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Health & Fitness

Why Rob Garagiola is the Choice for Latinos in Maryland's 6th

A local Latina shares her views on why Rob Garagiola is the best choice for Latinos in Maryland's 6th District.

I attended the Hispanic Democratic Club (HDC) meeting in Kensington last Thursday. HDC had invited some of the Democratic candidates in the Maryland Sixth District primary to address the club membership. All five candidates received a questionnaire from HDC asking their opinions on various issues of importance to the Latino community.

Of the five, only three candidates responded: Rob Garagiola, Ron Little, and John Delaney. (These three gentlemen were also the only ones who attended an event sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County (HCCMC) last month. HCCMC has since endorsed Rob Garagiola for Congress.)  

Of the candidates who were invited to speak, the only one who actually showed up was Rob Garagiola. Sure, John Delaney tried to send a representative on his behalf, but just before the meeting started, HDC received a message that the representative wasn’t going to come after all.

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I realize that candidates have many demands on their time. But I also realize that candidates plan their commitments based on order of priority. And the message that Mr. Delaney, Mr. Little, Mr. Bailey and Dr. Pooran sent to the Latino community is that we are not a priority. Gentlemen, please know that the HDC members definitely noticed you weren’t there. I’m sure none of you is surprised that Mr. Garagiola received the endorsement from the Hispanic Democratic Club (and the Hispanic Chamber, and CASA in Action, and all three Maryland Latino legislators, to name a few), and not one of you.

As a Latina myself, I find your gesture unacceptable, not to mention unwise. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Maryland’s Latino population doubled between 2000 and 2010. Today, 1 in 12 Marylanders is Hispanic, with 1 in 3 Maryland Latinos living in Montgomery County (where a large portion of the Sixth District’s electorate happens to be located). If you don’t bother to come listen to our concerns when you’re invited to speak at one of our meetings, why should we believe you’ll listen to us when you’re in office?

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Rob Garagiola didn’t just show up last Thursday. He has a ten-year track record in Annapolis that speaks clearly of his commitment to the Latino community and to all the residents of his district. Among other accomplishments, Rob was one of the most vocal supporters of the Maryland DREAM Act. Thanks to Rob’s rallying of his colleagues in the State Assembly, the bill passed on the very last day of the session. He supports President Obama’s healthcare reform and legislation to promote job creation, both of which will greatly benefit the Latino community. He supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes education and military service as pathways to citizenship and opposes Secure Communities.

Most importantly, Rob Garagiola will continue to show up for us when we elect him to the United States Congress.

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