parties? Yes No (If so, what group(s) or political parties?) ___

28.

H

29.

H

ave you received the endorsement of any other group(s) or political parties? Yes No (If so, what group(s) or political party?) ___

ave you been denied the endorsement of any group(s) or political parties? Yes No (If so, which group(s) or political parties? ___

I, __________________________ , acknowledge that the responses to the above questions are true and accurate. I understand that if any responses are found to be false or inaccurate that may be cause for non-endorsement or for the revocation of endorsement.

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Signature Date

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Primary Election Endorsement Process The main function of the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh is to endorse candidates running for federal, state and local offices who prove to be allies to the lgbt community and to publicize those results.

We begin our work by sending all candidates questionnaires on our issues. Our members study the signed and dated answers of those candidates who reply, taking into consideration their records as well, and then vote to endorse those who prove to be our allies. We publicize our endorsed candidates in our community.

The purpose of this document is to outline the tasks necessary to complete the Primary Election Endorsement procedure. · · · · · · · ·

Determine the offices and candidates.

Determine each candidate’s email, fax number and/or address.

Send each candidate a cover letter, questionnaire, and GSPCGP FAQ sheet.

Follow-up with candidates to return completed questionnaires.

Meet with members to vote on endorsement of candidates that return questionnaires.

Mail notices to endorsed candidates.

Publicize the GSPCGP endorsement slate.

Publish a news release.

Send congratulation letters to endorsed candidates who win in the Primary Election.

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BPW/PAC Endorsement Process Business and Professional Women/USA established a Political Action Committee (BPW/PAC) in 1979. BPW/PAC assists women - and pro-women - candidates who support BPW's legislative platform by providing campaign contributions and endorsements. Through BPW/PAC, individual members can join together and show the collective force of BPW in the American political process.

BPW/PAC serves as the financial muscle behind BPW's national legislative agenda, and is supported solely by voluntary contributions from BPW members.

CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS Endorsements are done on a race-by-race basis. BPW/PAC endorses women and men; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; and candidates in every region of the nation. Only candidates for a federal office can be endorsed by BPW/PAC. States wishing to endorse statewide or local candidates are encouraged to form their own state PAC for this purpose.

Each candidate that is endorsed by BPW/PAC has a record of demonstrating a strong commitment to the issues outlined on the National Legislative Platform. BPW/PAC plays an important role in helping to shape what our Congress looks like and what issues they address. BPW encourages all of its members to become educated about the candidates and the issues, and BPW/PAC endorsements are an educational tool for all members.

All candidates seeking BPW/PAC's endorsement must complete BPW/PAC's candidate questionnaire and a copy must be sent to the BPW/PAC Committee: 2012 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. BPW/PAC may elect to waive the requirements for the questionnaire for Members of Congress who have been previously endorsed and have demonstrated a strong record of support on BPW issues.

In addition to the questionnaire, BPW/PAC requests additional information including: the campaign budget for both primary and general elections; amount of money raised to date; recent polling data on the race; names of staff/key consultants; endorsements from national/local organizations and the issues and themes that the candidate plans to emphasize during the campaign.

This information provides a strong indication of a candidate's viability, credibility and campaign organization; therefore helping BPW/PAC make informed decisions.

Candidates will receive endorsements for the current election cycle based on a candidate's record of support for the issues and legislation. Lifetime endorsements will no longer be made by BPW/PAC. In addition, BPW/PAC may become involved in primary races where early funding can make a difference.

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ENDORSEMENT PROCEDURES BPW/PAC needs your help in identifying strong candidates who support BPW's issues. Send a copy of BPW/PAC's Candidate Questionnaire and legislative platform to candidates who have already entered the congressional race, and ask them to complete the questionnaire and return it to BPW/PAC if they wish to be considered for an endorsement. Offer to explain issues on the questionnaire, which the candidate may not be familiar with, or refer them to BPW/USA's Public Policy Department at National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Some Congressional candidates contact BPW/PAC directly through the Public Policy Department at National. All candidates for federal office who request information on BPW/PAC will be sent a questionnaire.

Because a state often is more familiar with a candidate from their region, and they will be most affected by election results, BPW/PAC appreciates recommendations from BPW members in the candidate's home state. BPW/PAC strongly believes that BPW members from a candidate's home state must have significant input into the decision-making process. BPW/PAC will encourage state input and incorporate this into its endorsement decisions.

FOLLOW-UP ON ENDORSEMENTS BPW/PAC will notify a state federation when BPW/PAC endorses a candidate from that state.

BPW/PAC suggests arranging a meeting with the candidate to officially announce BPW/PAC's endorsement. Please contact Public Policy staff at National to coordinate the announcement of the endorsement.

FUNDRAISING FOR BPW/PAC

Federal law requires that only members of BPW/USA may be solicited by or on behalf of BPW/PAC. Contributions must be made by personal check, travellers check or money order. No corporation checks are allowed by federal law. Contributions should be made in a BPW/PAC envelope, available from the National office. If a BPW/PAC envelope is not available, donors must provide their name, address, phone number, and State Federation. (This information is required by the Federal Election Commission.) To receive BPW/PAC questionnaires, BPW/PAC contribution envelopes, or copies of "BPW/PAC Endorsement Policies and Procedures," contact the Public Policy Department at National Headquarters (202) 293-1100, ext. 132.

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Rochester Area Right to Life Candidate Endorsement Process Rochester Area Right To Life

The Rochester Area Right to Life Committee has a PAC, a Political Action Committee. A PAC is a committee of an existing organization. The PAC is formed specifically to endorse political candidates. Donations to a PAC are not tax exempt, although the PAC is, by its nature, nonprofit. Our PAC attempts to find electable pro-life candidates with respect to abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia.

The RARTL PAC endorses candidates based on several criteria: (1) The candidate must have a realistic chance of winning the election. Our purpose is to get pro-life candidates elected so that they can pass legislation that protects innocent human life.

Therefore, normally only major party candidates will be endorsed. If the candidate is also the candidate of one of the other parties, that is not a hindrance.

(2) The candidate must answer a questionnaire on his/her pro-life stand. This demonstrates a pro-life stand and also demonstrates that he/she wants our endorsement. A sample of a typical questionnaire from the New York State Right to Life PAC is below.

(3) If the candidate is also an incumbent, then he/she must have a pro-life voting record. Voting against measures that protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia will cause us to question the candidate's commitment.

If there is a demonstrably pro-life incumbent, we do not endorse a challenger. Active prolife legislators need and deserve our support.

(Do you have a pro-life representative at any level of government? Write to him or her today and say, "Thank you. ") A survey form can change, depending on current legislative initiatives, but there is a certain common thread. Below are some of the questions posed by the New York State Right to Life Committee in 1998 to candidates in that election. We use questions like these for our local efforts. 路 路

Will you vote for a law that would prevent abortions, except those to prevent the death of the mother? (Yes No) Will you vote to require parental notification before abortions are performed on minors?

(Yes No)

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· · · ·

· · ·

·

· ·

Will you vote to prevent the use of tax funds for abortion other than to save the life of the mother? (Yes No) Will you vote for an "informed consent" law requiring that doctors provide information on the development of the unborn child, alternatives to abortion, and medical risks of abortion before an abortion is performed? (Yes No) Will you vote to prevent the use of tissue and organs from deliberately aborted children in transplants or medical experiments? (Yes No) A partial-birth abortion involves delivering a living, late term baby, feet first, except for the head, puncturing the base of the skull with scissors, and sucking out the brain. Will you vote to support legislation banning partial-birth abortions except to save the life of the mother? (Yes No) Will you vote for a law to eliminate late-term abortions in NYS? (Yes No) Would you vote to oppose any ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) unless it contained explicit "abortion neutralization" language? (Yes No) Will you vote to prevent involuntary denial of life-saving treatment by providing that when 1) a patient has explicitly directed life-preserving medical treatment, food, or fluids, and 2) the treatment, food or fluids in fact would have a significant possibility of sustaining the patient's life, then the patient's doctor cannot deny it pending the patient's transfer to another doctor willing to follow the patient's wishes? (Yes No) In 1991, Oregon approved a health care rationing plan for its Medicaid program. The primary basis for denial of treatment is the expected degree of disability or medical need, or poor "quality of life" it is claimed a patient would be likely to have after treatment. This is a form of involuntary euthanasia. Would you vote to oppose any legislation in this state that, like the Oregon plan, would impose rationing that intentionally denies treatment on the basis of disability, degree of medical need, or "quality of life" of those denied treatment? (Yes No) Would you support a law to prevent "assisting suicide" by allowing relatives or other affected by an attempted or completed suicide, as well as public officials, to sue the person who "assists" for money damages? (Yes No) Would you oppose any legalization of lethal injections or other measure to kill a person or to "assist" in committing suicide, or "active euthanasia"? (Yes No)

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Basic Righ ts E lec t PAC CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS Our Elect PAC makes candidate endorsements based on three main criteria: Position on our issues

Leadership Viability We send a questionnaire to every candidate who is filed to run for statewide office, and statewide legislative offices. Returned questionnaires are reviewed by staff of Basic Rights Oregon.

View the questionnaire to learn how we find out about a candidate's commitment to basic rights for all Oregonians.

PAC members work in teams to interview every candidate who seeks our endorsement whose questionnaire indicates a basic interest in and agreement with our positions on the issues.

Teams then report back to the PAC committee, and based on their recommendation and discussion by the entire committee, we make endorsements.

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The MoveOn.org PAC Primary and Endorsement Process 1. The MoveOn.org PAC straw poll On May 29, we held a presidential straw poll among our entire membership. The poll identified a top tier of candidates in whom MoveOn members were most interested, but also indicated that people wanted more information about the candidates before moving closer to an endorsement.

2. Asking approval for the process On June 11, we proposed this candidate engagement process and the MoveOn.org PAC Primary in an email to 1.4 million MoveOn members. We asked the membership to approve or reject the process using an online survey. 96.4% of respondents said they wanted us to go ahead with the process as outlined, including a binding primary vote at the end of June that could result in a MoveOn endorsement.

3. Getting to know the candidates Beginning Wednesday, June 18, we will pass along emails from the three straw poll top tier candidates. Each email will begin with a link to candidate pages hosted by MoveOn.org PAC for all nine declared presidential candidates. Each page includes a letter from the candidate and responses to seven interview questions that were generated and approved by MoveOn members.

4. The MoveOn.org PAC Primary Vote Voting in the MoveOn Primary will begin 12:00 am, Tuesday, June 24 and will end 48 hours later at 11:59 pm on June 25. Voters will be encouraged to make financial contributions to their candidates as well as casting ballots for them. Donating to a campaign is an important way of showing support -- perhaps the most important at this early stage.

The vote will be open to people who are not already MoveOn members; however, to keep the process fair they must register to receive a unique email ballot. Email ballots are tied to an individual name and email address. Each one counts for one vote.

5. Announcing the results, possible endorsement and continued fundraising We will officially announce the results when the voting is complete. If any candidate wins a majority (%50 + 1 vote) out of the field of nine candidate, then MoveOn.org PAC will endorse that candidate. If no candidate wins a majority, then MoveOn will continue to engage all the candidates in an extended presidential primary process, possibly leading to another Primary vote in the future.

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Green Party of Mendocino County (GPOMC) Endorsement Process This document defines the process for GPOMC endorsement of candidates for public office.

Candidate membership in the Green Party is not required for endorsement, although it may help, especially for partisan offices.

Endorsement benefits may include some of the following and other advantages to the candidate: Positive campaign coverage in our election mailings to nearly 2000 registered Green voters Electronic communication through GPOMC email list and web site Press coverage of the endorsement Campaign volunteers Help with fundraising; only endorsed candidates can receive monies from the GPOMC treasury.

Consideration of endorsement is by 1) request from a candidate, or 2) request by GPOMC member.

The Endorsement Committee for any given race will be composed of a majority of GPOMC members registered in the district served by the elected office. For countywide offices, there will be an attempt to have representation from each of the 5 districts. State offices will be considered as countywide offices and regional coordination is desirable.

Per the process below, responsibilities of the Endorsement Committee include developing and mailing questionnaires; collecting and compiling responses; setting up meetings as requested; notifying all candidates of the outcome of the endorsement process.

Process: 1.

1.

Questionnaires are sent to each candidate. Questions include general Green Party Key Values related, and local or district related. If possible, responses are posted on website.

2.

2.

Based on questionnaire responses, personal interview and/or forum, and feedback from membership, the Endorsement Committee makes a recommendation of endorsement and level of commitment (ways we will help) to the membership via email, or by mail to any member sending a selfaddressed, stamped envelope to the committee.

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3.

3. The Endorsement Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommendation is supported or rejected by the membership. A candidate must receive 80% of the GPOMC membership votes cast to gain the official GPOMC endorsement.

The Endorsement Committee may call a special GPOMC general membership meeting for the purpose of discussing endorsements prior to the deadline for votes being cast. For countywide offices, such meetings may be held in more than one location.

4.

5.

4.

GPOMC members in a local area may make an endorsement on any election when the county body does not make an endorsement, or when it makes an endorsement of another candidate. Such endorsements are from, for example, the Anderson Valley Area Greens, rather than from the Green Party of Mendocino County. Such endorsements must be identified as local and may not use the GPOMC identification.

GPOMC member is defined as anyone registered in the Green Party in Mendocino County.

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WCLA Endorsements: Careful Process WCLA's annual process of making candidate endorsements is deliberate, arduous, and very careful.

A review of voting guides from 1972 through 1998 shows no errors, though after endorsement there have been some switches to the other side of the issue. Past voting records are just that: all candidates are given the opportunity to rethink their positions. Even strongly pro-choice or antichoice incumbents are queried, just in case of a change of mind.

Except for candidates cross-endorsed by the Right to Life Party or otherwise known to be unreceptive to abortion rights, WCLA mails a two-page questionnaire seeking their public position on reproductive rights and timely delivery of reproductive health services.

The questionnaire is redrawn each year, as old issues disappear and new issues emerge.

If a candidate misses the deadline, WCLA follows up with a call and frequently another copy of the questionnaire. Polly Rothstein, president of WCLA, explains that WCLA is more interested in ascertaining the candidate's position than in strict adherence to a due date. She permits some leeway, especially as many are on vacation when the questionnaires are mailed and others plead they "never received it" and request another copy. They all get one.

Rothstein and members of the staff review each questionnaire as it's returned. If the questionnaire reveals inconsistencies in a generally pro-choice set of responses, Rothstein may phone a candidate to explain the intent of the question and discuss the issue. She always permits a candidate to change an answer. Rothstein will occasionally ask a candidate to meet with her and members of the WCLA board, just to make sure that the board is clear on the candidate's position.

Rothstein stresses that all endorsements are made on a strictly non-partisan basis. WCLA's board of directors reviews the questionnaires and discusses incumbents' records, leadership, and helpfulness during the legislative session. The board also reviews the opponents' records. Each race is voted separately. This process can take hours, with most of the time spent on a few races.

Electing Judges: Pro-Choice vs. No-Choice Unlike those running for political office, candidates for judge may not offer opinions on disputed legal and political issues. WCLA sends no questionnaires, but discusses with candidates their general philosophies regarding pregnant women and the law. To qualify for consideration candidates must agree to an interview.

This year, there are five seats open for the state Supreme Court in the five-county Ninth Judicial District, which includes Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Orange. Supreme Court justices serve a 14-year term.

Dems Endorsed; Reps Take RTL All of the Republican Supreme Court candidates are anti-choice, and four are Right to Life Party candidates as well as Republican and Conservative nominees. Those on RTL are Westchester County Judge Daniel D. Angiolillo, Putnam County Judge John Sweeny, Orange County Family 290

Court Judge John McGuirk, and Yorktown lawyer Mark Dillon. Dutchess County Judge George Marlow is not endorsed by RTL, but he refused to talk with WCLA. Dillon was nominated to draw Republican voters to the polls in District 4 where RoseMarie Panio seeks to defeat incumbent Mike Kaplowitz.

All Democratic NYS Supreme Court candidates warranted WCLA's endorsement. They are Westchester Family Court hearing examiner Carole Levy, Westchester Family Court Judge Bruce Tolbert, Dutchess attorney John Garrity, Jr., Rockland County Surrogate Alfred Weiner, and former Orange County judge Luke Charde.

Ron Stokes for County Court Ron Stokes, Democrat running for County Court judge, is endorsed by WCLA. He had earned WCLA's endorsement in 1980, when he ran for state Assembly. His opponent is Republican Yonkers City Court Judge Thomas Dickerson, who refused to speak with WCLA.

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Dear Candidate: The Empire State Pride Agenda, New York's statewide, non-partisan civil rights organization committed to equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers, is pleased to announce that our 2004 candidate questionnaire is now available for those seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement in the upcoming election cycle.

The Pride Agenda and our Political Action Committee (PAC) are dedicated to advancing our public policy goals through the election process by increasing the political participation of LGBT and allied communities and supporting candidates who will help further our public policy agenda. We inform and educate our tens of thousands of members and the public at large about our endorsed candidates, do targeted mailings on behalf of endorsed candidates, and recruit volunteers to work on their campaigns. Sometimes in more competitive races we are also able to provide financial resources and/or make staff available to work on campaigns.

A completed candidate questionnaire is a vital part of our endorsement process and the first step toward us being able to assist with your campaign. We invite you fill out the 2004 Candidate Questionnaire. If you prefer, we are also able to email, fax or mail you one.

The candidate questionnaire must be filled out and submitted by close of business on Friday, August 6 to be considered for endorsement in a primary, and by close of business on Friday, September 24 to be considered for endorsement in the general election.

If you have any questions on the questionnaire or our general endorsement process, please contact Carmen Vazquez, the Pride Agenda's Deputy Executive Director, at cvazquez@prideagenda.org or 212/627-0305.

Sincerely,

Alan Van Capelle Executive Director AVC/rdl

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Kansas City Chamber of Commerce “The ChamberPAC’s endorsement process identifies those candidates who can be expected to

advocate strongly for employer issues,” said Lew Ebert, president and CEO of The Kansas Chamber of Commerce. The ChamberPAC is focusing its efforts on building a much stronger business caucus that will be active in the 2005 Kansas Legislative session,” he added.

This election cycle, the ChamberPAC has aligned a number of pro-business interests in a common framework, enhanced its political intelligence capabilities, and strengthened fundraising and political contributions to enhance the chances of victory for pro-business candidates.

“Together with Kansas Chamber members The ChamberPAC will help allocate some $150,000 in political contributions during the 2004 primary elections,” Ebert said.

ChamberPAC carries the banner for employers and businesspeople throughout Kansas, Ebert said. Beyond direct political contributions, ChamberPAC also offers in-kind services and other types of political assistance to the campaigns of ChamberPAC-endorsed candidates.

ChamberPAC supports and endorses state legislators and other candidates for the Kansas Legislature who: · · ·

Support the Kansas Chamber’s business agenda and legislative program; Promote the tenets of the free enterprise system, and; Pledge to make Kansas a better place in which to do business.

A number of pertinent factors were considered for the ChamberPAC’s endorsements: · · ·

Voting Record The Kansas Chamber’s Voting Record is used as a guide for endorsements, but is not the only determinant. In addition, committee votes are an important element of the legislative process and are considered.

Leadership Key committee chairs and committee members are critical to the legislative process and have a higher level of visibility in the ChamberPAC endorsement process than in previous years. The same is true for majority and minority leadership.

Election Realities The competitiveness of a candidate is an important factor in the endorsement and in the amount of financial support. If candidates are strong business advocates with tough races, more resources are made available to them than to candidates who are running unopposed. Another test is whether ChamberPAC endorsement and support is likely to influence the outcome.

• Local Input Local chamber and local business input is considered in the endorsement process.

“In our representative society, individuals and businesses can either choose to be effective 293

participants in the development of public policy or victims of government shaped by others -because politics shapes public policy,” Ebert said.

“The Kansas ChamberPAC is built on a simple, yet solid premise: to identify, endorse and elect to the Kansas Legislature champions of free enterprise, and to encourage greater business participation in the state’s elections.

“There is no role more critical for business than that of keeping our nation and our state economically strong by creating jobs, expanding opportunities for all Americans to participate in the economy, encouraging entrepreneurship, and strengthening our competitiveness,” Ebert said.

ChamberPAC is an independent, bipartisan organization supported by the state’s small, medium and large businesses. Other state trade and business associations look to ChamberPAC for astute analysis of candidates, leadership on political strategy and tactics, and identification of the most important legislative races for business involvement.

The Kansas Chamber is the statewide business advocacy group, with headquarters in Topeka. It is working to make Kansas more attractive to employers by reducing the costs of doing business in Kansas. The Kansas Chamber and its affiliate organization, The Kansas Chamber Federation, have nearly 7,500 member businesses, including local and regional chambers of commerce and trade organizations. The Chamber represents small, large and medium sized employers all across Kansas.

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2005-2011 Central Falls Political Power Strategic Plan

Tomﾃ｡s ﾃ」ila May 17, 2004

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Centeral Falls Statisitics .......................................................................................................... 304

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Executive Summary With a city population that is nearly half Latino, I feel that we need to make it our business to plan a strategy of increasing Latinos elected to the Central Falls City Council for the next 10 years.

The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee will put its full support behind Ricardo Patino, who became the city’s first Latino elected to Central Falls’s City Council's 3rd Ward seat in 2001. But our political strategy will not stop win our support of Councilman Patino, but will be planning to recruit other candidates to run for the City Council during the 2005 elections.

Central Falls will hold election for mayor and City Council in November 2005.

RILPAC will organize registration drives during the campaign season to increase the number of voters, during the elections. The committee also plans to recruit and run a slate of Latino candidates for City Council, with the objective of taking control of such entity. The Central Falls elections has been closely watched by politicians elsewhere in the state, where there are large concentrations of Hispanic voters, due to it’s large concentration of Latinos and it’s lack of political power.

Central Falls represents a great opportunity for the Latino community, according to the U.S. Census, 9,041 of the 18,928 people who live in Central Falls are Latinos. The city, has 6,545 residents are registered to vote, according to City Registrar public information and an estimated 20 percent to 25 percent are Latino.

Central Falls HISPANIC OR LATINO AND RACE Total population Hispanic or Latino (of any race) Mexican Puerto Rican Cuban Other Hispanic or Latino Not Hispanic or Latino White alone

Population 18,928 9,041 677 2,249 38 6,077 9,887 7,577

Percent 100 47.8 3.6 11.9 0.2 32.1 52.2 40

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000, Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics for Rhode Island

Despite the population figures, only one Latino has ever been elected to the City Council. During the 2003 election season, RILPAC witnessed the continuation of a number of trends in Latino voting behavior. The first was the sustained upward trajectory of Latino registration and voting that was dramatically underlined by an increase of Latino votes cast. This fact about the Latino vote in 2001 has been widely reported, and is generally known. What is less well known, is that this increase in Latino votes has been accomplished through grass roots efforts that our organization developed in support of othe winning candidate Charles Mareu, and by so doing, helping Latinos achieve increased political power, as elected officials is a next logical step.

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RILPAC's goal is to mobilize Latino voters for the 2005 general elections, raising the city’s total to three thousand registered Latino voters and 1,200 votes cast in the 2005 elections! This campaign will be the largest nonpartisan effort to increase Latino political participation ever undertaken in the city of Central Falls. The Latino community must have a greater say in what happens in city government and we need to encourage Latinos to get involved in the political process of the city and increase the number of elected officials.

RILPAC's efforts will be coupled with the efforts of local community organizations such as Progreso Latino, local Latino leaders, Hispanic radio stations, and newspapers. The stations will lead a get-out-the-vote drive during the elections, months prior to the election, Spanish-language radio stations and print media will inform the public about who the candidates are and continuously reminded listeners to vote. This activities will be coordinated with a ground network of volunteers registering new voters while educating register voters to exercise their vote.

With Census figures showing the city’s Hispanic population doubling in the past decade, we need to campaign for "a better reflection of the community" in city government. The city of Central Falls represent a great opportunity to justify the need for Latino representation. That long-standing absence from City Hall is more striking considering that 48 percent of the city’s population is Hispanic, according to 2000 Census figures. Statewide, the Hispanic population nearly doubled to 90,820 people, or 9 percent of the total population.

Hispanic-based businesses are booming as well, according to census statistics. Those numbers show that 100 businesses in the city garnered more than $6 million in revenue that year. And as businesses are growing, we need to increase representation in City Hall, looking to elect peers to the City Council to join Councilman the only Latino elected official Councilman Patino.

Central Falls is governed by a five-member City Council - Robert Weber, President; Jonathan Issa; Jason Leger; Gene Noury; and Ricardo Patino - headed by Mayor Charles Mareu. Decisions are made by majority vote of the council, or through a referendum. Political candidates run nonpartisan, but the current Mayor and his predecessor are both Democrats. Elections are held biannually, in November of the odd years, and the city is represented at the State level by two Democratic politicians: Senator Daniel Issa, elected in November 1986, and Representative Joseph Faria, elected in November 1992. Currently, 5,686 residents, approximately 30 percent of the city's population, are registered to vote.

There’s a new generation in the Hispanic community of Central Falls. Immigrants from the 21 Latin American republics have adapted to life in America, having worked 40 years ago in textile mills, receiving poor wages and being a separate part of society because of a language barrier.

But after two score years of immigration, Latinos are integrating into the American lifestyle, learning English and becoming citizens, working management jobs and owning businesses, living in single-family homes and now a political era is dawning.

As the political climate reshapes, the Latino population is showing a renewed commitment to demonstrating its political strength. The remarkable growth of the population and the 298

significance of the Latino electorate has undergone intense scrutiny and become the subject of fiery debate across the state. Policymakers and the public alike have voiced their need for a better understanding of the Latino community and the significance and actuality of the Latino vote.

As Central Falls 2005 elections loom in the horizon, Latinos are settling into a position where we have worked very, very hard to be. We want to be in a place where our vote is not taken for granted by Democrats or Republicans, where candidates consciously reach out to Latino voters and work hard to convince us that they offer the better alternative to advance our interests, and that political parties think twice about pursuing policies that will alienate Latinos.

RILPAC will mobilize to educate and register more Latino voters in Central Falls. Voter registration projects will be conducted all over the city. It is clear RILPAC will play a crucial role in Central Falls future political elections and will form coalitions with local community organizations and local leaders to increase the number of Latino elected officials in the city’s goverment.

The goal of RILPAC’s 2005 Latino Political Power strategy in the city of Central Falls is to gain control of the City Council by fielding and electing Latino candidates. It follows that the more candidates we have and the better those candidates are, the further we will move our community along the path towards municipal control. Debate has long raged in RILPAC as to whether we should recruit and run candidates or concentrate solely in the endorsement of candidates. The answer to both parts of the question is yes. The media and the public has paid attention when we endorse candidates, and we feel that by running a full slate of candidates for the City Council we would be making a political statement that we have arrived.

In order to eventually elect a lot of Latinos; we have to built on our success of electing the first Latino to the City Council. We have to demonstrate that it can be done, and we have to demonstrate that our ideas will work once put into practice. So RILPAC do need to concentrate our efforts on the 2005 elections and run a full slate of Latino candidates to the Central Falls City Council. The only thing that will ensure that our community doesn't win in the 2005 election and take control of the City Council is for Latinos not run in the race.

A full slate of coordinated municipal candidates provide us with the most bang for the buck in terms of free media, outreach, and short-term membership growth for the PAC. But winning local elections is crucial to our long-term success of taking control of the city’s elected offices.

We must build a support base for our candidates by winning locally to set the stage for larger victories during the 2006 statewide elections. By having a strategy which encourages lots of candidates at all levels, our candidates will be able to run in the races which are important to the Latino community, setting the stage for them to do the best job possible.

In 1996, three Latinos ran for elected offices in Central Falls and none was elected to statewide offices. In 1999 candidate Ricardo Patino threw his candidacy for the city’s district 3 City Council seat and was defeated by the incumbent.

For the most part, Latino candidates are made, not born. Few of the candidates that have seeked

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elected office would have run at all if left to themselves, and many who were willing to have their names put on the ballot would never have run active campaigns.

But we feel that candidates are recruited, developed, and supported by RILPAC, this support can make the difference between mediocre and effective campaigns -- and can bring vast benefits to Latino candidates seeking elected office in Central Falls. Following are some of the benefits we foresee achieving: ·

·

·

Visibility: "Most newspapers run low-level coverage of all candidates. Active candidates get more column inches and appearances in forums. Each voter sees "Latino" on their ballot."

Credibility: "More candidates equals real growth. The media recognizes this and remembers it in future election cycles. Voters remember the names and impressions of active candidates and want to join or volunteer if they like what they saw."

Internal momentum: "We feel better about ourselves because we know we worked hard and succeeded on several levels. Members have proven to become more involved, donate more money, and be prouder of their PAC affiliation this year."

The Goal According to an in depth study of the Latino vote by the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, Rhode Island’s Latino Voter Age population is 72,400 which represent 8.9% of the state’s total population of which 38,300 or 5.1% are citizens within the Voter Age Population, but only10,100 of these are register to vote, with a unregistered voter potential of 28, 200 Latinos across the state. RILPAC will put into place a two prong approach to mobilize voters and elect Latino candidates consisting of the following two steps: 1. The Latino Voter Registration Project will be established to promote the political participation of Latinos in district 2 and surrounding neighborhoods. The program will be administered by the Latino Civic Fund in collaboration with the Latino Voting Rights Coalition of Rhode Island. This project will establish the framework and a comprehensive civic and voter education strategy to mobilize the Latino community for increased participation and turnout at elections.

2. Candidate Recruitment Project will responsible to teach potetial candidates that it's never too early to start planning! By exploring the benefits of early planning for the 2005 electoral cycle from both organizational and an individual perspectives, we will encourage potential candidates to get started right away. We'll provide them with creative ideas for volunteer recruitment and institutional election planning, and advise them about how groups such as RILPACcan be helpful in candidates' "deciding to run" process. We'll also discuss the first steps candidates should take in developing their campaigns, and provide helpful suggestions on how to pace themself through two years of preparation.

Democracy building can only be achieved through educating people not just about registration 300

and voting, but also by impressing upon them the value of participating in the electoral process.

The Registrate para Votar Campaign The “Registrate para Votar” campaign is a statewide non-partisan mobilization effort aimed at increasing voter participation in areas where Latinos and other ethnic minorities are concentrated. The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund in partnership with the plaintiff coalition will focus on massive mobilization campaigns aimed at young, low-income, and recently registered voters.

For the next two years, the goals of the Voter Registration Project will be two folds: 1) To register residents of District 2 and surrounding neighborhoods.

2) To educate Latinos about the political process of the state.

3) To educate residents of their qualification for naturalization, and provide them with the information of places where they can complete this process.

These goals will be accomplished through a series of activities that have proven to be effective in previous efforts. Furthermore, we plan to recruit high school juniors to help us with the Door-todoor operation. We will provide them with supplies and pay them a stipend as an incentive.

The Program The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund's goal is to mobilize 3,000 new Latino voters for the 2004 general elections, raising the state total to twelve thousand registered voters and 10,000 votes cast in the 2006 elections! This campaign is the largest nonpartisan effort to increase Latino political participation ever undertaken in Rhode Island history.

The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund (RILCF) will conduct nonpartisan voter registration and get out the vote (GOTV) campaigns during three windows of time: Winter-Spring 2004, Summer-Fall 2004, and Fall 2004 which correspond to the electoral cycles for state legislative elections in 2004, primary elections in 2004, and the general elections of 2004. RILCF will focus its efforts in the following areas: The “Registrate para Votar” Campaign will register voters in centers of commerce, education, worship and entertainment in more than 50 projects covering over 50 districts followed by Get-Out-The-Vote efforts targeting newly Latino registered voter as well as occasional voters in several communities.

An innovative media and mail campaign will complement the aggressive ground operation conducted in all identified districts. Technology will play an unprecedented role in getting Latinos registered to vote, RILCF will finance this campaign through the $15,000 Legislative Grant received from the RI Senate as settlement to redistricting law suit brought by the Latino community.

During 2004 the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund will organize workshops to strengthen its resource base and to widen collaboration with various stakeholders in elections with a view to 301

getting them involved in the dissemination of civic and voter education to the Latino voting constituency.

I) Door-to-door Operation: We will recruit voting age students during the summer to work on the field, as well as members of our organization and our network of organization. Their responsibility will be the following: 1) Register new voters 2) Identify Eligible voters 3) Identify Eligible immigrants for naturalization.

II) Distribution of Literature: We will develop a two-sides, bilingual, color brochure entitled: Register to vote/â&#x20AC;&#x153;Registrate Para Votarâ&#x20AC;?. This brochure will be distributed to all Latino residents of District 2 and surrounding neighborhoods, to educate them about registering to vote. We will also have tables available at all Latino festivals during the 2004 summer to recruit new voters. These festivals have proven to be an effective venue through which information can be disseminated to Latino families.

III) Citizenship Outreach We will develop partnerships with other organizations that provide citizenship services to facilitate citizenship process. Every month we will submit a list of residents, who we identify through our programs, that qualify for naturalization and citizenship. We will also provide assistance in completing the citizenship application with the hope of maximizing naturalization.

The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund (RILCF) is a statewide 501-C4 nonpartisan organization committed to the political empowerment of Latino communities through voter registration, voter education and voter participation. RILCF was established in Providence, RI in 2001 by the board of directors of the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund (RILPAC) to encourage civic and political participation in Latino and other urban communities.

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Candidate Recruitment Campaign The purpose of a political Action Committee is to advance its political agenda by running candidates for office. It takes courage for a person to understand that his or her effort may bring some immediate reward, but is instead a stepping stone toward long-term success. But, of course, it is a vitally important stepping stone. RILPAC needs credible, energetic, articulate candidates in 2005, both to spread our message in a political context, and to set the stage for future electoral victories by convincing voters that the Latino community belongs in the mainstream of political discussion.

Our past experience shows that our voter education and mobilization, has helped many candidates get elected in Providence and Central Fall. For example, in 2002 election, candidates endorsed by RILPAC won 7 of 8 primaries and 8 of 9 general elections. We believe these are significant accomplishments over a very short period of time.

By running Latino candidates we in the 2005, the media will take our political involvement more seriously. Even if not all of those candidates run active campaigns, Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals applies -- "Power is not only what you have, it's what our enemies think you have." And when they take us seriously, they have to respond to our plan.

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Central Falls Statistics Population (year 2005): 18,928 Males: 9,404 (49.7%), Females: 9,524 (50.3%) Elevation: 100 feet County: Providence Land area: 1.2 square miles Zip code: 02863 Median resident age: 30.2 years Median household income: $22,628 (year 2005) Median house value: $88,800 (year 2005) Races in Central Falls: · Hispanic (47.8%) · White Non-Hispanic (40.0%) · Other race (28.4%) · Two or more races (7.4%) · Black (5.8%) · American Indian (1.0%) (Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races) Ancestries: Portuguese (8.6%), French (6.9%), French Canadian (6.9%), Subsaharan African (5.5%), Irish (5.2%), United States (4.7%).

For population 25 years and over in Central Falls · High school or higher: 49.1% · Bachelor's degree or higher: 5.7% · Graduate or professional degree: 1.9% · Unemployed: 8.2% · Mean travel time to work: 20.9 minutes For population 15 years and over in Central Falls city · Never married: 34.3% · Now married: 42.8% · Separated: 4.9% · Widowed: 7.7% · Divorced: 10.2% 35.1% Foreign born (24.9% Latin America, 5.7% Europe, 3.5% Africa).

Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (38.8%), Educational,health and social services (12.4%), Retail trade (10.4%).

Crime in Central Falls (2001): 304

· · · · · · · ·

1 murder (5.3 per 100,000) 7 rapes (37.0 per 100,000) 33 robberies (174.3 per 100,000) 72 assaults (380.4 per 100,000) 154 burglaries (813.6 per 100,000) 334 larceny counts (1764.6 per 100,000) 112 auto thefts (591.7 per 100,000) City-data.com crime index = 323.3 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)

Public high school in Central Falls: · CENTRAL FALLS JR-SR HIGH (Students: 848; Location: 24 SUMMER STREET; Grades: 09 - 12) Public primary/middle schools in Central Falls: · CALCUTT MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 930; Location: 112 WASHINGTON STREET; Grades: 06 - 08) · VETERANS MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY (Students: 522; Location: 150 FULLER AVENUE; Grades: 01 - 05) · ELLA RISK SCHOOL (Students: 486; Location: 949 DEXTER STREET; Grades: 01 05) · ROBERTSON SCHOOL (Students: 252; Location: 135 HUNT STREET; Grades: 01 05) · ALAN SHAWN FEINSTEIN SCHOOL (Students: 247; Location: 405 BROAD STREET; Grades: 01 - 05) · G. HAROLD HUNT SCHOOL (Students: 186; Location: 14 KENDALL STREET; Grades: PK - KG) · COWDEN STREET SCHOOL (Students: 167; Location: 325 COWDEN STREET; Grades: KG - 01) Private primary/middle school in Central Falls: · ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON ACADEM (Students: 261; Location: 909 LONSDALE AVENUE; Grades: PK - 8) Library in Central Falls: · CENTRAL FALLS FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $289,262; Location: 205 CENTRAL STREET; 41,104 books; 358 audio materials; 1,174 video materials; 51 serial subscriptions) Central Falls compared to Rhode Island state average: · Median household income below state average. · Median house value below state average. · Black race population percentage significantly above state average. · Hispanic race population percentage significantly above state average. · Foreign-born population percentage significantly above state average. · Renting percentage significantly above state average. · Number of rooms per house below state average. · House age significantly above state average. · Institutionalized population percentage above state average.

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Number of college students below state average.

Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state average.

Population density above state average for cities.

City-data.com Central Falls, RI Houses and Residents Total population: 18928 (All urban) Houses: 7270 (6696 occupied: 1459 owner occupied, 5237 renter occupied) Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Central Falls, Rhode Island: · 1 room: 14 · 2 rooms: 22 · 3 rooms: 71 · 4 rooms: 146 · 5 rooms: 520 · 6 rooms: 372 · 7 rooms: 105 · 8 rooms: 120 · 9 or more rooms: 89 Rooms in renter-occupied housing units and apartments: · 1 room: 142 · 2 rooms: 648 · 3 rooms: 940 · 4 rooms: 1006 · 5 rooms: 1589 · 6 rooms: 743 · 7 rooms: 113 · 8 rooms: 38 · 9 or more rooms: 18 Year house built: · 1999 to March 2005: 52 · 1995 to 1998: 51 · 1990 to 1994: 164 · 1980 to 1989: 254 · 1970 to 1979: 548 · 1960 to 1969: 746 · 1950 to 1959: 846 · 1940 to 1949: 1193 · 1939 or earlier: 3416

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Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses in Central Falls: · no bedroom: 20 · 1 bedrooms: 134 · 2 bedrooms: 327 · 3 bedrooms: 780 · 4 bedrooms: 119 · 5 or more bedrooms: 79 Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments and housing units: · no bedroom: 165 · 1 bedrooms: 1537 · 2 bedrooms: 1697 · 3 bedrooms: 1708 · 4 bedrooms: 112 · 5 or more bedrooms: 18 Vehicles available in Central Falls in owner-occupied houses: · no vehicle: 99 · 1 vehicle: 580 · 2 vehicles: 552 · 3 vehicles: 178 · 4 vehicles: 50 · 5 or more vehicles: 0 Vehicles available in renter-occupied housing units: · no vehicle: 1582 · 1 vehicle: 2458 · 2 vehicles: 923 · 3 vehicles: 206 · 4 vehicles: 47 · 5 or more vehicles: 21 Estimate of home value of owner-occupied houses in 2005 in Central Falls, RI: · Less than $10,000: 0 · $10,000 to $14,999: 0 · $15,000 to $19,999: 5 · $20,000 to $24,999: 0 · $25,000 to $29,999: 0 · $30,000 to $34,999: 0 · $35,000 to $39,999: 5 · $40,000 to $49,999: 5 · $50,000 to $59,999: 24 · $60,000 to $69,999: 32 · $70,000 to $79,999: 58 307

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$80,000 to $89,999: 72 $90,000 to $99,999: 50 $100,000 to $124,999: 82 $125,000 to $149,999: 22 $150,000 to $174,999: 26 $175,000 to $199,999: 4 $200,000 to $249,999: 0 $250,000 to $299,999: 0 $300,000 to $399,999: 0 $400,000 to $499,999: 0 $500,000 to $749,999: 0 $750,000 to $999,999: 0 $1,000,000 or more: 0

Rent paid by renters in 2005 in Central Falls: · Less than $100: 156 · $100 to $149: 123 · $150 to $199: 438 · $200 to $249: 302 · $250 to $299: 273 · $300 to $349: 721 · $350 to $399: 765 · $400 to $449: 953 · $450 to $499: 603 · $500 to $549: 477 · $550 to $599: 125 · $600 to $649: 130 · $650 to $699: 33 · $700 to $749: 26 · $750 to $799: 0 · $800 to $899: 25 · $900 to $999: 7 · $1,000 to $1,249: 0 · $1,250 to $1,499: 0 · $1,500 to $1,999: 20 · $2,000 or more: 0 · No cash rent: 60 Household type by relationship Households: 18337 · In family households: 15623 (2547 male householders, 1879 female householders) 2602 spouses, 6372 children (6030 natural, 130 adopted, 212 stepchildren), 199 grandchildren, 537 brothers or sisters, 264 parents, 477 other relatives, 746 non-relatives 308

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In nonfamily households: 2714 (1028 male householders (852 living alone)), 1261 female householders (1106 living alone)), 425 nonrelatives · In group quarters: 591 (547 institutionalized population) Size of family households: 1215 2-persons, 1193 3-persons, 1002 4-persons, 598 5-persons, 274 6-persons, 144 7-or-more-persons Size of nonfamily households: 1958 1-person, 306 2-persons, 21 3-persons, 0 4-persons, 0 5persons, 0 6-persons, 4 7-or-more-persons Year of entry for the foreign-born population (6645 people) · 1995 to March 2005: 2025 · 1990 to 1994: 1224 · 1985 to 1989: 1103 · 1980 to 1984: 771 · 1975 to 1979: 614 · 1970 to 1974: 419 · 1965 to 1969: 262 · Before 1965: 227 Time leaving for work for workers 16 years and over in Central Falls, RI (7000 people) · 12:00 a.m. to 4:59 a.m.: 224 · 5:00 a.m. to 5:29 a.m.: 230 · 5:30 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.: 294 · 6:00 a.m. to 6:29 a.m.: 1018 · 6:30 a.m. to 6:59 a.m.: 1162 · 7:00 a.m. to 7:29 a.m.: 813 · 7:30 a.m. to 7:59 a.m.: 674 · 8:00 a.m. to 8:29 a.m.: 534 · 8:30 a.m. to 8:59 a.m.: 233 · 9:00 a.m. to 9:59 a.m.: 171 · 10:00 a.m. to 10:59 a.m.: 96 · 11:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.: 53 · 12:00 p.m. to 3:59 p.m.: 842 · 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.: 617 · Worked at home: 39 Household income: · Less than $10,000: 1529 · $10,000 to $14,999: 777 · $15,000 to $19,999: 637 · $20,000 to $24,999: 647 · $25,000 to $29,999: 554 · $30,000 to $34,999: 365 · $35,000 to $39,999: 435 · $40,000 to $44,999: 336 · $45,000 to $49,999: 317 309

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$50,000 to $59,999: 428 $60,000 to $74,999: 298 $75,000 to $99,999: 216 $100,000 to $124,999: 126 $125,000 to $149,999: 32 $150,000 to $199,999: 12 $200,000 or more: 6

First ancestries reported: · Other groups: 8303 · Portuguese: 1543 · French Canadian: 1188 · French (except Basque): 1028 · Subsaharan African:: 1012 · Cape Verdean: 939 · United States or American: 895 · Irish: 649 · Polish: 423 · Italian: 323 · English: 205 · Arab:: 132 · Syrian: 100 · German: 58 · Canadian: 52 · African: 41 · Scottish: 34 · Lebanese: 26 · Scotch-Irish: 26 · West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups):: 22 · Liberian: 19 · Ukrainian: 18 · Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac: 16 · Bulgarian: 12 · Slovene: 12 · Dutch: 11 · Armenian: 10 · Lithuanian: 9 · West Indian: 8 · Jamaican: 8 · Russian: 7 · Other Subsaharan African: 7 · Ghanian: 6 · Israeli: 6 · Haitian: 6 310

路 路 路 路

Arab/Arabic: 6 Danish: 6 Carpatho Rusyn: 4 European: 3

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Latina Leadership Institute March 12, 2005

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2005 Program Schedule Activity Marketing Kick Off Official Application Available Application Deadline

Date

Place

December 10, 2005

Presenter

Internet

January 1, 2005 January 31, 2005

Applicants Interview Period

2/1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2/19 2005

Applicants acceptance Not

March 1st, 2005

Mail

Official Kick Off

March 8 , 2005

State House

Soy Mujer Breakfast

March 10, 2005

Adaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creation

Voter Registration Project

March 12, 2005

Central Falls

th

Anastacia Williams / Grace Diaz

Class Schedule 1.

Opening Class/Introduction

March 12, 2005

Community College of RI

2.

Getting to know our community

March 19, 2005 Knight Memorial, 275 Elmwood

3.

Leadership Theory

March,26 2005

Providence City Council

4.

Communication Skills

April 2, 2005

Johnson & Wales University

5.

Public Policy

April 9, 2005

American Cancer Society

Luis Aponte

6.

Grass Root Activism

April 16, 2005

CHisPA

Shanah Kurland/Sarah Mersha

7.

Boards & Commissions

April 23, 2005

Progreso Latino

Nellie Gorbea

8.

Working with the media

April 30, 2005

PBS, Channel, Channel 36

Francis Parra

Latinos on the Hill

May 18, 2005

State House

Campaign Training Workshop

May 21, 2005

Women Suffrage Anniversary

August

Central Falls Primary Elections

October

Central Falls General Elections

November

Graduation

Potential Presenters Cynthia Garcia-Coll Kristine Peligrini Rosa De Castillo Betty B ernal

Lucia Gomez Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan Patricia Martinez Maria Del Pilar Abigail Mesa

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Betty/Doris/Tomas Marta Martinez/Betty Bernal

Vision “Latinas as Political Leaders”

Mission

“To develop Latinas as political leaders through training, professional development, relationship building, community and political activism.”

Purpose To ensure that Latino women develop their personal and professional potential to serve as leaders in their communities, move into greater leadership roles and advocate for positive changes in the Latino community.

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The Latina Leadership Institute What is the Latina Leadership Institute?

The Latino Civic Fund has designed this institute with the purpose of providing hands on training for Latinas about community organizing, leadership skills, political involvement and advocacy. We are hoping to provide eight sections for 4 hours each section. We will enroll 30 participants with the goal of completing the program by June, as we celebrate the Suffrage Movement. The Latino Civic Fund will invite Latinas from across the state, housewives, and community leaders in an effort to promote leadership development among Latinas.

Latinas have been the backbone of the Latino community increasing civic participation within our state. These women often serve as volunteers in campaigns, coordinators of health fairs and other community involvement. Consequently, there is a dire need to formally provide guidance and information to these women who are involved at different levels of our community.

The Latino community needs the tools to further develop Latinas in leadership positions, and be able to fully participate. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our community, and trust that this Leadership Institute will contribute to the overall improvement of our state.

Also, through this project we will use some of the funds to develop a comprehensive survey. Once the survey has been conducted we will analyze the information provided to assist us to formulate a Latina Conference next year. The process that will be utilized to develop this project consists of personal interviews and focus groups.

The Latina Leadership Institute program provides 12-week leadership development-training sessions which span 3 months. The intensive learning experience provides training in public policy, leadership, strategic management, team building and race, class and gender issues. The program emphasizes a holistic approach to leadership.

Participants will reflect and review their personal history: Who/what has influenced or motivated me? What obstacles have I overcome and still need to be overcome?

The LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE is committed to new paradigms of leadership, not in maintaining the status quo. As such, this program is for women who are ready for profound changes in their personal and professional lives. It will include deep, personal sharing and insights. In order to lead others, a leader must first know herself. “Knowing others is wisdom, knowing the self is enlightenment.”

The LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE program is an educational program. The excellence and relevance of LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE’s training program has been recognized by distinguished leaders in the public and private sectors. LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE’s commitment, however, extends beyond helping Latino women succeed. The fellows are viewed by LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE as agents of a much wider transformation.

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Program Structure Week 1: General Introduction · · · · · ·

Introduction to program, expectations, orientation.

Overview of Curriculum History of RI Latino Civic Fund Introduction of participants Latino Leaders: What have they achieved. What makes them unique?

Community Leadership. What does it mean?

Week 2: Getting to know our Community · · · ·

Introduction to the needs of the local community Presentation by community activists Presentations by selected members of local agencies and advocacy groups and elected officials Group discussion: According to the participants, What are the true needs of the community and how can these needs be met?

Week 3: Leadership Theory Leadership theory: · Traits of effective leaders · Leadership styles Servant leadership · What does it mean? · Group discussion on servant leadership Do participants see themselves as servant leaders?

Latino leadership: · Discussion of Latino leadership concept and its meaning · Issues of cultural identity and history will be addressed · Discussion of standards placed on Latino leaders versus mainstream leaders. · Who are some of the Latino leaders in Providence, in Rhode Island, and US. · What contributions have they made to the community? State, and country

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Week 4: Communication Skills · ·

Developing communication Skills Assertiveness: 1. To learn to communicate your needs effectively 2. Understand assertive and non-assertive behaviors 3. Communication Philosophy and Theory

·

Group discussion: Individual views on what constitutes effective communication skills and how they enhance person's leadership skills.

·

Communication Skills 1. Effective communication skills 2. Effective listening skills Brainstorming & Public Speaking 1. How to prepare and present a speech 2. Addressing your audience.

3. Public Speaking: Ten-minute speeches will be given on topics of choice.

4. Group discussion: Participants will assess each other's public speaking strengths and 5. Weaknesses

·

·

How to run a meeting effectively 1. Running a Meeting: Each participant will run a meeting for 10 minutes and try to achieve consensus on a particular issue 2. Group Discussion: Participants will access each other's strengths and weaknesses in running a meeting

Week 5: Public Policy · · ·

What is Public Policy?

The process of development, formulation and implementation of public policy Overview of local state system and structure · · · ·

Health Education Economic Personal Finance

·

Group Project: Discussion of a pertinent community issue. How can an appropriate policy address this problem? What appropriate board, commission, or agency would be the most appropriate to implement such a policy?

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Week 6: Grassroots Leadership and Activism · · · · ·

Why should someone participate in grassroots activism?

General guidelines for activism How to administer a letter writing campaign Basics of how to access and meet with politicians The dynamics of organizing grass root campaigns for voter education and registration.

Week 7. Introduction to Boards & Commissions ·

Types of boards and their respective responsibilities o Corporate Boards o Private Boards o Public

· · · ·

Characteristics of good Board members Roles of different Board members.

Board ethics Understanding the responsibilities of serving on a board and the implicit accountability to the community. · Identify board and commissions which are important to the Providence Latino community · How to get placed on a board · How to advocate for board positions · How to build consensus on a board commission · Conclusion: Discussion on why Latinos need to serve on Boards that influence public policy. · Individual Projects: Each participant will do research about a local board, preferably a school board, and will write a brief summary of its latest projects, concerns and accomplishments. Each participant will discuss weather or not he/she would like to become part of the board and why? He/she will also discuss the strategies to follow if he/she wanted to be an appointed member of the board.

Week 8: Working With the Media · How to write a press release · How to get the media's attention · How to make the media accountable to Latino Issues. · How to develop a press kit. · How to use statistics effectively · How and where to research for sources of informational and statistical support

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Campaign Training Workshop Agenda Saturday, ______ 8:00 – 8:45 a.m.

Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 a.m.

Welcome

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Developing a Campaign Plan

(Track I, Beginning/ Intermediate) This session will provide participants with expert advice on putting together a campaign plan that includes: examining legal requirements, identifying the key organizational parts of the campaign team, developing a campaign timeline, and examining what it takes to run for office.

Panelists: 10:30 – 12:00 p.m.

Workgroup Session I: “Developing Your Campaign Plan”

(Track I, Beginning/ Intermediate) Participants will separate into workgroups where they will have an opportunity to work with a facilitator to put into practice the skills outlined in the previous general session.

9:00 – 10:30 p.m.

Rhode Island Numbers & Polling

(Track II, Advanced) This session will provide participants with a demographic profile of the new districts in Rhode Island, utilizing 2000 census information as well as Polling information. The session will cover Rhode Island profile, demographics, statewide and local polling information, and issues analysis.

Public Affairs Consultant Polling firm representative 10:30 – 12:00 noon Media Skills Training (Tracks I & II) Participants will learn how to deal with electronic and print press effectively, how to prepare a media alert, press release, and how to deliver message in thirty seconds with immediate feedback through role-playing exercises.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch

Keynote Lunch

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1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

ABC’s of Political Fundraising

(Track I, Beginning/ Intermediate) Participants will learn the building blocks to a successful political fundraising plan. They will learn about fundraising techniques, how to plan successful fundraising events and how to incorporate their fundraising plan into a budget.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Workgroup Session II: “Putting Together a Fundraising Plan”

(Track I, Beginning/ Intermediate) Participants will develop an outline for a fundraising plan.

The exercise will require participants to raise $20,000 using at least ten different fundraising events through personal solicitation, fundraising committees, house parties, constituency groups, PACs, and large events. Participants will then place these events within a campaign timeline.

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Creating an Effective Mail Program

(Track II, Advanced) This session is designed help campaigns develop effective mail programs for campaigns. The session will cover how to combine the field operations with the mail program as well as how to maximize the mail program.

Political Strategist 3: 00 -3:15 pm 3:15 – 4:30

Break Developing a Winning Campaign Message

(Track I, Beginning/ Intermediate) Participants will learn the fundamentals of developing an effective campaign message. Participants will begin by defining what a campaign message is, developing their own message, identifying the best vehicles to get out their message, and tailoring their message to various voters.

Panelists: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Message”

Workgroup Session I: “Developing Your Winning Campaign

(Track I, Beginning/Intermediate) Participants will create a campaign message and begin to identify the various vehicles needed to deliver a winning message.

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Field Plan: Mobilizing for Victory

(Track I, Beginning/ Intermediate) Participants will learn the essentials to develop a successful field operation. This session will focus on developing effective field operations through identifying/targeting voters, door-to door canvassing, phone banking, recruiting/managing volunteers, GOTV techniques, and Election Day strategies.

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April 17, 2004 Retreat

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