New Jersey Latino Gubernatorial Appointments Task Force Issues Report & Recommendations on Latino Appointments

Trenton, N.J. October 12, 2018 –Launched in June of 2017, the Task Force has maintained an ongoing dialogue with the Administration of Governor Murphy regarding appointments to his Administration and today it announces the release of their annual report on Latino Appointments by the Murphy Administration.

“We are proud to have joined with our partners to ensure Latinos are able to put their skills and talents to work for the people of New Jersey,” stated Roberto Frugone, NALEO Educational Fund Northeast Director.  “As our annual report shows, we have made great strides working with Governor Murphy to make sure the diversity of the Garden State is reflected throughout his Administration.  We look forward to building on our success of having several Latinos appointed to top positions by continuing to work side-by-side with the Governor and Task Force to ensure that qualified Latinos candidates are able to serve in the highest levels of New Jersey State Government both now and in the years to come.”

Following the gubernatorial election on November 7, 2017, the NJ Latino Task Force worked to provide the new Governor and his new administration with access to hundreds of resumes of talented and qualified Latinos who were willing to put their skills to work to improve the lives of all New Jerseyans.

“We have much to celebrate with this report as key Latinos are serving as part of the top levels of the Administration. We commend the Governor for the strides made so far, and will continue to advocate for more opportunities for our community.  Many barriers prevent Latinos from successfully navigating the appointments process,’ states Arlene Quinonez-Perez, Immediate Past President of the HBA-NJ.  “But, together with the other members of the NJ Latino Task Force, we continue to work to remove these obstacles so that Latinos understand the appointments process and can apply their talents as members to the hundreds of Boards and Commissions that help the Governor achieve his vision for New Jersey.”

Latinos account for one in five New Jerseyans and make up more than 12 percent of all registered voters in the state.  They are the largest minority group and have transformed New Jersey into one of the most diverse states in the USA.  This growing population group is quickly becoming the future of the New Jersey electorate and an essential component of the economic and entrepreneurial activity in the state.

“Latinos in New Jersey are business owners, attorneys, health and education experts, social workers, union members, and community advocates,” stated Carlos Medina, SNCCNJ chairman.  “Our community’s combined contributions to the vitality of the state go beyond each election cycle, and we are ready to put our qualifications and expertise to use serving within the highest levels of the New Jersey state government.”

“Our Latino community is thriving all over New Jersey, and we at the Hispanic Leadership Association are delighted to join forces state-wide to advocate for Latino diversity at all levels of Government,” states Angel Fuentes, President of NJHLA Inc.  “We thank Governor Murphy for his commitment to diversity and for opening the doors to more Latinos to serve.  We look forward to continue to engage in dialogue with the Murphy Administration and move our community forward. Adelante!”

Latinos can apply to serve on a Board or Commission by visiting the website https://gov-dotnet.state.nj.us/GOV_APPT/Directory

The NJ Latino Task Force is a volunteer driven collaborative made up of the leadership from each of the member organizations, HBA-NJ, NALEO Educational Fund, SHCCNJ, and NJHLA Inc. and is not affiliated with any specific campaign or political organization.  The mission of the NJ Latino Task Force is to ensure that Latinos engage in the appointments process to serve in the administration and in any public boards, commissions and authorities.

For more information on the NJ Latino Task Force or to submit a resume, please email NJTaskforce@naleo.org.

——————–

About The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ)

Founded in 1980, the HBA-NJ is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association that is comprised of attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and other professionals who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.

The purpose of the Association is to serve the public interest: (i) by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, (ii) by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and (iii) by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers. https://www.njhba.org

About NALEO Educational Fund

NALEO Educational Fund is the nation’s leading non-profit, non-partisan organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service. For more information about NALEO Educational Fund please visit www.naleo.org.

About the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ)

SNCCNJ was founded in 1989 when Business leaders met with Governor Tom Kean and were encouraged to start a Chamber to foster, mentor and train Hispanic Owned business in New Jersey. Over the years, various publications have ranked our chamber among the largest in the state. As a not-for-profit organization for over 27 years, SHCCNJ has become the voice of the 116,000 Hispanic-Owned Businesses that contributes over $20 Billion to the State’s economy. The Chamber is the premier vehicle to access the Latino community and its formidable purchasing power, as evidenced by our growth of non-Hispanic membership reaching 45 percent.  https://shccnj.org

About the NJ Hispanic Leadership Association, Inc.

The NJHLA mission is to empower Hispanics in New Jersey by facilitating civic engagement, leadership, inclusion, education, and participation while promoting respect, multicultural and diversity understanding.

https://www.hispanicleadershipnj.com