NALEO Urges Swift Confirmation of Appointment

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) issued the following statement regarding Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's nomination of State Senator Abel Maldonado to serve as California's Lt. Governor:

"The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) commends the nomination of State Senator Abel Maldonado to serve as Lt. Governor of the nation's largest state. His nomination shows the progress Latinos are making at the highest levels of leadership in the United States. If confirmed, he will be the first Latino Republican to serve as California's Lt. Governor in modern times, and he will become the eighth Latino elected official currently serving in statewide office. Maldonado would also be the second Latino to serve as California's Lt. Governor in nearly 11 years, since Cruz Bustamante, who took office in January 1999.

The son of immigrant field workers, Lt. Governor-designate Maldonado started his career in public service as City Councilmember and Mayor of Santa Maria. He was elected to California's State Assembly in 1998, and to the State Senate in 2004, where he became the first Latino Republican to serve in that chamber.

Lt. Governor-designate Maldonado's career exemplifies the strong commitment to public service demonstrated by Latino elected officials serving in local and state governments throughout the nation. We urge the California state legislature to confirm the nomination of this talented leader.

ABOUT NALEO

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the leadership organization of the nation's more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.

Contact: Erica Bernal (213) 747-7606, ext. 4411
Email: ebernal@naleo.org

SOURCE National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)