In 2002, it was no mere coincidence that David N. Cicilline’s Providence mayoral campaign placed its campaign headquarters on Elmwood Avenue, in the heart of the capital city’s Latino community. Latino voter registrations and voter turnout in Providence surged in 2000 and grew further in city elections in 2002. That year, with the victory of Councilman Miguel Luna (Ward 9) and the re-election win of Councilman Luis Aponte (Ward 10), two of the 15 council members were Latinos, a first for Providence. This year, voter registration has surged and the number of Latino elected officials could easily double with candidates running in Wards 7 (Doris de los Santos), 8 (Leon Tejada and Eulogio Acevedo), 11 (Jose Brito) and 15 (Sabina Matos). Dozens of Latinos, looking to give a makeover to Providence’s very white city Democratic Committee, are also running for ward committee seats.
Besides Providence, Central Falls is the only other Rhode Island city — based on Census data — that is required to have the ballot printed in English and in Spanish. Although Latino representation long lagged behind the growth of that city’s Colombian and Dominican communities, Ricardo Patino (elected in 2001) was joined by Luis Alfredo Gil in 2005. The presence of the social-services group Progreso Latino on Broad Street, in the heart of Central Falls, has assisted in registering and empowering the Latino community.
In Cranston, Emilio Navarro recently won the Democratic endorsement for the Ward 2 City Council seat and could become the city’s first Latino councilman. Also, Ivan Marte is running for the state Senate seat being vacated by Elizabeth Roberts. In Woonsocket, Stella Guerra-Brien mobilized the large Latino community in 2000 when she won her race for state representative. And in Newport, David Quiroa is registering more Latinos to vote as he makes a second bid for state rep.
Meanwhile, across Rhode Island, in Pawtucket, Warwick, West Warwick, Johnston, North Providence, and South Kingstown, Latino communities are growing, but have yet to have made their political presence felt. As in the other cities mentioned, it will take a candidate, and an organization or an inspired leader, to turn presence into power.
