8/6/2019 New York Time 8 April

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Latinos Rise in Numbers, Not Influence

Over the last decade, Floridas Hispanic population has exploded, especially in centralFlorida, where the number of Hispanic residents in Orange County jumped 84 percent.

They are now 308,244 of 1.2 million residents, about one in four.

But some here are raising questions about why Hispanics representation on influential

political boards has not kept pace with their increase in numbers in this county, of

which Orlando is the seat. Last month, only days after the fresh census data reflecting

the surge in the Hispanic population, county commissioners and the mayor appointed a

15-member panel to redraw the boundaries of political districts with data culled from

the 2010 census. Just two of the board members are Hispanic.

The appointing of two non-Hispanic whites by County Commissioner JenniferThompson (who, like all the commissioners, had the power to name two panelists) drew

particular criticism because she represents a district that is 38.4 percent Hispanic.

It just breaks my heart to see that we are here 40 years, and we should be movingforward and included in every segment of the community, and that is just not

happening, said Trini Quiroz, 62, a community leader who raised her concerns at a

recent County Commission meeting. How do you ignore one-third of the entire

population? Its not right.

Commissioner Thompson chose a former colleague at the Chamber of Commerce and

an Orange County lawyer.

When asked by WFTV Channel 9 news in Orlando about why she did not name aHispanic, she said, I wouldnt say it was a priority.

But in an interview, Commissioner Thompson said that her comment was taken out of

context. She said that no Hispanic constituent had applied for the position.

And since the appointments were made, she has invited Hispanics to participate in

meetings about redistricting and other subjects of local interest, and to apply for other

posts, but none have done so, she said.

Finding a Hispanic was not a priority over finding the most qualified individual on that

board, she said, citing among the important qualifications the willingness to make thetime commitment.

However, that sentiment angers some of the commissioners constituents. Jaye Bonner,62, a retired former Marine and an Orange County native, said he was appalled by

how few Hispanics were on the redistricting board. The final decision on the boundaries

is in the hands of the county commissioners.

Commissioner Thompson claims she could not find a single qualified person, with a

high percentage population in the Hispanic Latino community, to serve on that advisory

board, Mr. Bonner said. Thats just absolutely atrocious in my mind. Its almost like

they are making an effort to suppress the Hispanic representation.

8/6/2019 New York Time 8 April

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