Dominicans in US Congressional election

[Dolores]

The Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR) reports on how Dominicans did in the US mid-term election held on Tuesday, 7 November. DANR reports that this year there was a combination of incumbents re-elected as well as newly-elected Dominicans.

“We are proud of the many Dominicans who were victorious on Election Day,” said Cid Wilson, President of the DANR. “As our community continues to grows, so does our political representation at various levels of public office. The DANR looks forward to working with all of the current and newly-elected Dominicans to work on common national issues.”

THE FOLLOWING DOMINICANS WON ELECTIVE OFFICE ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2006
• William Lantigua, State Representative (Lawrence, MA) – incumbent
• Juan Pichardo, State Senator (Providence, RI) -- incumbent
• Grace Diaz, State Representative (Providence, RI) --- incumbent
• Miguel Luna, City Council (Providence, RI) – incumbent
• Luis Leon Tejada, City Council (Providence, RI) – NEWLY ELECTED
• Adriano Espaillat, State Assemblyman (New York, NY) – incumbent
• Jose Peralta, State Assemblyman (Queens, NY) – incumbent
• Rita Mella, Civil Court Judge (New York, NY) – NEWLY ELECTED
• Rey Martinez – Borough Council (Haledon, NJ) – NEWLY ELECTED
• Jessie Frias – Borough Council (Bogota, NJ) – NEWLY ELECTED
• Joseline Peña-Melnyk – Maryland House of Commons (College Park, MD) – NEWLY ELECTED

THE FOLLOWING DOMINICANS WON IN NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS EARLIER THIS YEAR: MAY 9, 2006
• Manuel Segura, City Council (Trenton, NJ) – incumbent
• Tilo Rivas, City Commissioner (Union City, NJ) – incumbent
• Rigo Rodriguez, City Council (Paterson, NJ) – NEWLY ELECTED

Areas of note:
• Joseline Peña-Melnyk became the first Dominican elected to a state legislature in Maryland history and only the second Dominican female to be elected to a state legislature in U.S. history.

• Following the election results, the DANR estimates the following number of Dominicans currently in elected positions:
-- 6 Dominicans elected to state legislatures (including one State Senator)
-- 18 Dominicans elected to county or municipal legislators
-- 7 Dominicans elected as judges

[deelt]

Go Rita Mella!!! Aaaiiiiggghhhhtt!!!

[A.Hidalgo]

That is great news and we should be proud of them. These representatives are democrats, and with the big democratic wins in the US congress winds of change in the air for the better.