GOP in search of Latino candidates, supporters

Hector Barreto, The Latino Coalition

The FMP will help construct a state-by-state plan to build support among party leaders, donors and Hispanic and female leaders.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) announced the launch of the Future Majority Project (FMP), which works to recruit and support qualified Hispanic and female candidates for legislative seats, Attorneys General, and Secretaries of State across the nation. The FMP will coordinate with party officials and Hispanic leaders to identify qualified candidates, recruit them and support their campaigns for office.

“In the next decade, elections will feature an electorate that is substantially different from that of today and is vastly different from the electorate that decided a major US election as recently as 2000,” said RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie. “The Future Majority Project views the changing demographics of America’s electorate as a unique opportunity to build the strength, reach and appeal of the Republican Party."

The FMP will consist of three core initiatives aimed at enhancing the Republican Party’s competitiveness among key constituencies in the face of changing demographics:
Hispanic candidate recruitment, training and support initiative: In 2012, the FMP has set a goal to recruit at least 100 new Hispanic Republican legislative candidates across the nation.
Female candidate recruitment, training and support initiative: The FMP will work with in-state party leaders to build up the number of qualified female Republican legislative candidates.

Hon. Rosario Marin

Youth training and mobilization initiative: The RSLC, in partnership with the College Republican National Committee, will launch a national training and mobilization program to energize political participation among young adults.

The RSLC will provide these candidates with direct and indirect training and support, within the bounds of each state's campaign finance regulations.

The FMP will be advised by a board of advisers that will provide recommendations for potential Hispanic and female candidates and help construct a state-by-state plan to build support for the project among party leaders, donors and Hispanic and female leaders. The initial board includes:

Hector Barreto

• President, The Latino Coalition
• Administrator, Small Business Administration (2001-06)
• Chairman of the Board, Los Angeles Latin Business Association
• Vice Chairman, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

George P. Bush

• Partner, Pennybacker Capital
• Co-founder, Hispanic Republicans of Texas
• Chairman, MAVPAC
• Board of Advisors, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
• Lieutenant, U.S. Navy Reserves

Hon. Quico Canseco:

• U.S. Representative, Texas’s 23rd Congressional District (2011-present)
• President and Director, FMC Developers (1988-2010)
• Chairman, Texas Heritage Bancshares Inc. (2001-2007)

Hon. Luis Fortuño

• Governor of Puerto Rico (2009-present)
• U.S. Member of Congress (2005-2009)
• Chair, Congressional Hispanic Conference (2007-2009)
• President, Puerto Rico Statehood Party

Hon. Jamie Herrera Beutler:

• U.S. Representative, Washington’s 3rd Congressional District (2011-present)
• State Representative, State of Washington (2007-2010)

Hon. Alci Maldonado:

• National Chairman, Republican National Hispanic Assembly (2009-present)
• Commissioner, State of Florida Commission on the Status of Women (2008-present)
• Executive Board, Lakeland Vision (2007-present)
• Commissioner, Polk County Efficiency Commission (2005-08)

Hon. Rosario Marin:

• 41st U.S. Treasurer (2001-03)
• Executive Board Member, Hispanic 100
• CA Secretary of State and Consumer Services Agency (2006-2009)
• Mayor, Huntington Park, CA (1999-2000)
• City Council, Huntington Park, CA (1995-2001)
• Co-Founder and Past Chair, National Association of Latina Leaders

Hon. Mel Martinez:

• U.S. Senator, Florida (2005-2009)
• Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2001-03)
• Chairman, Republican National Committee (2006-07)

Hon. Susana Martinez:

• Governor, State of New Mexico (2011-present)
• District Attorney, Dona Ana County, State of New Mexico (1997-2010)
• 2011 Hispanic Woman of the Year, Hispanic Business Magazine

Hon. Lionel Rivera:

• Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado (2003-2011)
• City Council, Colorado Springs (1997-2003)
• Chairman of the Board, Colorado Springs Utility (2003-11)
• Founder and Past President, Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (1989-92)
• Captain, United States Army

Hon. Brian Sandoval:

• Governor, State of Nevada (2011-present)
• Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada (2005-09)
• Attorney General, State of Nevada (2003-05)
• Assemblyman, State of Nevada (1994-98)

"The RSLC believes that cultivating change is best achieved through a bottom-up, state-level approach," said RSLC President Chris Jankowski. "Over the last decade, the RSLC has built a record, state by state, of electing the GOP’s farm team whose members go on to be elected to Governorships, seats in Congress, and we believe one day soon -- the White House."

About the RSLC
The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders and the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot, state-level Republican office-holders. Since 2002, the RSLC has been working to elect candidates for the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC has more than 100,000 donors in all 50 states. The RSLC raised more than $30 million for the 2009-2010 cycle as part of an effort that picked up 20 legislative chambers, six Attorneys General, three Lieutenant Governors and seven Secretaries of State.