Latin chamber to endorse candidates starting next year

By Timothy Pratt

Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002 | 8:23 a.m.

The Latin Chamber of Commerce, one of the nation's fastest-growing Hispanic business organizations, voted in a board meeting Wednesday to move into politics.

In a unanimous vote, the board decided to have the organization's government affairs committee begin backing candidates in next year's municipal elections. This year's general election is too soon to put the new plan in place, said Brian Ayala, current chairman of the committee.

The decision reversed a 10-year-old policy of staying away from politics, which was made after conflicts occurred between the board and the committee charged with the issue at the time.

During that decade, Southern Nevada's Hispanic population tripled and is now more than 300,000. This has given the Hispanic vote more prominence and resulted in a growing number of Hispanic candidates for office.

"With so many Hispanics as viable candidates for office, this is an important decision," said Andres Ramirez, a member of the chamber and a political consultant.

Latin Chamber President Tony Sanchez described the move as "... a natural progression in our efforts to be an effective voice in the business community," adding, "business is politics and politics is business."

The chamber's board will now choose a chairman for the committee, which will in turn choose its members.

The organization will look at endorsing all candidates who support the interests of its membership, Sanchez said -- not just those who are Hispanic.