Guest Column

LULAC AND NCLR Endorse Gonzales Nomination for US Attorney General

1. LULAC Board Unanimously Endorses Alberto Gonzales’s Nomination for U.S. Attorney General

Counsel's strong experience, sound legal judgment, accessibility & community commitment are cited as key factors in winning the organization's support

 The National Executive Committee of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) unanimously voted to endorse President Bush's nomination of Alberto Gonzales to serve as Attorney General and is calling upon the Senate to quickly confirm him as the nation's first Latino to head the U.S. Department of Justice.

Based upon the nominee's long and distinguished legal career which includes serving as the President's chief counsel, a justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and Texas Secretary of State; the LULAC Board is confident that Alberto Gonzales will make an outstanding Attorney General who will continue to make sound legal decisions that take into account the positions of LULAC and other civil rights organizations.

"Alberto Gonzales has always had an open door policy with LULAC and has often supported our positions on issues of importance to Latinos," stated Hector M. Flores, LULAC National President. "He was actively involved with LULAC during his time as an attorney in Houston and he has continued to be supportive of Hispanic organizations throughout his career. We are delighted that the President has seen fit to nominate one of our best and brightest to the highest legal post in the federal government."

The LULAC Board also noted the great significance of having a Latino nominated for the first time to head one of the four major Cabinet departments. "We have urged the President to nominate Hispanics to important Cabinet positions in his second term, and we are greatly encouraged that his first nomination to head a principal federal department after his re-election is a well-qualified Latino," stated Brent Wilkes, LULAC National Executive Director. "We encourage the President to continue appointing well qualified Hispanics to high-ranking positions throughout his administration."

Born in San Antonio and raised in Houston with seven brothers and sisters, Gonzales served in the US Air Force and received his JD from Harvard Law School. In addition to his outstanding legal career, he has been deeply involved with the Hispanic community, serving as Director of Catholic Charities, Director of Big Brothers and Sisters, President of the Houston Hispanic Bar Association, and President of the Houston Hispanic Forum. In 2003, he was awarded the LULAC President's Award at the LULAC National Legislative Awards Gala in Washington, DC for his commitment in supporting Latino issues as White House Counsel.
 
"Al Gonzales is a wonderful example of the American Dream. He rose from humble beginnings and has now been nominated to the top legal position in our country," stated Ray Velarde, LULAC National Legal Advisor. "Based on his strong community involvement and his solid legal track record, we believe that Judge Gonzales will make a thoughtful, balanced Attorney General who will continue to respect LULAC's positions on legal issues affecting minority communities."

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States.  LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs run by more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

2. NCLR Welcomes Nomination of Gonzales to Serve as Attorney General

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today welcomed President Bush's nomination of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to succeed John Ashcroft as Attorney General. If confirmed, Gonzales would be the first Hispanic ever to serve as Attorney General.

"We are very encouraged by the Gonzales nomination. We previously criticized the Bush Administration for not having an Hispanic in the cabinet since the departure of former HUD Secretary, now Senator-elect, Mel Martinez. We are pleased that one of the first acts since the President's reelection both rectifies that situation and marks an historic milestone for the Latino community. Never before has an Hispanic served as head of one of the four major cabinet posts - Secretary of State, Treasury, Defense, and Attorney General," stated Janet Murguia, NCLR Executive Director and COO.

Murguia also noted Gonzales' ties to the Hispanic community throughout his career. "Alberto Gonzales served with distinction on the board of directors of one of NCLR's oldest and most respected affiliates, the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) in Houston, Texas. Moreover, during his tenure as White House Counsel, he has been one of the most accessible members of the White House staff to NCLR and other Hispanic organizations," added Murguia.

Murguia concluded, "We acknowledge that this is the first step of a long confirmation process that requires that his record be fully examined. That being said, Gonzales is a thoughtful, reasonable public servant, a man of his word, and we have every expectation that his nomination will be very well received in the Latino community."