Breaking a glass ceiling: will New Jersey get a Latino Secretary of Agriculture?

The workers toiling in New Jersey's fields around Vineland are mostly Mexican, and because of that fact, Mayor Bob Romano acknowledges it might help to have a Latino serve as Secretary of Agriculture.

"I think it would be great idea," Romano said in response to the question, "as long as the person has the knowledge. You need somebody who's qualified. That's the main thing. We need someone who's going to be a strong advocate for keeping New Jersey farmers on their farms."

Acknowledging that many migrant workers in New Jersey come from Mexico and Central America, Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) jumped at the suggestion of a Latino state Secretary of Agriculture to succeed Charles Kuperus, who retires at the end of this month.

"I think a Latino would be very good for that position," said the veteran Newark senator.  "I'm sure New Jersey farmers understand the need to bring balance to that position. Diversity is our greatest strength, coupled with a candidate who would bring objectivity to the job."

However, state Board of Agriculture Vice President Robert Matarazzo says the Department of Agriculture - salvaged from the budget chopping block last year - remains in precarious shape in bad economic times. He doesn't see the recruitment of a Latino secretary, or anything else short of industry survival - as a priority.

"I'm a pretty liberal person," he told PolitickerNJ.com. "I'll look at everybody and I won't specifically look at anybody. But we're in a situation right now where we're trying to keep the industry. When you're talking about laborers, you're talking more specifically about the labor industry. In the case of a Secretary of Agriculture, when you're considering someone to represent the laborers, that's kind of like putting the cart before the horse. We're trying to preserve the industry. The person has the expertise, I don't care what nationality they are."

The nomination of a new Agriculture Secretary will be made by the all-white Board of Agriculture.  Gov. Jon Corzine can either approve or veto their choice. 

The New Jersey Farm Bureau is on the record in support of minority candidates to serve on the Board of Agriculture, where some people say the presence of a Latino labor representative would balance the input from a board that is currently made up of eight farm industry reps.

Kuperus points out that it is the specific purview of the Commissioner of Labor to oversee laborers' conditions.

As for the secretary of agriculture's position, "I wouldn't recommend a Latino or suggest that a Latino fill that job," said the newly elected Mayor Alex Blanco of Passaic. "The board should pick the most qualified person for the job."

"The issue of a minority serving as secretary is a total non-issue," agreed Board member Andrew Borisuk. "The question is, ‘is the person qualified or not?' Period."