In what some are calling a "new trend," Latin Americans will be represented in large numbers on the governor's Hispanic Advisory Council.
Gov. Mike Leavitt appointed five new people and reappointed two members to the council Tuesday afternoon, including three Latin Americans. The appointments increase the size of the board from seven to 11.The two reappointments are Gilbert Martinez, an administrative law judge, and Phil Romero, a civil rights consultant for UTA. The new members are German T. Flores, an immigration attorney, Juan A. Mejia, a licensed clinical psychologist, Victor A. Hurtado, operations manager for Salt Lake County Management Information System, Caleb Castillo Ortiz, a Syracuse businessman, and Lorena Riffo, project coordinator for the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. A 12th person is yet to be named to the council.
"We've had people who were connected with the Latin American community, but none that were direct descendants," said Lisa Hurtado Armstrong, chairwoman of the council. Mejia, Hurtado and Florez are all from Central America or other Latin American countries.
"Their issues are different than those of Mexican Americans," she said.
Hurtado Armstrong said Latin Americans are more concerned about business licensing, immigration laws and English as a second language. Mexican Americans, unless they're recent immigrants, are concerned with civil rights in education, employment and housing.
The governor promised to expand the board after complaints from the Hispanic community that it needed more diverse representation. The appointments came just a day after the governor met with community leaders from the Hispanic community for an hourlong discussion.
The governor is expected to announce the new director of Hispanic Affairs sometime Wednesday afternoon. Hurtado Armstrong said it will be either Gustavo Leon, a retired Utah National Guard colonel, or Jorge Galvez, a civil rights attorney.