Strong Latino presence during past elections

<figure id="attachment_9340" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9340" style="width: 432px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a class="highslide" onclick="return vz.expand(this)" href="/sites/default/files/2010/11/David.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-9340" title="David" src="http://laprensa-sandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/David.jpg" alt="" width="432" height="292" srcset="https://dev-laprensa.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/David.j… 432w, https://dev-laprensa.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/David-3… 300w" sizes="(max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-9340" class="wp-caption-text">David Alvarez with some of his supporters, (from left to right) Diane Takvorian, David, Linda LeGerrette, and Gracia Molina de Pick.</figcaption></figure>
    Latino voters and candidates had a strong participation in Nov. 2’s general elections in San Diego County, but especially in the southern portion of the county.
    “We don’t have the official numbers yet, but I can tell you that Latino voters had a strong presence in these elections,” said Carmen Lopez, spokesperson for the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. “By physical observance in different polling places throughout the South Bay, I saw many, many Latinos voting.”
    Lopez said that in this election there were around 223,000 registered voters with Spanish surnames, although the Registrar of Voters doesn’t require voters to identify their ethnicity. It is optional, and not all people indicate their ethnic group on their registration, she said.
    Important groups within the Latino voters were new citizens and seniors, Lopez said.
    “There were more Latinos in these elections that are first time voters and senior citizens,” she said.
    She pointed out that a grass-roots campaign organized by several community groups, such as Justice Overcoming Boundaries (JOB), to encourage Latinos to vote in San Diego County gave good results. In late October, there was a community forum in Spanish in Escondido to inform Latino voters about the electoral process. Lopez said she participated in that forum representing the Registrar of Voters to let Latinos know about their voting rights.
    “That has to remain. There has to be a permanent educational campaign to teach new citizens and our community in general about the electoral process,” Lopez said.
    Just as Latino voters had a strong participation in these elections, Latino candidates were present in many races throughout the county.
    Many of the candidates endorsed by were victorious in their campaigns.
    In District 8 of the San Diego City Council, David Alvarez readily won against Felipe Hueso by a 17 percent difference.
    In National City, retired librarian Mona Alvarado-Ríos was elected to the city council. Rosie Alvarado was reelected to the National School District.
    In San Ysidro School District, all three incumbents endorsed by La Prensa San Diego were reelected: Yolanda Hernandez, Jean Romero, and Jason M-B Wells.
    Several of the Latino candidates in the county used Facebook to promote their campaigns and also to announce their victories.
    “Thank you to the amazing group of volunteers who carried me to a decisive victory,” wrote David Alvarez a few hours after the polls closed. “I look forward to serving as your next San Diego City Councilmember.”
    Luis Natividad, who was elected to the National City, City Council, wrote on his Facebook page: “Experience, leadership, results!! Thank you all.”
    Yolanda Hernandez, who was reelected to the San Ysidro School District School Board, gave “muchísimas gracias to my family, my community. Viva San Ysidro!”
    Near the polls, Latinos were interviewed to get their reaction to the elections and to find out if they had voted.
    “I voted by mail,” said Sierra Manzo, a 22 year old from Chula Vista. “It’s important because if you want to see changes you can’t expect that to happen without voting. I mailed in my ballot because the process is easier that way.”
    David Vera, a 27 year old from National City, couldn’t vote. “I didn’t go, I didn’t have time. I’m registered to vote, but this is the first year I haven’t voted. I had to work and couldn’t make it to the polls.”
    Others, like Juan Perez from San Diego, were on their way to vote. “It’s something I have to do because is a way to contribute to society and see improvements.”
    To see official election results, please visit the San Diego County Registrar of Voters’ website at <a href="http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/voters/Eng">www.sdcounty.ca.gov/voters/Eng</…;

Strong Latino presence during past elections

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