Elgin mayor candidates discuss Latino involvement

Elgin mayoral candidate Joseph Galvan says the city hasn't done enough to get Latinos involved, but incumbent David Kaptain says many attempts have been made - it's just a tough thing to accomplish.

Councilwoman Rose Martinez, who was appointed by the city council in May to fill the seat left vacant when Anna Moeller became state representative, is the only Hispanic council member in a town where about 44 percent of residents are Latinos.

"The representation on the council is not sufficient," Galvan said. "There has to be greater outreach to bring people to (serve on) the citizens commissions. We need more Latinos. We represent almost half the community and there aren't enough there."

Martinez was a well-qualified candidate who was picked in part because she's Latina, Kaptain said. It was important to him to replace Moeller with another woman, he added. "I think it's important that we represent the community."

When he became mayor four years ago, Kaptain said, he actively encouraged seeking out Latinos to serve within city commissions.

The city's strategic planning and human relations commissions, as well as task forces assigned to examine the city's budget and the Hemmens Cultural Center, have since attracted Latino members, he said.

"We encourage them to became active," he said. "Every time we have an opportunity, we try to involve people. That's what we do."

An additional obstacle is that immigrants from Latin American don't always trust the government, Kaptain said. "We still have to keep trying," he said.

It's all about reaching out the right way, said Galvan, who was born in Chicago and whose grandparents immigrated from Mexico. If elected, he'd be the first Latino mayor in Elgin's history.

"Apathy is a nationwide phenomenon, so you have to be able to go into the neighborhoods, in the communities," he said.

Churches - along with their community and youth groups - are the best place to start, he said. "That's certainly one of the most basic and most core places for Latinos," he said.

Also, the city should encourage the formation of an Elgin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and organize festivities that cater to its large Mexican community, such as an "El Grito" (or "The Cry") ceremony to celebrate Mexican independence, done in communities like Chicago, Berwyn, Waukegan and Cicero, Galvan said. "It goes back to inclusion and heritage," he said.

In the end, however, the onus is on Latinos themselves to take action, Galvan said. "We have to get people ignited," he said.