Latino Officials, Leading Experts to Discuss Texas Demographics, 2012 Elections, Energy Future at 28th Annual NALEO Conference

LOS ANGELES – With 2010 Census data demonstrating that nearly half of all Texans are now Latinos (48%), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) today released the schedule for a policy track focused on issues specific to the state of Texas during its 28^th Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX. The three-day event, which has long been considered the Latino political convention, will take place June 23-25 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Nearly 1,000 elected officials from across the country will assemble for the nation’s largest Latino political convention. Participants will hear from fellow legislators and leading experts as they examine strategies for creating a healthier, more strategic community.

Policy panels for this year’s Texas track will include discussions on the demographic trends of Texas, the potential power of the Latino vote in the 2012 Presidential election, and the future of the state’s energy sustainability.

Since 2000, the state of Texas has experienced exceptional growth, with Latinos playing a key role in the record number of residents in the Lone Star State,  according to a NALEO Educational Fund analysis of the Census 2010 data.

While the state’s overall population grew 21% from 20.9 million to 25.1 million between 2000 and 2010, the Latino share of that population increased 42%, from 6.7 million to 9.5 million. Latino residents accounted for nearly two-thirds (65%) of the overall population growth in Texas over the last ten years.

For a full conference agenda, please visit www.naleo.org/annualconference.html.

Registration is required for media interested in covering the conference and can be done by contacting Amanda Bosquez at abosquez@rabengroup.com or by phone at (202) 587-4931.  Press must present credentials at the time of registration on-site to receive NALEO conference materials and press passes.

Session Chair:  Ms. Monica Lozano, Chief Executive Officer, impreMedia

Mr. Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, NALEO Educational Fund

Ms. Nina Perales, Director of Litigation, MALDEF

Mr. Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDF

Session Chair:  Hon. Carol Alvarado, Texas State Representative

Dr. Steve Murdock, Director of Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, Rice University

Mr. James Aldrete, President and Creative Director, MAP

Mr. Miguel Romano, President, Associated Republicans of Texas

Hon. Rick Perry, Governor, State of Texas

Hon. Julián Castro, Mayor, City of San Antonio

Session Chair:  Hon. Michele Martinez, Councilmember, City of Santa Ana, California; NALEO Board Member

Dr. Fernando Guerra, Public Health Consultant, City of San Antonio and the San Media Liaison, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, Texas

Ms. Elise Goldstein, Deputy Director, Leadership for Healthy Communities

Session Chair:  Hon. Rafael Anchia, Texas State Representative

Dr. Raymond Lee Orbach, Director, The Energy Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas

Hon. Elizabeth Ames Jones, Chair, Railroad Commission of Texas

Dr. Frank Clemente, Professor, Pennsylvania State University

Session Chair:  Ms. Gloria Montaño Greene, Director Washington DC Office, NALEO Educational Fund

Hon. Ross Romero, Utah State Senator; Chair, Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs; NALEO Board Member

Hon. Anitere Flores, Florida State Senator; Board Member, NALEO Educational Fund

Hon. Mara Candelaria Reardon, Indiana State Representative

Hon. Armando Walle, Texas State Representative

Sec. Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior

Hon. Charles Gonzalez, Member of Congress

Hon. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, Member of Congress