Mexican American Bar Association of Houston

www.mabah.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PO BOX 303 Houston, TX 77001-0303

2012-2013 OFFICERS
ANGELICA M. HERNANDEZ PRESIDENT JULIA MALDONADO PRESIDENT-ELECT KEVIN CHAVEZ VICE PRESIDENT RACHAL ROJAS CORRESPONDING SECRETARY BENJAMIN SANCHEZ RECORDING SECRETARY TOM TSENG TREASURER ROBERT HINOJOSA PARLIAMENTARIAN SONYA L. HEATH WEBMASTER JOE MATTA IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Houston, Texas -- The Mexican American Bar Association of Houston (MABAH), the voice of the Hispanic legal community in Houston, Harris County, Texas, will conduct a Press Conference at the Harris County Courthouse, 201 Caroline, on Thursday July 19, 2012, at 2:00 P.M., to denounce the inappropriate practice of pandering to racial and/or ethnic prejudices in political campaigns, including the judicial race for Texas Supreme Court where incumbent Justice David Medina is running for re-election after having served eight years on that distinguished court. According to recent articles in the Austin American Statesman1, a former Harris County District Judge as well as a longtime Houston attorney, both assert that Justice Medinas opponent, John Devine told them in a lunch meeting that one of his principal motivations for running for this distinguished judicial office was that he "could beat a guy with a Mexican name." While John Devine has denied making the aforementioned comment, MABAH wants to make it clear that any pejorative comments referencing the race or ethnicity of a candidate as a basis for attacking the credentials or electability of a candidate will not be tolerated. This anachronistic attitude and the acceptance of this attitude fail or refuse to recognize that our society has consistently risen above these attacks on its citizenry. MABAH President Angelica Hernandez said, It is an insult to the hard work and academic achievements of both our ancestors and current Hispanic leaders to insinuate that they are second class citizens and not worthy of elected positions due to their ethnicity. Our history bears witness that the fabric of our great country was built by people of all ethnicities. The contributions of Americans of Hispanic descent in the legal field and other professional fields are evident both nationally (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor) and locally (Justice of the Peace Armando Rodriguez - the longest serving Hispanic Judge in Harris County). MABAH Civil Rights Chair, Professor Lupe Salinas, said: We are in the 21st Century and no one--Anglo, Jew, Latino, Female, African American or Asian-should have to run for public office with racial bigotry as an obstacle. We must all stand up and denounce behavior and attitudes that harm elective opportunities for Hispanics and other minorities. MABAH will be joined at the press conference by Herlinda Garcia, District VIII Director of LULAC, the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the country. For further information, contact MABAH President Angelica M. Hernandez at 832567-3180.
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DIRECTORS
BENNY AGOSTO OLIVIA CARBAJAL DE GARCIA EPHRAIM DEL POZO AL FLORES BERNARDO J. GARCIA ENRIQUE RAMIREZ JAMES RODRIGUEZ
DAVID ROMERO JOEL SALAZAR HON. JOE VILLARREAL

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http://texasgopvote.com/knowledge-topics/2012-republican-primary/judge-john-devine-why-areyou-running-against-justice-david-medina-i-can-beat.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/sharedgen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2012/07/13/devine_denies_racial_motivatio.html