Pedro Colon

- Vote for Pedro Colón on September 9! –
In a tight presidential race this year, Hispanics may prove decisive in the election of the next president.

Both John McCain and Barack Obama are targeting Latino voters.

Pedro says candidates for all political offices have to focus on and understand the needs of this rapidly-growing part of the electorate.

About five percent of Wisconsin’s population, roughly 272,000 people, is Hispanic.

The electoral power of Latinos will only increase.

In Wisconsin, Latino voters are growing at a rate 13 times greater than the general population, and 36 percent of the Latino population is under 18-years-old, according to The Almanac of Latino Politics (2008).

“The way you reach Latinos is the same way you reach other people, but it has to be a concerted effort,” said Pedro Colón , a Milwaukee Democrat and the first Hispanic member of the Wisconsin Assembly (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Aug. 11, 2008).

Pedro says that the approach to issues aimed at appealing to Latinos needs to be comprehensive: Taxes, jobs, health care, education, job training.

And one issue of central concern to Latino families: Gangs and crime.

“This quality-of-life and public-safety issue is often overlooked in attempting to address Latinos’ concerns,” said Pedro. “But Latinos, like everyone else, will not tolerate crime against the family. The family unit and the home are unbreakable bonds that crime attacks.”

As always, please send Pedro your concerns and thoughts.