 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
Want to learn more about
those who have decided
to make the switch?
Click Here
Are you ready to make the Switch from Democrat to Republican?
Take this quiz to find out.
|
|
 |
| |
 |
| |
|
Q: What does ALRA stand for?
A: ALRA stands for Arizona Latino Republican Association.
Q: Do you have to be a Latino to join ALRA?
A: No, ALRA is an all inclusive organization. To belong to ALRA you must be a registered Republican in the state of Arizona.
Q: What does it cost to be a member of ALRA?
A: ALRA members vary in profession, education level and income status. Despite this every member is passionate about giving conservative Republican Latinos the voice they never felt they had. The cost of ALRA membership is purely based upon what an individual can give. Membership levels range from zero to $500.
Q: How did the group get its start?
A: The Arizona Latino Republican Association otherwise known as ALRA, was
conceived in 2002. The idea was fostered by Jesse Hernandez, ALRA's chairman
and brought to the attention of now Vice-Chairman Jose Esparza.
In a short period of time ALRA has achieved great success such as growing
our membership exponentially, forging relationships with Arizona's Republican
congressional delegation along with Arizona's Republican elected officials.
ALRA recently returned from Washington DC where they meet with Congressman
Trent Franks and the Bush/Cheney '04 campaign.
Q: What is the mission of your group?
A: The mission of the Arizona Latino Republican Association is to foster the principles of the Republican Party in Arizona's Latino community creating an empowered network of Republican Latino leaders and grassroots activists. ALRA is focused on:
- Promoting the appointment of qualified Republican Latinos to high level political posts at all levels of government
- Becoming a source of policy advisement on issues that will affect the Latino community in Arizona
- Providing Latinos of the state with a forum to take an influential role in local, state and national political activities and finally;
- Acting as the Latino arm of the Arizona Republican Party.
In a nutshell the key to ALRA's success will be our ability to pass on the legacy to future generations of Latino leaders.
Q: Why do you believe that Latinos are more democrat than Republican?
A: ALRA believes that there are 3 factors that can be contributed to the higher percentage of Latino Democrats over Republicans.
- First, it is a misnomer that all Republicans are of one race, one class.
- Secondly, the Republican message has never been properly or consistently
disseminated to the Latino community. Additionally when the message
was delivered it was only during an election cycle.
- Third and finally, the hand was never truly extended to the Latino community to participate in the political process.
This is now in the past and ALRA will no longer allow these things to happen and
will work hand-in-hand with the Arizona Republican Party to make sure that
no Latino Republican gets left behind.
Q: Who is your target audience?
ALRA is targeting 2nd and 3rd generation Latinos, but that does not mean
ALRA will lose sight of the issues that affect the entire Latino community
such as:
- Immigration
- Education
- Health Care and
- Small Business development
Q: You say that the Latino culture and the Republican Party platform are similar. How so?
A: The values of the Republican Party mirror those of the Latino community. Three of the most important planks of the Republican Party go hand-in-hand with the beliefs of the Latino community. The first being lower taxes. For instance in the study entitled "Entrepreneurs Next Door" published in the July/August 2003 issue of Hispanic Magazine, Hispanics that received some college training are 2 to 3 times more likely to start their own business then their white non-Hispanic counterparts. With lower taxes Latinos will have the ability to keep more of their hard earned money and in turn will have greater opportunity to start a small business of their choice.
Secondly, family is the center of the Latino community. The Republican Party also holds family in high regards so much so that pro-life is a plank in the party's platform. It is here where the connection is made… to Latinos without life there can be no family.
Lastly, the Republican Party stands firm on the issue of school choice. The President and Republican Party have set out to leave no child behind regardless of that child's background. Latinos have said they want their child to have the best education possible and ALRA believes the best way to do this is to empower the parent's of each child, giving the power back to the people. Without choice there is no opportunity. Without opportunity we, and thousands of others, would not benefit from the freedoms that America has to offer.
Q: How is your organization going to help Bush get the votes he needs to win the election?
A: In 2000 election President Bush won 35 percent of the Latino vote. It has been said that President Bush will need 40 percent of the Latino vote to get reelected in 2004. As a grassroots organization ALRA will focus on getting the votes in Arizona that Bush needs to win the state which has recently acquired two more electoral votes. ALRA will work diligently to get this done through activities such as walking neighborhoods, knocking on doors, making phone calls in essence getting the Republican message to a community that is traditionally dominated by Democratic representation.
If and when President Bush is re-elected, ALRA will not forget those who got him there and continue to disseminate the message and will not withdrawal the hand extended during the 2004 election. It is through actions and messages such as these that will define ALRA and the Republican Party's future success.
Q: Has the Arizona Republican Party been receptive to your organization?
A: Yes, the Arizona Republican Party has been very receptive to ALRA's mission
and objectives. The Party has promised to go the extra mile to ensure the
success of ALRA. The RNC has also been receptive of the efforts made by
ALRA. We recently meet with the RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie during his visit
to Phoenix explaining our goals and ideas to reach out to more Latino Republicans.
Q: Has this been difficult?
Q: Every new venture is difficult, but ALRA is blessed with passionate members who believe strongly in the cause and will work to make sure Latinos are given the choice they never really knew they had - the Republican Party.
|
|
|
