Hispanic leaders: County commission should reflect changing demographics
Hillsborough County’s population
By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 07, 2011
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TAMPA Now comprising 25 percent of Hillsborough County, the local Hispanic population grew more than any other group in the last 10 years, and some community leaders say it’s time the county commission reflected the change.
A coalition of Latino community organizations is preparing to petition the Hillsborough County Commission to take their concerns into account as commissioners set new voting districts as a result of the 2010 census.
Some are pessimistic their issues will be addressed and say if they’re denied, they will turn to the Justice Department or the courts.
“By continually ignoring the Hispanic community, for whatever argument they want to use, it’s only going to get worse,” said Victor DiMaio, president of the Hillsborough County Democratic Hispanic Caucus. “The numbers are just too big to ignore anymore.”
Hispanic leaders say they want an opportunity to put a Latino on the commission.
‘We have been traditionally a large part of the community for over a century now,” DiMaio said. “I really think that we deserve an opportunity to be represented as well as the African-American community…I think it’s time.”
“We want to be heard,” said Norma Reno, a community activist.
Al Frederick, president of the Tampa Latin Chamber of Commerce, said Hispanics don’t have a voice in county government. “There’s no one there to speak up for the people, to speak out for that ethnicity,” he said.
“We’re looking at empowering the community so the people who get elected to represent them will be responsive to them,” said John Garcia, national redistricting manager for LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a national legal and civil rights organization that is working with local Hispanic activists.
Four of the seven county commissioners are elected in geographic districts. The other three are elected by the entire county.
One of the four geographic seats – District 3 – was created to be a “minority district” under the federal Voting Rights Act. The federal definition of “minority” includes Hispanics and African-Americans. District 3 is 40 percent African-American and 25 percent Hispanic.
Les Miller, who was elected in District 3, is the only African-American county commissioner. About 17 percent of Hillsborough County residents are black.
Hispanics make up 35 percent of District 1, the highest percentage of Hispanics in any of the geographic districts. The district is represented by Sandy Murman, who is white.
“I think all minority groups should be represented in some fashion,” Murman said. “I make a big effort to reach out to Hispanic groups.”
But some activists think the absence of a Latino county commissioner means the concerns of their community are too often ignored. They point to their unsuccessful fight for years to obtain funding in heavily Hispanic areas for historic community club buildings that have fallen into disrepair, noting commissioners found millions to funnel into a lavish community center in Brandon.
Among those taking up the cause is Patrick Manteiga, publisher of the trilingual weekly, “La Gaceta.” He said Hispanics make up a relatively small percentage of county workers and argues that might be different if there was a Hispanic county commissioner.
“When you look at county government and they govern a diverse group of people, you would like to see that diversity naturally move up through the ranks,” Manteiga said.
Manteiga thinks it’s possible to form a district that is 40 percent Hispanic by linking West Tampa and Town ‘n Country. That, he said, would greatly increase the chances of electing a Hispanic county commissioner.
Steve Valdez, client services manager for the commission’s redistricting task force, said none of the current redistricting proposals specifically address the issue of Hispanic representation. He said that could change, depending on public input and direction from commissioners.
“That is something that can be brought up at public hearings on the 9th or the 20th of this month,” he said.
If commissioners don’t respond to the coalition, Manteiga said, he will “do everything I can to get people together to fund-raise and organize” to get the Justice Department to exert pressure.
“Maybe the Department of Justice doesn’t have the last word,” Garcia said. “Maybe the courts have the last word… Redistricting invariably leads, in my experience, to litigation.”
Murman said she doesn’t know what the commission will do but said the question is still open. “I say to everyone in the community, just make your voice heard about how these maps should be drawn. We tend to respond to large cries for assistance in matters like this.”
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