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Chair Vice Chair SENATORS: RON CALDERON ASSEMBLY MEMBERS: RICHARD ALARCÓN KEVIN DE LEÓN |
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Latino Caucus New Member Luncheon A capacity crowd gathered Sunday, December 3, 2006, at the Sheraton Hotel for a luncheon to congratulate new members of the Latino Caucus and welcome their families to Sacramento. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez gave a toast to new Members, while Assemblymember Joe Coto (D-San Jose), the incoming Caucus Chair, presided over the festivities. New Members shared memorable stories from their campaigns, and their goals for the coming legislative session. Returning Members shared words of wisdom and advice for their colleagues. Upon conclusion of the luncheon, Members met to elect Caucus leadership, while their families were escorted to the Capitol for tours.
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COME TO A HOLIDAY POT-LUCK DECEMBER 18 Let’s enjoy a little time before the holidays around a holiday pot-luck lunch/dessert. We’re planning to bring some food and drink to share in our office between 11:30-1:30 on Monday, December 18. Nobody is asked to do too much, just put out a little something for people to eat and drink and we’ll all make the rounds and say hello. The holiday pot-luck is a chance for staff members who spent the day together at the December 6 Caucus staff retreat to reconnect. It provides us all a chance to see one another’s (often) new offices. It gives staff members who didn’t attend on December 6th an opportunity to ‘meet and greet’. It extends our commitment to know one another better, communicate often and support the work of the Caucus. Who knows, this might even become a tradition….. |
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Volume 1, Edition 3 - Decembter 2006 Coto Assumes Leadership of Latino Caucus The California Legislative Latino Caucus held a successful luncheon Sunday, December 3rd at the Sheraton in Sacramento, CA. Assembly Member Joe Coto was unanimously elected as the new Chair of the California Latino Caucus. Coto took over from the outgoing Chair, Senator Martha Escutia (ret.). Coto said, “I am proud to serve as the Chair of the Latino Caucus and look forward to working diligently on the priorities our Caucus has identified.” The 2007 Latino Caucus agenda includes advocating for its legislative priorities in the areas of education, health care, language access and creating economic opportunities for Hispanic businesses. The Caucus will continue to work to increase the number of Latinos elected and appointed in government, and to advance the Caucus priorities. Assemblymember Coto was elected to the Assembly in November 2004 to represent the 23rd Assembly District, which includes the east side, downtown and the Monterey Road corridor in San Jose. Coto began his career as a teacher in the Oakland Unified School District, served on the Oakland City Council and became the Superintendent of the Oakland schools. In 1988 he accepted the position of Superintendent of the East Side Union High School District in San Jose. He has a lifetime commitment to the advancement of all students and their families. Election of Sentor Gil Cedillo as Vice-Chair of Latino Caucus Senator Gilbert Cedillo has been elected Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. Senator Cedillo represents the 22nd Senate District, which includes portions of the cities of Los Angeles, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena and Vernon. He champions justice and equality for all, leading in legal protections for the rights of women, increasing access to health care, integrating immigrants into California’s social and economic structures and devising regional solutions to homelessness. His proposal to provide a drivers license option to immigrants without legal documents has gained national attention. Senator Cedillo’s proposal (SB 1160 from the 2005-2006 legislative session) would establish a driving-only license, distinctive in color or design, for undocumented workers who are not able to prove their legal status. It is believed that 2007 will be the year to gain the Governor’s signature on this historic legislation since federal law grants latitude to states to enact such laws. Senator Cedillo serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Public Safety, Rules, Transportation and Housing. He also mentors numerous young persons interested in state and local issues. As outside interests, he is a big movie buff and enjoys good music and food. Senator Cedillo is a new grandfather to granddaughter Ruby Cedillo, named after the Senator’s. The California Latino Caucus welcomes its new members in 2007 - 08
Latino Assembly Caucus Members Assume Key Committee Chairs California’s seventeen Assembly Latino Caucus Members have assumed key committee chairmanships in the 2007-08 legislative session. These appointments represent the emergence of Latinos in California in numbers and influence.
Latino Caucus staff retreat promotes teamwork WALNUT GROVE, Calif. – The setting: The nearly 100-year-old, four-story Grand Island Mansion that hugs the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta amid acres of winegrape, pear and walnut orchards about 30 miles southwest of California’s Capitol. The audience: 50-to-60 new and veteran staff members for the 26 Latino lawmakers who make up the 2007-08 class of California’s Latino Legislative Caucus, which in turn represents nearly one-fifth of elected lawmakers who set policy statewide. The message: Recognize the growing influence of Latinos in California, but be doubly aware that much work remains before the majority population in a diverse state achieves representative power, control and influence to better serve constituents. So went the inspirational talks and historical overview from keynote speakers Richard Polanco, a former state lawmaker and longtime Latino leader; Art Torres, also a former lawmaker who now chairs the Democratic Party; and Dina Hidalgo; head of personnel for the State Senate. Work hard, work together. Remember your roots. And fight for improved education, housing, jobs and economic development for Californians in general and Latino households in particular. “You have tremendous opportunity to impact the policy debate in California,” Polanco told staff during a policy retreat organized by Asm. Joe Coto, D-San Jose, unanimously elected caucus chair Sunday. “We depend on people like you.” Polanco knows the value of teamwork. Elected to the Assembly in 1986 and to the Senate in 1994, Polanco chaired the Latino Caucus from 1990 to 2002, where he spearheaded the jump in Latino lawmakers from seven to 22 and Cruz Bustamante’s election as the first Latino Assembly Speaker. Torres was a member of the Legislature for 18 years before President Clinton in 1996 asked him to chair the California Democratic Party, becoming the first Latino to hold the post. When first elected to the Assembly in 1972, Torres was one of a handful of Latino lawmakers. “The Legislature was a very lonely place,” Torres said, joking: “There was no good place to get menudo.” Turning serious, Torres added: “Latinos must be more forceful (and) our members will exceed our expectations.” Ironically, Hidalgo, the daughter of a farmworker who grew up near Grand Island Mansion, witnessed firsthand the transition of how Latinos once entered the resort from the rear entrance to now hosting an event there. She recalled how there were only seven Latinos in the Legislature when she began working as a staff member 17 years ago, and she stressed mentoring others was key. “You must continue to bring others with you,” Hidalgo said. The values of working together, seeking each other’s solace and trusting each other were underscored team-building exercises as part of the daylong retreat. These included role-playing activities where the point driven home was that two heads are better than one, and three better than two and so forth. In other words, individuals may hit or miss when tackling a problem; but teams almost always faired better.
Other tips to staff
-- By Ray Sotero, press secretary for Sen. Jenny Oropeza. WEB ADDRESS DISTRICT OFFICE: CAPITOL OFFICE: State Capitol P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0023 Phone: (916) 319-2023 Fax: (916) 319-2123 For more information, please contact: Minnie Santillan at 319-2023 or minnie.santillan@asm.ca.gov |
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