Political action weighed by Latin chamber

By Timothy Pratt

Monday, Sept. 16, 2002 | 11:04 a.m.

The Latin Chamber of Commerce will decide later this month whether to endorse candidates for November's general elections.

The move would turn back the organization's hands-off approach to politics, decided 10 years ago because of internal divisions between the board and the committee charged at the time with endorsing candidates.

Prepared by Brian Ayala, chairman of the organization's government affairs committee, the plan would put the decision to endorse candidates in the hands of his committee.

Ayala's pitch to the board, to be made Sept. 25, comes at a time when the largest slate of Hispanic candidates in state history was fielded in the Sept. 3 primaries -- several of whom lost in closely watched Assembly races.

Though Ayala said the timing is coincidental, he also admitted that the board may be more receptive to the idea on the heels of the primary losses.

"The results ... have gotten everybody thinking that something needs to be in place in the Latino community," he said. "The subject is definitely on everybody's minds."

The proposal pits those who seek to capitalize on the growth in the Hispanic community and the chamber in the last decade against those who see the organization's role as limited to business. During this period, the Latin Chamber has grown to more than 1,000 members, placing it in the top 15 nationwide.

In an unusual twist the two opposing positions are voiced perhaps most strongly by two men who helped found the organization 26 years ago -- Tony Alamo, senior vice president for Mandalay Resort Group, and architect Domingo Cambeiro.

Though no longer formally associated with the chamber, Alamo spoke to its members at a luncheon last month in favor of the organization getting involved in politics.

Alamo has backed Hispanic candidates financially for years -- including four who lost in the primaries. He is convinced that the chamber's growing numbers and clout can translate into political power.

"We need more leadership," Alamo, who is Cuban, said. "There's no question that the chamber can provide that, along with support, credibility and respect -- as well as financial backing."

Cambeiro, also Cuban, said the issue is one of spreading resources too thin, and committing costly errors in the process. He said other board members of his generation share the same views.

"This is opening a Pandora's box," he said.

"I believe our mandate is to help business. When you start endorsing candidates, you run into the risk of endorsing the wrong candidate. Then you're nowhere with the winning candidate.

"Also, what happens when you have a powerful incumbent who's non-Hispanic running against a Hispanic? What do we get out of endorsing the Hispanic candidate?"

But Ayala said the plan would not only involve Hispanic candidates.

"The idea would be to support candidates who are responsive to Hispanic businesses' needs, and not just endorse Hispanic candidates," he said.

Under the proposal, the board would have the power to replace the chairman of the government affairs committee by a two-thirds vote. The committee itself would be cut from its current high of up to 15 members down to five to seven members, who would be chosen by the chairman.

Tony Sanchez, current president of the chamber and a member of the organization's younger generation of leadership, said he will listen to both sides of the argument.

"We're recognized as the largest and one of the oldest and most respected Hispanic organizations in Nevada," he said. "This proposal ... would help make sure elected officials are aware of our issues.

"On the other hand, the idea is only as strong as the time and commitment we can give to it. If we're going to do it, we have to do it right, because if not, we'll just be marginalized.".. would help make sure elected officials are aware of our issues."