The oldest Latino Newspaper in the Tri State area endorses Caraballo

A vote for Caraballo
EDITORIAL - 05/31/2007

More than 15 percent of New Jersey’s population is Hispanic, and yet there are only a handful of Latinos in the state legislature. This lack of political representation has cost the Latino communities of the Garden State dearly in terms of attention, services and clout. One shining exception to the lack of influential Latino voices is Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo, who represents Newark and Hillside. The assemblyman is pushing for the replication of academic achievement programs—including a commitment to pre-k education—in his district. In the Assembly, he has introduced legislation to rebuild the state’s problematic Schools Construction Corp. as a more accountable agency. Caraballo has courageously spoken out against anti-Hispanic bias and defended immigrants. He took the radio personalities the “Jersey Guys” to task for running a racist vigilante campaign to roundup undocumented immigrants. Caraballo’s leadership got results, as major advertisers withdrew their ads from the show. As speaker pro tempore, Caraballo is the third most powerful person in the Assembly. But when he bucked Governor Jon Corzine’s plan to increase the state’s sales tax, it cost him the support of Newark power-broker Steve Adubato. During the Democratic primaries next week, he will face off with Grace Spencer and Albert Coutinho, a ticket backed by the local machine and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. But Caraballo’s record of service and political independence has also garnered the backing of organizations that recognize him as a leader, not a follower. That support includes the Service Employees International Union, Newark Teachers Union and the Black Ministers` Council. For his unwavering defense of the working families of Newark and Hillside, EL DIARIO/LA PRENSA supports Wilfredo Caraballo’s bid for the Democratic nomination for the 29th District.

ASSEMBLYMAN WILFREDO CARABALLO can be reached via email at asmcaraballo@njleg.org.

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