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.
At 9:00 pm last night, President Obama notified Judge Sonia Sotomayor of his intention to nominate her for the United States Supreme Court. If approved by the Senate, Judge Sotomayor will become the third woman and fist Latino to serve in our Nation's highest court.
For State Rep. Pedro Marin, the first Latino Democrat elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, this is a moment of great pride. "The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the United States Supreme Court by President Obama is yet another example of the leadership and vision he offers the people of America. As a Puerto Rican, public servant and citizen of this great country, I am ecstatic that Judge Sotomayor will become the first Latina to serve in the Supreme Court. This is a great day for our Nation."
Rep. Marin also truly appreciates Judge Sotomayor's story; one that embodies the American Dream and should serve as a model for all people. "The fact that Judge Sotomayor came from a working class family in the Bronx and through hard work and natural talent was able to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton University and become editor of the Yale Law Review at Yale law school is a testament to the human spirit."
As well, Rep. Marin is glad the United States Supreme Court will further reflect the diversity of people and ideas existent within America. "Yesterday, President Obama was again part of making history in America. His willingness to nominate a woman and Latino for the seat held by Justice David H. Souter speaks volumes about his desire to "form a more perfect Union" by ensuring all Americans have an opportunity to sit at the table and be heard."
Preside nt George H.W. Bush nominated Judge Sotomayor in 1991 to the federal district court on the recommendation of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the former Democratic Senator of New York. President Bill Clinton elevated her to the appeals court in 1997, where she was confirmed a year later and still serves today.
On Saturday, April 18, 2009, 4:00 pm, at the Porter Sanford Center for Performing Arts, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30034, Rep. Pedro "Pete" Marin will be serving as a judge for the 2009 Congressional Art Competition.
The event, hosted by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-4th), will showcase the artistic talents of young people from more than 12 schools throughout the Fourth Congressional District.
Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Represen tatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each Congressional District.
The Artistic Discovery Contest is open to all high school students. The over-all winner of each district will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition. "I am honored to participate as a judge in this competition. The student artists in the 4th Congressional District are extremely talented," offered Rep. Marin.
On Friday, March 13, 2009, from 10:00 am - 11:00 am, the Four Corners Primary Care Center located at 5030 Georgia Belle Court, Norcross, Georgia 30093, will hold a press conference announcing its opening. Rep. Pedro "Pete" Marin, who represents the city of Norcross in the Georgia General Assembly, will provide welcoming remarks.
The Four Corners Primary Care Center is the product of a partnership between the Gwinnett County Board of Health and a community based organization, The Four Corners Primary Care Centers, Inc. (4CPCC), a local 501C-3 organization.
Located in one of the four neighboring census tracts in Gwinnett County that are
federally designated as medically underserved, Four Corners provides nonemergency
treatment by a Board Certified Family Practice doctor and a pediatrician. Primary Care includes treatment for children and adults for chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma. Routine illnesses such as pneumonia, sore throats,
infections, and arthritis are also part of primary care.
"With health care costs increasing, and more families losing their benefits due to layoffs, it is critical to support neighborhood clinics such as the Four Corners Primary Care Center which provides residents the service they deserve and need," offered Rep. Marin.
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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