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NEWS RELEASE
March 18, 2005
Contact: Tracie Cayford, (801) 538-8777
Hispanic Community Meets With Governor Huntsman
Salt Lake City – Members of Utah’s Hispanic/Latino community met with Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. today to discuss education, economic development and other issues impacting the state’s largest minority population. The meeting included Yvette Donosso Diaz, executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Culture, Leo Gonzalez, director, Office of Hispanic Affairs, Luz Robles, director of Public Policy and Research for the Office of Ethnic Affairs, and 15 Hispanic/Latino leaders representing a cross-section of the Hispanic community. The group included members of the Hispanic Advisory Council, Democratic Hispanic Caucus, Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly, Brazilian Association of Utah, Chilean Association, Centro de la Familia de Utah, Institute of Mexicans Abroad, Latino Alliance, as well as city and county Hispanic minority leaders.
“Our community has a need for more Hispanic and Latino leaders and role models who can help make our state stronger and better,” said Gov. Huntsman. He also encouraged emerging leaders in the Hispanic/Latino community to get involved in politics and his administration. “I need you to come unified to the table. Divided, everyone loses,” he told the group.
“I thought the governor was very gracious in expressing his desire to reach out and collaborate with the Hispanic community,” said State Representative Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake, who attended the meeting. “I am optimistic he will call on us as a resource in the future.”
“Great ideas came about,” said Miguel Rovira, vice-chairman of the Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly. “It was beneficial for the community to meet in a roundtable environment.”
“I was impressed by the governor’s desire to serve all of Utah’s communities,” said Barbara Menendez, executive member of the Hispanic Advisory Council. “He recognizes that we are all equally important.”
The governor expressed a desire to meet with the group again later in the year to continue discussions.
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