In these elections, we have witnessed the first Latino Presidential candidate. Even though New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a Latino of Mexican ancestry, is no longer a candidate for President, his impact will be felt for years to come. Richardson’s Presidential candidacy will open doors for others to follow. In addition, the Democratic Presidential candidates include the first woman, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, and the first African American, U.S. Senator Barack Obama. Both are still in a very competitive election to secure the Democratic nomination.

Furthermore, we have also witnessed the harshest anti-immigrant candidates on the GOP side fail to gain traction for the Republican Presidential nomination. U.S. Representatives Hunter and Tancredo have left the nomination process for lack of support. Most recently, we saw Fred Thompson fail to gain traction as well. In fact, the surge of support for U.S. Senator John McCain must be a moment of reflection for the failed anti-immigrant strategies from some within the Republican Party. U.S. Senator McCain was one of the leading U.S. Senators that was serious about comprehensive immigration reform and made efforts to pass legislation in both 2006 & 2007. Nonetheless, our immigration policy remains broken and the harshest anti-immigrant politicians are not gaining traction for their restrictive and anti-immigrant policies, while U.S. Senator John McCain seems to be gaining support in a highly competitive race for the Republican nomination.

Immigration will remain an election issue until the U.S. Congress has the courage to solve the current failed policies. Recent polling and surveys indicate that Latino voters are not happy with the unresolved issues of the War in Iraq, a slowing economy, out of control health care costs and our failed attempt to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Latino voters will hold elected officials accountable for what they say, what they do, or what they fail to accomplish. Latino voters are listening, and we must vote.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, the recent developments in the Presidential campaigns should provide you with the hope and aspiration that our Latino families will soon be a part of a change in this country through effective voter engagement. Things change when we vote. We must believe that change is coming. In our democracy, the change occurs when its citizens are actively engaged and vote.

Once the analysis of the 2008 elections is concluded, I would like to predict that the Latino vote made all the difference in the world and that finally we will move towards effective solutions to this nation’s immigration failures in order to move our great nation forward. Even in Georgia, Latinos can make the difference in highly competitive elections. But first, we must vote.

It is election season and there is excitement in the air. Join me and go vote on Tuesday, February 5th.

Si no votamos, que esperamos? Su VOTO Es Su VOZ!

For more information about voting, for questions or to report any problems please visit or call: www.EsLaHora.com / 888.54GALEO / 888.544.2536 / Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director

Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO): Promoting greater civic engagement and leadership development for the Latino community across Georgia. www.galeo.org