In an effort to mend their rocky relationship, Gov. Mike Leavitt discussed issues with Utah's Hispanics and answered questions Monday night.
Local Hispanic groups had asked for a meeting with the governor after problems arose in the selection of a new director of the office of Hispanic Affairs last month.At Monday's meeting, Leavitt told an audience of more than 100 community leaders that some of his best relationships started with a "jolt."
"One of the things I've learned is that there are a few things I've got to learn about the Hispanic community," he said. Leavitt's trouble with community leaders came to a head when Image de Utah President Art Martinez announced the governor had selected him as the new director.
Leavitt's office said the announcement was premature and that it had not formally offered him the job. The Hispanic Advisory Council was angry over the chain of events because it had given the governor three names to chose from and Martinez wasn't one of them.
The governor met with the advisory committee after the trouble surfaced and asked for two more names to chose from. Leavitt said he had offered the job to one of those people and was just waiting for an answer, which should come Wednesday.
Community leaders believe the new director will be either civil-rights attorney Jorge Galvez or retired National Guard Col. Gustavo Leon. But community leaders said other problems, including in-accessability and lack of meaningful minority appointments, were also problems Leavitt needed to address.
Addressing those issues was what the governor did Monday night at Centro Civico during a very cordial meeting. Leavitt announced the expansion of the advisory council from nine to 12 people. Those names will be announced Tuesday.
Community leaders told Leavitt that Hispanics feel excluded from local and state government, that the "gang problem" isn't a minority problem and that something needs to be done to speed the process of filing and resolving dis-crimination suits.
"Image de Utah recognizes that Hispanics are not participating in Utah government," Martinez said. "We need to change that. Hispanics have not had many opportunities to experience working on committees, councils and commissions."
Other leaders echoed Martinez's concern about being excluded from committees and boards. The governor said his administration is making a concerted effort to consider and include all minority candidates when forming boards and committees and making those appointments.
Leavitt ended the hourlong exchange by telling the group that one of his goals as governor was to make a difference in Utah's minority communities.
"My heart has been right in all of this," he said, adding that his efforts combined with the efforts of community leaders will hopefully "make us a diverse and culturally rich society."