The Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) announces the election of its new executive board.
Washington, D.C..- During its national convention, held in D.C. on Saturday June 4, 2005, the RNHA unanimously elected Dr. Pedro Celis to be its new national chairman. Dr. Celis of Washington State has a strong reputation as a business leader in the community and has a passion for promoting Latino business and educational causes.
Since 1998 he has worked at Microsoft as a software architect. In 2000, he founded the Washington State chapter of the RNHA. Celis provides a “bridge” between the community and the Republican Party, promotes legislation and public policy of interest to the Hispanic community and encourages and advices potential candidates.
“Washington State Hispanic voters increased their share of the Washington voters from 2% to 5% between 2000 and 2004. And supported President Bush at the rate of 49%, higher even than the support the president got among non-Hispanics in our state. Pedro was the architect of this effort and his election as national chairman is a recognition of his effective leadership”, said Marta Guevara, current chair of the Washington RNHA.
José Fuentes was re-elected as 1st co-chair. Mr. Fuentes is a partner at ReedSmith in Washington D.C., served as attorney general of Puerto Rico from 1997 to 1999 and is a member of the RNC Hispanic Advisory Board.
Marisa Rummell was elected as 2nd co-chair. She is the former chair of the Texas RNHA and serves on the board of the Texas Federation of Republican Women.
“Since 1974, the RNHA has been an active partner with the Republican Party in reaching out to Hispanics. More and more Hispanic are realizing that the Republican is the true party of opportunity: the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Republicans are reaching out and inviting Hispanics by saying “Nuestro partido es su partido,” our party is your party”, said RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman.
Other elected officers were Secretary Alci Maldonado from Florida, Assistant-Secretary Claudia Bermudez from California, Treasurer Xavier Neira from Oklahoma, and Assistant Treasurer Commissioner Ray Lopez from New York.
“Dr. Pedro Celis and his newly elected team will strengthen the natural bond between the Hispanic community and the Republican Party”, said Massey Villarreal, outgoing Chairman of the RNHA. “Pedro is a consensus builder and a
uniter that will represent the interest of conservative Hispanics in the Bush administration”.
“The RNHA has been a vital part of the Republican Party efforts since my grandfather established it in 1974, when he was chair of the RNC. I ask that you continue your hard work because the time is now to organize and prepare for the upcoming 2006 and 2008 elections to build upon the success of 2004”, said George P. Bush in a letter addressed to the RNHA convention.
The mission of the RNHA is to build a membership organization to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Hispanic community; to provide Hispanic Americans with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities; to increase the number of Hispanic Republican elected officials; and to create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders.
More information about the organization can be found at www.rnha.org.
Contact information:
L. C. Kirk, 425-830-8641
info@rnha.org
Angel Garcia
angelgarcia@ilrnha.org
