FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2007

Contact: Press Office

Hillary Clinton today announced the formation of the campaign’s National Hispanic Leadership Council and named its Executive Committee, demonstrating her growing support among the Hispanic community. Clinton made the announcement in Orlando, Florida, where she is participating in a Presidential Forum during the 24th Annual Conference of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

The Executive Committee, comprised of national and local leaders from across the country, will serve as an advisory board for the campaign on issues important to the Latino community and will play an active role reaching out and organizing Hispanics in their communities and across the country.

“The support for Hillary Clinton in the Latino community continues to grow,” said Raul Yzaguirre, Campaign Co-Chair and Chair of Hispanic Outreach efforts. “I first met Hillary Clinton when she was registering voters in South Texas, and her commitment to public service continues today. Whether it’s fighting for universal health care, making college more accessible or creating better job opportunities, her record on issues important to Latinos speaks for itself. I am proud to support Hillary, and to be joined by such a strong group of leaders working on her behalf.”

“I support Hillary Clinton because she is the candidate that will help create opportunities to empower our communities across America,” said New York Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. “Hillary has consistently supported proposals that help strengthen the middle class and working families. In New York, I have witnessed her work to launch economic development initiatives to provide critical resources to small and micro businesses and helped launch a private sector initiative called New Jobs for New York that makes venture capital available to New York's innovators, many of whom are Latinos.”

“I am proud to support Hillary Clinton for President,” said Florida State Rep. Luis García. “As a life-long firefighter and former Fire Chief, I know the true meaning of public service and Hillary embodies that concept.  Our country is ready for her strong leadership that will take our country in a new direction.”

“I am honored to be joined by so many leaders that have dedicated their lives to advocating for better education for our children, access to health care, civil and voting rights and advancing economic opportunities not only for Latinos, but for all Americans,” Clinton said. “With their support, we will continue taking our message of change across the country.”

A USA Today/Gallup poll released this week found that among Hispanic voters, Hillary Clinton leads the primary field by 46 points. Hillary Clinton has fought for many issues important to the Latino community, including education, health care, economic opportunities and a fair and humane immigration reform.
 

NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Mayor, and National Campaign Chair
Fabián Núñez, California Assembly Speaker
Senator Robert Menendez, New Jersey
Rep. José Serrano (NY-16)
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-12)
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-38)
Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)
Rep. Albio Sires (NJ-13)
Raúl Martínez, former Mayor of Hialeah
State Rep. Luis García (FL)
State Rep. Darren Soto (FL)
Houston Councilwoman Carol Alvarado
Lillye Ramos Spooner, Community Activist, Epsom, NH
Raul Yzaguirre, Former President, National Council of La Raza
Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder, United Farm Workers Union, Human Rights Activist
Eddie Escobedo, President, El Mundo, NV
Adriana Martinez, Former President, Nevada Democratic Party
Robert Gomez, President, Magic Brite Janitorial, NV

 
HISPANIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

ARIZONA
State Representative Martha Garcia, Phoenix
State Representative Linda J. Lopez, Phoenix
City Councilor Joel G. Belloe, Eloy
Vice Mayor Frank Acuña, Eloy

 
CALIFORNIA
State Assemblymember Anna M. Caballero,  Salinas
State Assemblymember Charles M. Calderon, City of Industry
State Assemblymember Kevin de Leon, Los Angeles
Honorable Maria Echaveste, DNC Member, Berkeley
State Assemblymember Edward P.Hernandez, West Covina
City Attorney Dennis J. Herrera, San Francisco
State Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, Norwalk
Honorable Mirian Saez, San Francisco
State Assemblymember Mary Salas, Chula Vista
State Assemblymember Jose Solorio, Anaheim
Hon. Irene Flores, Garvey School District, Garvey School District
Mayor Elba Guerrero, Huntington Park
Mayor  Manuel Lozano, Baldwin Park
Mayor Ray Soleno, Reedley
Mayor Robert Fierro, Commerce
Mayor Ray Luna, Santa Paula
Mayor Daniel Furtado, Campbell
Former Mayor Joaquin Gonzalez, Hanford
Former Mayor Leticia Vasquez, Lynwood
Former Mayor Ofelia Hernandez, Huntington Park
Former Mayor Juan Noguez, Huntington Park
Former Mayor Frank Quintero, Glendale
Former Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez, San Jose
Former Mayor Emelina Pedras, Lynwood
Former Mayor Diane Martinez, Paramount
Rosalie Alvarado,  National School District, San Diego
Mayor John Huerta, Greenfield
Former Mayor Maria Davila, Southgate
George Aaron Aguilar, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

 
COLORADO 
DNC Member Mannie Rodriguez, Boulder
 

FLORIDA    
Former Ambassador to OAS Luis J. Lauredo, Miami
Former Executive Director of Florida Democratic Party Ana Cruz, Tampa
School Board Member Susan Valdes, Hillsborough County
County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin, Broward County
Susan Wuczewski, Activist, Orlando

 
ILLINOIS     
Alderman Daniel Solis, Chicago

 
IOWA
Miguel Moreno, President, AFSCME Local 3000, Glenwood
Alfred Ramirez, Former Executive Director, White House Initiative on Educational   Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Cedar Rapids
 

NEW JERSEY 
Mayor Sammy Rivera, Passaic
Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres, Paterson
Mayor Alberto Santos, Kearny
DNC Member Tonio Burgos, Jersey City
Mayor  Silverio Vega, West New York
 

NEVADA               
Miguel  Barrientos, Southwest Hispanic Media and Mexican American Political Association, Las Vegas
Rene Cantu, VP, Multicultural Affairs at Nevada State College, Henderson
Liz Carrasco, Activist-Latina, Pro-choice; Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas
Maximiliano Couvillier, Associate, Lionel Sawyer & Collins, Las Vegas
Anita Laruy, North Las Vegas Library District
Maria   Marinchm, President, Language Sources, Las Vegas
Jacki Ramirez, Las Vegas Activist
Margarita Rebollal, East Las Vegas Community Outreach Corporation
Tom Rodriguez, Las Vegas Activist and Writer
Randy Soltero, Sheet Metal Workers Union, Las Vegas
Daniel   Tafoya, Board of Directors, Latin Chamber of Commerce, Las Vegas
Brian Ayala, Ayala’s Inc, Las Vegas
Javier Barrajas, Owner of Lindo Michoacan Restaurant, Las Vegas

 
NEW YORK         
State Senator Martin Dilan, Brooklyn
State Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Galena Park
State Assemblymember Luis Diaz, Bronx
State Assemblymember Felix Ortiz, Brooklyn
State Assemblymember Philip Ramos, Brentwood
State Assemblymember Carmen Arroyo, Bronx
State Assemblymember Adriano Espaillat, New York
State Assemblymember Peter Rivera, New York
State Assemblymember Jose Rivera, Bronx
Councilmember Sara Gonzalez, Brooklyn
Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Bronx
Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, Bronx
Former State Assemblymember Roberto Ramirez, Bronx

 
TEXAS   
State Representative Armando Martinez, Weslaco
State Representative Richard Raymond, Laredo
Former Mayor Felix Arambula, Marion
Tarrant County Constable Sergio De Leon, Ft. Worth
City Commissioner Leslie Gonzalez, El Cenizo
City Commissioner Noe Hernandez, El Cenizo
Mayor Raul Reyes, El Cenizo
State Senator Carlos Uresti, San Antonio
Former DNC Base Vote Director Andy Hernandez, San Antonio
State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Corpus Christi
City Commissioner Sally Arroyo, Brownsville
Business Leader  Alonzo Cantu, McAllen
Chair of Tejano Democrats, Victor Garza, Edinburg
State Representative Veronica Gonzales, McAllen
State Representative Rene Oliveira, Brownsville
State Representative Aaron Peña, Edinburg
State Representative "Chente" Quintanilla, El Paso
State Representative Juan Manuel Escobar, Kingsville
Justice of the Peace Sylvia Johnson, Premont
County Attorney Alfred Isassi, Kingsville
County Tax Assessor/Collector Lucilla Reynolds Alice
County Clerk Frutoso Garza, Falfurrias
County Commissioner Ysidro Gutierrez, Lubbock
County Treasurer Manuel Reyes, Jr., Eagle Pass
District Clerk Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza Austin
Councilmember Lecho Quiroga, Uvalde
Councilmember Celestino Ramirez, Mission
Mayor Pro-Tem Charlie Rodgers, Jr., Eden
District Attorney Fred Hernandez, Del Rio
Justice of the Peace Lorraine Lopez, Refugio
County Sheriff Oscar Lopez Alice
Former Texas State Senator Joe Bernal, San Antonio
District Clerk David Guerrero, Alice
Attorney Regina Montoya, Dallas
JoAnn Ramon, Democratic Party Activist, San Antonio
Precinct Chair Heather Ramon-Ayala, San Antonio
City Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan, San Antonio
Gabriel Rosales, National Representative for National Association of Public Employees, San Antonio
Former County Judge Ramon Garcia, Edinburg
State Democratic Executive Committee Member, Rose Salas, Houston
Community Leader Rosa Rosales, San Antonio
State Representative Abel Herrero, Corpus Christi
Former Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair R.D. "Bobby" Guerra, MacAllen
National Hispanic Institute Michael Soto, San Antonio
Hidalgo County District Clerk Laura Hinojosa, Edinburg
Larry Romo, San Antonio Democratic Veterans