With the historic election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States, racial barriers in politics have been destroyed. Americans have shown their willingness to break from tradition and elect quality officials regardless of their national origin, color, sex, or religion. Considering this, as well as the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight five Latino politicians who could potentially run a successful presidential campaign in 2012.
Antonio Villaraigosa- He is the mayor of the City of Los Angeles. First elected in 2005, he was then elected to a second term in 2009. Born in Los Angeles in 1953 to Mexican immigrants, he has shown exceptional leadership locally and the potential to take his success national. He served as the national co-chair on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, as well as part of then president-elect Obama’s economic transition team. With this he has shown an aptitude for national issues and the ability to put his skill to use on a grand scale. During his time as mayor, he has modeled himself after New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has taken strong stances on gun-control, education, and quality of life. He has sought to implement similar policies in Los Angeles. Shortly after his election, Mayor Villaraigosa was featured on TIME Magazine’s list of the 25 most influential Latinos.
Bill Richardson- He is the current governor of New Mexico. He was elected in 2003. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary under President Clinton. He also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives where he sponsored legislation for equal rights for Native Americans, a major constituency in his state. He also engaged in solo negotiations with Saddam Hussein in the 1990s. He is the son of a white father and Spanish-Mexican mother. He was nominated by President Obama to be the Commerce Secretary but withdrew himself due to scandal rather than tarnish the President’s image. He has shown exemplary leadership and a commitment to equal rights for all. His various offices and appointments make him uniquely qualified to deal with national as well as global issues.
Adolfo Carrion Jr. - He is currently the Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs Policy, which is charged with the duty to coordinate and implement policy for urban areas nationwide as well as set urban policy agenda with all the executive departments. President Obama chose him for this position. Before accepting this position, he was the Bronx Borough President in New York City, which is the boroughs chief executive. In this capacity, he was also the States highest-ranking Latino elected official. He was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents. He has dedicated his career to helping the under-privileged. He constantly worked with the Mayor and New York City council to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers and minorities. He would bring a fresh perspective to national politics.
Joe Baca- He is the Congressman from New Mexico. He has served in this position since 1999 when he won a special election. Rep. Baca is a Vietnam veteran, where he served in the Army as a member of the Army’s airborne division. He has spent his career fighting for veterans rights, anti-violence, agricultural issues, financial responsibility, and more Latino representation is corporate America. He was born in New Mexico to Mexican laborers. His experience with national issues and Latino empowerment make him a worthy candidate for the presidency.
Luis Gutierrez- He is a Congressman from Chicago. He was elected in 1992 and became the first Hispanic elected from the Midwest. He was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents. He is a supporter of Puerto Rican independence and the rights of Vieques’ citizens. He has spent his career in Congress fighting for immigration reform and immigrants rights as well as financial responsibility and affordable housing for urban areas. His seventeen years in Congress have given him the experience to deal with local and national issues. His experience with immigration issues also makes him qualified to tackle the sensitive areas of our relationship with Mexico and Latin America.
While these politicians may have their flaws, like any other, they would bring diversity and richness of experiences to the office of the Presidency. While their race or ethnicity should not be a determining factor, it would undoubtedly have an affect on how they run the nation and treat minorities nationwide.
By Chris Carrion
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