Latinos Represent at Latest Election

Latino families have been settling in and around New London since the 1940s - growing in number, in the diversity of their countries of origin, their contributions to the economy, and in their search for political representation.

The past municipal election witnessed a record-setting number of Latino candidates for public office: exactly 3 and 1/2 - that's counting our mayor-elect, who, at a gathering at Mambo Restaurant on Nov. 2 declared, "Because I married into a local Puerto Rican family, the Latino community is my extended family in the broadest sense, and its concerns are my concerns."

The only Latino City Council candidate, 21-year-old Newyorican Jessica Cartagena, ran with the Green Party, "Because they asked me." By accepting, Jessica said she was overcoming an important element missing in her education.

"In high school," she said, "you are told to do well academically, but never to be a real leader, never to make change." Latino youth is already involved in churches and in community projects, so Jessica asked herself the important question, "Why not in politics?"

She campaigned in all districts, and typically she was asked first about her youthful age. A few people challenged her, to see "Whether I knew my stuff."

Of the 1,041 votes that she received, Jessica said she and her family are very proud. She considers those votes as representing an education regarding the political climate of New London - where Latinos are no longer willing to hold just the system accountable for lack of representation, and Latino youth resent being stereotyped in the street while the schools fail to engage faculty to whom they can relate.

Concerns about a school system which, in Cartagena's words is "pure diversity," is what made Mirna Lis Martínez run for a Board of Education seat as a Green after having been a teacher in bilingual programs.

"I love teaching," said Martinez, who received 1,184 votes. "I get energized and feel that I am doing something productive. But the impact one has in the classroom in our schools is on individuals - and that's not enough for those of us who feel the need to help our whole community. In the New London public schools, teachers do not work within a clear educational philosophy. I got involved to try to bring about positive change in the system."

While campaigning, Martinez listened to many parents: one - a teacher herself - was in favor of vouchers so that she has more flexibility in choosing a school system for her daughter; another said that her family will move in a few months when her child attains school age. Martinez, who has two small children, does not want to avoid the problem, but to find a solution.

Although Martinez is a Green, she received a call from Liz García-González, a third term Board of Education Democratic incumbent, inviting her to distribute campaign literature at Centro de la Comunidad.

Like Martinez, Garcia-Gonzalez wanted to be back on the board, "To try to resolve the problems we have, and determine which programs are working."

Garcia-Gonzalez said she welcomes more Latino participation in politics, regardless of party affiliation. She has heard from a number of residents who want her know that they voted, that their friends voted as well. Sharing the high energy level of Jessica Cartagena and Mirna. Martínez, Liz García-Gonzalez said, "We need to start again to educate our people."

Finizio, the mayor-elect, echoed these feelings at Mambo's addressing a mostly Latino audience: "Our best days are yet to come."