Before reading the proclamation that kicked off the Latino festival in Veterans Park, Manchester Mayor Bob Baines asked the weather to cooperate.
Track 1 :07 Baines: also best wishes for the sunshine to come out very very soon…translation in Spanish….
Mother nature did not grant his wish…rain came down most of the afternoon, sometimes in drops, other times in torrents.
But that did not keep people from showing up.
And as long as the people came, so did the politicians.
Hector Velez is a Manchester resident who’s making a run for a state house seat.
He spent much of the afternoon ushering around other candidates introducing them to voters.
Track 10: part of this is to introduce the heritage, the customs, the traditions of the Hispanic community and to get Hispanics to understand, just like they were involved in their countries with politics they have to be involved with politics in this country, we can make our voice heard so if we tell the candidates you can’t come, you can’t walk in the parade, then we’re not doing that
Campaign staffers set up booths complete with signs, stickers and literature translated into Spanish.
And several candidates braved the rain to shake hands and ask for votes.
Like democratic gubernatorial candidate John Lynch.
He said, among Hispanics, one issues stands out.
Track 4 :27 the Hispanic people tend to care about education, that’s what I hear all across new Hampshire and that’s what I’m hearing today at this festival
The man Lynch is hoping to unseat, Governor Craig Benson, also made the rounds.
Track 11 :09 getting the latino community as well as other communities in Manchester and other cities and towns is critical, cultural diversity is what makes us great and having everybody involved regardless of their background will enhance our way of life here in the state
Many candidates quickly pointed out that they were interested in hearing from and talking to all New Hampshire residents, including Latinos.
And in fact, their presence at the festival was just one stop in a long Saturday of campaigning. Many also shook hands and asked for votes at Manchester’s Greek Festival that same day.
Still, with a population of over 20,000 and growing, Hispanics could begin to make a real difference at the polls.
Ray Buckley is a democratic state representative from Manchester who’s now running for executive council.
Track 3 2:40 we truly believe the Hispanic community here in Manchester is going to become the predominant political force in 30 years, we’ve been here had a booth since first Latino festival, we are excited to welcome them into the political process
In Manchester, the Hispanic population is nearly 5,000… in Nashua it’s just over 5300.
The total number of Hispanics registered to vote in New Hampshire is estimated to be around 6,000.
Ernesto Sagas is a political science professor at Southern New Hampshire University and board member of the organization Vote Now New Hampshire Hispanics.
Sagas says he and other community leaders are just now gearing up to do exit polling that will teach them more about whom Hispanics are voting for.
But he says based on national trends, he has some theories.
1:24 most of the Hispanics in New Hampshire are Mexicans, Columbians, Puerto Ricans that nation wide across the board tend to vote for the democratic party, that is we have no south Florida style Cubans here
But Sagas cautions that all Hispanics cannot be placed under one label. He says, for example, what works for Puerto Ricans may not work for Mexicans.
7:50 citizenship is not an issue, or the process of naturalization is not an issue for Puerto Ricans, because they are US citizens by default, now for Mexicans, any politician coming promising Mexican higher rates of naturalization, that is going to be a very important issue
He’s hoping to have a better grasp about the issues that concern Latino voters after the general election in November.
Track 15 music, sound people talking
Back at the Latino Festival, organizers from Vote Now New Hampshire Hispanics worked to ensure people use the voting booth to make their voices heard.
They walked around with questionnaires asking if people know where to vote, what party they are affiliated with, or if they are registered.
Track 15 :16 clerk: okay I need to see proof of identity, woman: drivers license, clerk: right, that’s good
And for the first time ever, the Manchester city clerk’s office agreed to register voters at the celebration.
Track 15 3:20 clerk: okay you are a registered voted, congratulations, Marisol: thank you
Marisol Melendez has lived in Manchester ten years. She says she’s too busy during the week days with her four children to make it over to city hall to register.
But she says it’s because of her children that she will cast her first vote this year.
Track 16 1:47 I have four kids, they are in school and we want something for them, my husband and I, we want the better life for them, in school, and better opportunities to them
Melendez says she’s most interested in the presidential election and will vote for George Bush.
Daniel Valezquez says his eyes are also on the presidential race.
Track 5: step in a little so you don’t get rained on…sound of rain….
Out of the rain, Valezquez registered, as a democrat, with the help of translator.
He says he will vote for John Kerry.
Track 6: :40 how do you say bueno opportunita por los espanos: Lillye: he feels like he’s given latinos good opportunities valezquez: me gusta la……Lillye: he wants to vote for him because he likes his ideas and vision
Political Scientist Ernesto Sagas says it’s not surprising that many latinos, especially immigrants, are more focused on the presidential race.
9:40 in many countries in Latin America the governor is not as important as the president, most political systems are highly presidentialist, in some countries like the Dominican Republic, governors are not elected, so for many Latinos a race for mayor or governor, based on historical experience is not as important…what really matters is who’s the president, the president is the little king
track 10: 2:53 I’m officially official now!
Rafael Mortan, who was born in New York, raised in Massachusetts, and is now a Manchester resident, registered as an independent.
Mortan says he’s paying close attention to state and local races.
And he isn’t sold on any one candidate yet.
Track 11 2:09 craig benson, good guy, great guy, did the little kindergarten thing with the kids going back to school but then he’s killing me with the old people, he’s not giving us medicare, I don’t know it confuses me how politicians will get your vote on a certain issue and then they’ll be totally different on something else you really need
Many candidates came to the festival with staffers or volunteers fluent in Spanish, hoping to win over voters.
And for at least one candidate, the festival brought him back to his days in Spanish class at UNH.
Justin Nadeau is a democrat running for congress in the first congressional district.
Track 3 2:00 yo studio espanol por un ano a universita de new Hampshire, yo hablo espanol un poquito, yo deseo studio espanol mas
For NHPR news, I’m RK
