Note: please note that this issue brief should (a) link back to the issue overview on this topic, (b) be focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (c) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items.  See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you. 

 

 

Goal Statement

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• The goal is to increase Latino political participation in communities nation-wide. The case of Pasco, Washington can be useful for other small rural communities with large, growing, and recently arrived Latino communities.

 

 

Scope of the Problem  factual statements on the extent of the problem in the past, current, or future

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• The Latino community in Pasco has been severely underrepresented at the local and state levels due to the lack of elected officials who were either Latino themselves or who accurately represented Latino interests ^[1].

 

• Few political mobilization efforts, strong political partisanship, and tensions among Latino leaders created an environment in Pasco that contributed to Latinos’ low political participation in terms of elections and broader community involvement^[2].

 

• In Pasco, Latino representation and voter-turnout remain low in comparison to non-Latino representation and voter-turnout^[3].

 

•  In Pasco, the political environment as created by political parties and conflict among Latino leadership continues to discourage political participation among Latinos (Miller, 2008).

 

• Efforts to mobilize the Latino community in Pasco exist and are encouraging, but remain small in scope^[4].  

 

The mobilization efforts that currently exist in Pasco will contribute to a gradual increase in Latino civic and political participation though stronger efforts would accelerate the pace of Latino engagement.  

 

 

 

Past Policy  key legislation and milestones including significant policy and funding shifts, major studies, etc.

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• There were two major efforts to promote more civic participation among Latinos in Pasco. The Hispanic Political Action Committee (HPAC) was established in 2001 but dissolved a year later due to strong political partisanship among members. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) attempted to establish a local chapter in Pasco but also failed as a result of poor organizational management and a lack of strong leadership^[5].
• Other efforts included the Washington State Democratic Party’s Latino Vote Project that attempted to register new Latino voters and encourage registered Latino voters to vote; the project’s funding was temporarily suspended in 2006 but was reinstated in 2008^[6].   

 

 

 

Current Policy  summary of current policies in the form of legislation, programs, and funding

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• The Hispanic/Latino Legislative Organization (HLLO) uses nonpartisan legislative education and action as a strategy to mobilize the Latino community around important issues such as education, immigration, economic development, and housing. The organization’s primary activity is organizing the Hispanic/Latino Legislative Day where Latinos from around the state visit Olympia, speak with their legislative representatives about issues of concern within the Latino community, and learn about the legislative process. The HLLO is the most successful mobilizing effort in the Pasco area; last year 150 Latinos from Pasco participated in the annual legislative day. Unlike previous Latino organizations, the HLLO’s strategy is successful even in a highly partisan area ^[7].  

• Political parties’ role in mobilizing immigrants and minorities to vote has decreased. During the primaries, the Franklin County Democrats knew very little about the Latino community in Pasco, which makes up over 50% of the population. At the Democratic Caucus in 2008, there were no bilingual caucus materials and advertising for the event was minimal ^[8]. Similarly, the Franklin County Republican Party’s efforts to reach out to the Latino community were insignificant^[9]. Other organizations that align with political parties and serve the Latino community like the Washington State chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly are very small in scope in Pasco.

• In the summer of 2008, however, the Washington State Democratic Party re-launched the Latino Vote Project that aimed to mobilize registered Latino voters to the polls and register new Latino voters. The Latino Vote Project spanned the state of Washington, with special efforts in Eastern Washington including Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Although get-out-the-vote campaigns can be very effective at mobilizing communities to vote, they are election-centered and do not build long-lasting patterns of political participation in the way that political community organizations are able to develop.

 

 

Policy Options   

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• Legislative education and action

This strategy, as used by the HLLO, has mobilized and engaged the Latino community in Pasco where political partisanship has discouraged political engagement and where there has not been a history of civic and political involvement among the Latino population^[10]. What is more, legislative education and action is effective in changing state and federal policy. This strategy has prevented the passage of National English-Only laws and the passage of anti-bilingual and anti-immigrant measures in Oregon^[11].

• Strengthening the mobilization efforts that already exist

In Pasco, like many other rural communities, efforts on the part of community organizations to increase Latino political and civic engagement exist but  need to broaden their scope^[12]. Increasing outreach efforts, especially towards youth, and coalition building by working with other organizations or institutions like the county elections office or public schools will amplify existent efforts and increase Latino political participation on a larger scope.

 

 

Key Organizations/Individuals   contacts for public and private organizations and key individuals

 

The Franklin County Elections Office

The Franklin County Election’s Office has an outreach program that aims to orient new voters into the electoral system. Registration and educational events are held at the local high school, during Migrant and Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee meetings, and at the public library. 

 

Contact: Telephone- 509-545-3538

 Email- dkillian@co.franklin.wa.us

 

The Hispanic/Latino Legislative Organization (HLLO)

The HLLO is a statewide organization with chapters throughout the state of Washington. The organization’s mission is to promote the ideals and principles of the Hispanic/Latino communities in the State of Washington, provide opportunities for participation and leadership, expand the community’s knowledge of local, state, and national legislative issues, promote civic participation in all elections, and promote and advocate for legislative initiatives that benefit the Hispanic/Latino community at all levels. In addition, the HLLO is responsible for organizing the annual Hispanic/Latino Legislative Day where Latino families learn about the legislative processes, meet their representatives, and voice their concerns directly to state representatives.

 

Gabriel Portugal

Mr. Portugal is the president of the HLLO chapter in Pasco and has been a well-known leader within the Latino community and in the Tri-cities at large. 

 

Contact: port_ga@hotmail.com

 

The Washington State Democratic Party

Through the Latino Vote Project, the Washington State Democratic Party hopes to register, educate, and mobilize more Latino voters to participate and be heard during elections. Despite a two-year temporary suspension, the project continued to register, educate, and mobilize Latino voters for the 2008 presidential elections.

 

Contact: (206) 583-0664

 

The Washington State Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA)

The organization’s mission is to foster the principles of the Republican Party within the Hispanic community, provide Hispanic Americans with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities, increase the number of Hispanic Republican elected officials, create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders, and promote and encourage citizen participation in Republican activities.

 

Contact: trbenegas@verizon.net or chair@wrnha.org

 

Resources

 

For further inquiry about Latino political participation in Washington State, I recommend the following sources:

 

·        NALEO Educational Fund. Latino Vote in Washington: A Demographic and Political Profile of Latinos in Washington[PA1] .

 

·        The State of the State for Washington Latinos. http://wa-latinos.org.

 

 

For further inquiry about the organizations mentioned above, visit the following websites:

 

·        Hispanic/Latino Legislative Organization: http://www.hispaniclegislativeday.org

 

·        Washington State Democrats:  www.wa-democrats.org

 

Washington State Republican National Hispanic Assembly: www. wrnha.org 

 

 

Glossary of Terms

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• Link here to the overview page for the glossary of terms related to this issue brief 

 

 

Bibliography   web sites, reports, articles, and other reference material 

 

Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College.

 

Shadix, Timothy (2008). The Missing Majority: Latinos and City Council Elections in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College.

 

Santoro, Wayne A. (1999). Conventional Politics Takes Center Stage: The Latino Struggle

Against English-Only Laws. Social Forces 77, 887-909.    

Footnotes

1. Shadix, Timothy (2008). The Missing Majority: Latinos and City Council Elections in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
2. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
3. Shadix, Timothy (2008). The Missing Majority: Latinos and City Council Elections in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
4. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
5. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
6. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
7. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
8. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
9. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
10. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲
11. Santoro, Wayne A. (1999). Conventional Politics Takes Center Stage: The Latino Struggle Against English-Only Laws. Social Forces 77, 887-909. ▲
12. Miller, Andrea (2008) Building Bridges: Latino Political Mobilization in Pasco WA. The State of the State for Washington Latinos, 2008. Walla Walla, Washington: Whitman College. ▲