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Article updated: 12/9/2012 6:15 AM

Not one Latino among 23 Elgin council candidates

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Jane Barbosa is hopeful about the political potential within Elgin's Latino community, although not a single Latino joined 23 candidates filing for five open city council seats for the April 2013 election. Barbosa worked with a group of other residents to find potential candidates within the Latino community and expects more leadership within the next five years.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

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Then-Elgin councilman Juan Figueroa dances with his mother-in-law, Ada Soto of Puerto Rico, during an election night party in 2005. Figueroa was the top vote-getter in that election, but he lost his council bid in 2009. There currently are no Latinos serving on the Elgin City Council, and none filed to run for five open seats in 2013.

Patrick Kunzer | Staff Photographer

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Of the 23 candidates for the Elgin City Council, not one is a Latino. That will leave Latinos, who comprise the largest segment of Elgin's population, without representation in city government. A longtime leader in the community, however, sees hope on the horizon. “It’s telling me people are interested; however, they don’t want to just go in there and warm up a seat," resident Juan Barbosa said.
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    • Jane Barbosa is hopeful about the political potential within Elgin’s Latino community, although not a single Latino joined 23 candidates filing for five open city council seats for the April 2013 election. Barbosa worked with a group of other residents to find potential candidates within the Latino community and expects more leadership within the next five years.
    • Then-Elgin councilman Juan Figueroa dances with his mother-in-law, Ada Soto of Puerto Rico, during an election night party in 2005. Figueroa was the top vote-getter in that election, but he lost his council bid in 2009. There currently are no Latinos serving on the Elgin City Council, and none filed to run for five open seats in 2013.
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