By Sergio Arellano-Oros
The Arizona Latino Caucus elected new leadership and developed a new set of priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
“The Arizona Latino Caucus now has a very clear purpose and definitive priorities,” said Rep. Martin Quezada, who will represent Legislative District 29. “Our goals include promoting positive perceptions of Latinos and other minorities, increasing employment opportunities for minorities and working closely with other minority organizations to develop a better understanding of their agendas. We intend to accomplish these goals with transparency and integrity.”
In November the group was squabbling over who, exactly, qualifies as a Latino according to the Yellow Sheet. Representative Gonzales said she did not want non-Latinos being involved in drafting or voting on the bylaws for the group. “I have a major problem [with] non-Latinos working on the Latino bylaws.” Gonzales said that she “would prefer if the Latino members drafted the bylaws alone, then invited (as either voting on non-voting members) the other non-Latino lawmakers who want to be a part of the caucus,” reported the Yellow Sheet.
“I think Latinos need to decide how this Latino caucus is run – and if we want to let [non-Latinos] in, if we want to give them a vote, fine. If we don’t, fine,” Gonzales said, adding that non-Latino members should be barred from holding leadership positions within the caucus, according to the Yellow Sheet.
Rep-elect Lisa Otondo, who is half Basque Spanish but considers herself a Latina said that excluding members based on race can get tricky reported the Yellow Sheet, “First of all, how do you define Latino? Do you consider me Latino? A lot of people see me and they see my Irish mother’s face.”
The group then debated the merits of calling the group the Arizona Latino Caucus, or the Arizona Chicano Caucus. The Yellow Sheet reports that “arguing for the Chicano Caucus moniker, Quezada said he understands the political connotation such a name brings with it, but that’s part of the reason he likes it, noting that it’s okay if the term rubs some people the wrong way.” While others “argued that putting such a politically charged term in the caucus’ name might deter prospective financial benefactors or make others apprehensive about joining.”