September 27, 2006?Hispanic local elected officials will meet in Santa Fe, N.M., this week to discuss immigration, strengthening economic vitality, affordable housing, municipal leadership and other issues of concern during the HELO (Hispanic Elected Local Officials) Summit, Sept. 28 - 30 at the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, Santa Fe, N.M. Espa?ola Mayor and HELO President Joseph Maestas will lead the meeting of state, federal and local elected officials. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is expected to speak on Thursday evening.
?The HELO Summit offers Hispanic municipal leaders throughout the country a unique opportunity to come together and learn from one another. Additionally, it is a special way for us, as civic leaders, to honor Hispanic Heritage Month,? said Mayor Maestas. ?We are excited by the opportunity to discuss and share ideas about effective responses to the important municipal, legislative and policy issues facing our communities, especially those affecting our Latino communities, such as immigration reform.?
HELO is a constituency group of the National League of Cities (NLC) aimed at supporting the needs of Latino elected officials by providing networking, outreach and legislative action.
Conference highlights include:
Thursday, Sept. 28
- 6:00 ? 8:30 p.m., Sundown New Mexico Reception, expected remarks by Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, and others
Friday, Sept. 29
- 8:20 ? 9:30 a.m., What Will Comprehensive Immigration Reform Mean for You as a Municipal Leader, moderated by Evelyn Woodson, Co-Chair of NLC?s Immigration Task Force and Councilmember, Columbus, Ga.; Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House, New Mexico Legislature; and Marcela Diaz, Director, Somos Un Pueblo Unido
- 9:40 ? 10:30 a.m.., Forward Focus ? A White House Briefing, featuring Ruben Barrales, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the White House
- 12:15 ? 2:30 p.m., Latinos Today: Diverse, Creative, Entrepreneurial, Political and Powerful, with guest speaker Raymond Sanchez, Former Speaker of the House and Former President of the National Association of Latino Elected/Appointed Officials
Saturday, Sept. 30
- 12:00 ? 1:45 p.m., Making Your Leadership Matter, with guest speaker Martha V?zquez, Chief U.S. District Judge, District Court of New Mexico
For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Mary Gordon in Santa Fe: (202) 246-4430.
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