The new four acre park in downtown Norcross has been officially named the Lillian Webb Park in honor of Mrs. Webb, center, former Norcross mayor and Gwinnett County Commission chairman. She's shown with Rep. Tom Rice, left, and Rep. Pedro Marin, who presented her with a proclamation from the Georgia General Assembly on the occasion of the park dedication. The park is proving to be a central focus of activities in Norcross, and contains a vast open space, towers and cascading fountains and restroom facilities
State Rep. Pedro "Pete" Marin, the highest ranking Latino Democrat in Georgia, was invited by United States Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Hispanic Task Force, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), along with other Latino state and local elected officials, to discuss economic challenges Latino communities throughout the country are facing.
Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO), and Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) also participated in the meeting. This forum served as an opportunity for leaders at the national and state levels to express their concerns and ideas to ensure ongoing job creation and economic recovery efforts that can successfully provide relief to Latino communities across the nation.
"I enjoyed the opportunity to dialogue with federal, state and local leaders about establishing sound public policy to improve our economy and get all Americans working again. If Georgia and the United States intend to increase its capacity to compete within a 21st century global economy we have to get serious about investment, education, workforce development, establishing new markets and supporting entrepreneurs. I am committed to using my position on a state and national stage to improve the lives of those who live in my district and the state," said the four-term legislator from Gwinnett County.
"Hopefully, there will be more opportunities to further engage business leaders, educators and others who are the backbone of our economy," indicated Rep. Marin.
Duluth- The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, the largest such caucus in the United States, asked State Rep. Pedro "Pete" Marin to speak before the Georgia House of Representatives about Black History Month from a Latino perspective.
"I am honored to articulate how important this month is to Latinos, especially those of us who reside in the South. The struggle for freedom, justice and equality should never be forgotten. More so, as Latinos aspire for greater inclusion and opportunity in Georgia and throughout the United States, we must study history and build upon the successes of our African American brothers and sisters," indicated the four-term representative from Gwinnett County.
Below is the speech given by Rep. Marin.
I want to thank the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus for allowing me an opportunity to share some remarks with regard to Black History Month. For many African Americans, this is a time to celebrate a history and culture whose contribution to our great American story can never be truly measured or fully appreciated. As a Georgian, American and colleague in the Georgia House of Representatives I say thank you. If not for your struggle, my voice for freedom and justice might have never emerged.
I hope Latinos will take the time to appreciate how dangerous and daunting the long road towards equality was for many who called Georgia their home. The reality we enjoy today was but a dream for thousands of hardworking people who suffered under the indignity of slavery and segregation. Yet, through faith and unwavering hope, those who once entered through the back of the house now reside in the White House.
Unfortunately, challenges still abound for both African Americans and Latinos. Our communities have similar concerns about healthcare, education, employment, access to capital, the criminal justice system and gang violence. As an example, I recently introduced legislation in the House to prohibit racial profiling in Georgia. Regardless of what progress we have made as a society, there are those who see a black and brown face and assume the worst. As elected officials we have moral and political responsibility to confront these challenges with compassion, courage and clarity. Now is the time to build bridges that lead to a more perfect union.
So, in the spirit of Black History Month, I ask every member of this hallowed chamber that during these times of economic uncertainty and social distress; let us seek opportunities to build coalitions and work together for a better and more prosperous Georgia. For Latinos in particular, take the time to listen, learn and become a force for good working alongside our African American brothers and sisters to ensure this state and nation never forgets that we too are America.
Thank you.
Duluth--Recently, at the Annual Meeting for the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), State Rep. Pedro Marin was elected by his peers to become the next Vice President of Membership on the executive committee. The NHCSL was founded in 1989 and represents over 300 elected Hispanic State legislators through out the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its primary mission is to organize Hispanic state legislators who advocate on behalf of Hispanic communities across the United States.
"It is indeed an honor to be elected by my colleagues from across the United States to serve in this capacity. The NHCSL is one of the premier organizations constantly identifying new ways to support existing Latino legislators as well as preparing others who have a desire a life in public service," stated the four term legislator from Gwinnett County.
During the conference Rep. Marin also received the prestigious John S. Martinez Excellence in Leadership award for his years of service as a member of the Georgia General Assembly where in 2002 he became the first Latino Democrat elected into the House and the first Latino to pass legislation in the history of Georgia. To NHCSL President Rep. Joseph E. Miro (DE), Rep. Marin "stands for all that John Martinez did: integrity, passion and forward-thinking policy."
For more information about the NHCSL please visit their website at www.nhcsl.org.
State Representative Pedro Marin (D-96th), on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, attended the first Hispanic Heritage Month celebration hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House. Latino leaders from throughout the United States, including the first Latino United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, enjoyed a private reception and outdoor concert hosted by George Lopez, Eva Longoria-Parker and Jimmy Smits.
"It was an incredible night. To meet such distinguished and accomplished Latinos and enjoy an all-star concert on the White House south lawn was truly an event I will never forget," stated the four-term legislator from Gwinnett County.
"I am especially honored to have met Justice Sotomayor, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar. 2009 has been a watershed moment for Latinos in politics. President Obama has an administration and cabinet that is reflective of the diversity we enjoy as a country," offered Rep. Marin. "Speaking with Justice Sotomayor was extremely delightful. Her knowledge and understanding of the key issues impacting Latinos and all Americans are astounding."
Rep. Marin is the only Latino Democrat in the Georgia General Assembly. He currently serves on the House Banks and Banking, Industrial Relations and Economic Development and Tourism committees. Rep. Marin also sits on numerous boards such as the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and is Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.
To read the Presidential Proclamation recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month 2009 please click here.
To view a slide show of the concert click here.
State Representative Pedro Marin (D-96th) was recently invited to the White House to attend the first Hispanic Heritage Month celebration hosted by President Barack Obama. Latino leaders from throughout the United States will have an opportunity to meet with the President and celebrate the contributions made by Latinos to our nation.
"I am honored to be invited by President Obama to attend such an auspicious occasion. I fully support his administration and I believe he will resolve many of the challenges facing our country today," stated the four-term legislator from Gwinnett County.
Rep. Marin is the only Latino Democrat in the Georgia General Assembly. "During Hispanic Heritage Month I hope people will come to realize that Latinos love this country and have given its sweat, blood and tears to ensure its success. The next step for Latinos in Georgia is to become more politically active by registering to vote and running for office. Our voice must be at the table when decisions are being made. Georgia is a melting pot of diverse cultures. This is an asset we should embrace, not a "problem" that should be scorned. Our future, as a state and country, is inextricably tied with our ability to look beyond race and ethnicity and focus on the man, woman or child standing before you."
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Septem ber 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries-Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
To read the Presidential Proclamation recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month 2009 please click here.
Rep. Pedro Marin (D-Duluth), the only Latino democrat in the Georgia General Assembly, is calling for passage of legislation to end racial profiling in Georgia. After attending a forum in Gwinnett County on August 1, 2009, hosted by the ACLU of Georgia a nd ABLE (Atlantans Building Leadership for Empowerment), where attendees shared stories of verbal abuse, harassment and alleged civil rights violations, his resolve for ending such practices intensified. "In a country where our President is African American and the newest Supreme Court Justice is Latina, we can no longer tolerate practices such as Driving While Black or Driving While Brown. I understand the challenges law enforcement officials face to protect and serve citizens, but racial profiling is not a solution to fighting crime. It only creates more resentment and mistrust," stated Rep. Marin.
According to attendees of the forum and a report authored by the ACLU and the Rights Working Group, "there are serious allegations of racial profiling . . ., especially in the context of traffic stops." With Latinos and immigrants being consistently targeted, Rep. Marin hopes President Obama will soon begin steps to reform federal immigration law. "If we continue to rely on state and local governments to establish policy specific to immigrants, the challenges we now face will continue to escalate and worsen. Immigrants are not our enemies and should not be treated as such. Federal immigration reform must become a priority for the Administration," offered Rep. Marin.
Currently, there are two bills in the Georgia20General Assembly which target racial profiling, HB 110 sponsored by Rep. Marin and HB 53 sponsored by Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta) of Atlanta. The bills would prohibit law enforcement officers from impermissibly using race or ethnicity in determining whether or not to stop a motorist.
On Thursday, in a 68-31 vote, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the judicial appointment of President Barak Obama, who is poised to become the first Latino and third woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. On Saturday, August 8, 2009, the official swearing in of Judge Sotomayor will be shown on television, a first for Supreme Court nominees.
"Words escape me at this=2 0moment. As an American, Latino and public servant I am so proud to have witnessed this historic event. There are 40 million Latinos rejoicing in the United States because we have moved one step closer to truly becoming a part of this country that we love. I want to personally congratulate Judge Sotomayor, her family and President Obama." offered State Rep. Pedro Marin, the only Latino democrat in the Georgia General Assembly.
The story of Sonia Sotomayor has been well chronicled. It is a testament to the human spirit and a reaffirmation that anyone with a dream and the willingness to work hard can succeed in America. "With the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor, there are thousands of young people who now realize that the impossible can become reality," indicated Rep. Marin.
"I hope everyone in the nation will take a moment and witness the swearing in. I know my family will be glued to the television."
Recently, it has come to my attention that House Bill 714, a measure I introduced for the Norcross City Council, contains provisions that go beyond their desired outcome. Specifically, the law, as it currently reads, changes the city charter where candidates can be elected by plurality as opposed to majority vote. As well, the bill does not call for a referendum in order to extend political terms from two years to four years. There has been much discussion about how this misunderstanding could have occurred. In order to provide some clarity on the issue I want to publicly comment on what transpired. More important, I hope to begin a dialogue that will establish a process of assuring that legislation introduced is indeed reflective of local government intentions.
Early in 2009 I was approached by the Norcross City Council to sponsor a bill that would amend the city charter. I was given several documents including a sample version of a bill which later became HB 714. The documents were given to legal counsel for purposes of drafting legislation, upon which, after its completion was distributed to the Norcross City Council for review and approval. The Council was in possession of the proposed statute for ten days, which they approved for introduction. As well, the measure was reviewed by members of the Gwinnett County Legis lative Delegation with every member giving their assent.
HB 714 was unanimously adopted in the House and was overwhelmingly approved by members of the Senate. In May, Governor Sonny Perdue signed the bill into law. Now, in late August, with municipal elections less than 100 days away, there are very vocal concerns about how and why the Norcross City Council decided to determine elections by plurality and exclude a municipal referendum. My focus is not on identifying who is responsible, but to remedy what has happened and prevent it from occurring again.
There is a way to resolve this situation. Under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Georgia is required to submit for preclearance any statute specific to elections. HB 714 has not been cleared by the United States Department of Justice, thereby prohibiting its implementation. The state does not pursue preclearance so we can amend the city charter once again this upcoming legislative session. This action would correct the abovementioned changes in city elections and ensure the people have a right to determine whether terms should be extended.
Second, I suggest we outline a plan where requests for legislative action by local governments to the Gwinnett County Legislative Delegation be conducted in a more transparent and accountable manner. There should be a process where local governments attest that proposed bills do represent desired outcomes.
Fortunately, we can address these issues prior to it impa cting any upcoming elections. More important, the actions leading to the miscommunication can allow us to improve state and local government relations. I look forward to working with my delegation colleagues and local elected officials to provide the good citizens of Norcross and Gwinnett the best representation possible. They deserve nothing less.
Chairman Bannister, members of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, community leaders and other concerned citizens, I thank you for the opportunity to state my position on the proposed tax increase within the upcoming county budget. As a public servant and representative of hard working citizens in Gwinnett County, I cannot support any property tax increase; especially during these difficult economic times.
I understand the complicated decisions you now face. As elected officials you are asked to represent the best interest of those who live under your jurisdiction. During the last legislative session, my colleagues and I confronted a similar situation. With a $2.5 billion dollar deficit, our budget had to become leaner. We did not raise taxes because the burden of governance should not fall upon the wallets and pocketbooks of everyday citizens. Now is the time for governments to be innovative and identify new ways of providing service that is less costly and more efficient.
My hope is you will reconsider increasing local property taxes and expanding county services. As well, I trust you will respect the rights of our cities by allowing them to maintain their own police departments. Local control is the cornerstone of our state’s governing philosophy. Any attempt to undermine it must be closely scrutinized to prevent the consolidation of power.
As a county and state we still face economic challenges. Our responsibility must be to stimulate economic growth, prevent additional foreclosures and protect local businesses. Increasing taxes will hinder that process.
Thank you again for allowing me to speak on this important issue.
Email: marinstatehouse@aol.com
State Representative Pedro Marin
Capitol
Georgia Gwinnett District 96
611 Coverdell Office Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: 404.656.0314
Fax: 404.651.5585
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