Antonella Romero Packard in Ahora Utah –

Antonella is doing a good job in the Beehive state!

Somos Republicans anuncia directora en Utah

Política: Esfuerzos del grupo se centran en incrementar el número de miembros del partido, dice nueva representante.

Gladys Chávez y Josie Tizcareño Pereira, Ahora Utah

Somos Republicans, una organización nacional de republicanos hispanos, nombró a Antonella Romero Packard como su directora estatal para Utah, indicó el grupo el 8 de diciembre en un boletín de prensa.

El documento destaca que Romero Packard “es el tipo de persona que sostendrá el timón de los esfuerzos en Utah porque éste es un estado de valores conservadores”. También dice que, en lo relacionado con el tema de la inmigración, en Utah se han dado grandes pasos a partir del Utah Compact, “un acuerdo que sirve como guía para obtener una sana discusión sobre inmigración”.

“Me siento honrada de trabajar mano a mano con una organización hispana republicana como ésta, la cual cuenta con reconocimiento a nivel nacional”, dijo Romero Packard, quien vive en Saratoga Springs (en Salt Lake City). “Quiero brindarle mi apoyo a la comunidad hispana a través de bases fuertes, que estoy segura, darán frutos positivos”.

Romero Packard agregó que su principal responsabilidad radica en “incrementar la cantidad de gente hispana que está registrada con el Partido Republicano”, que es también el interés principal de Somos Republicans. Sin embargo, aclaró que su grupo no está afiliado con los políticos de Utah ni con la mayoría de personas que representan al Partido Republicano en este estado, entre ellos el Representante Stephen Sandstrom con quien, dijo, el grupo mantiene una postura distinta en cuanto al tema de la inmigración.

“Si [a este grupo de republicanos] extremistas les podemos arrebatar el poder”, subrayó, “entonces nosotros traeríamos el control hacia el centro. [Así] el tema de la inmigración [por ejemplo], estaría en la balanza”.

Romero Packard apuntó que debido a la falta de balance en su propio partido, muchos ex miembros se han hecho conservadores o incluso demócratas, por lo que ahora se planea “recaudar fondos para [postular] candidatos republicanos hispanos a nivel nacional”.

Romero Packard, quien nació en Honduras y lleva varios años viviendo en Utah, cuenta con una experiencia sólida trabajando con la comunidad hispana. Ocupó el cargo de vicepresidenta de la Asamblea Republicana Hispana de Utah y también fue dirigente del Utah Hispanic Latino Legislative Task Force y de la Cámara de Comercio Latinoamericana de Utah (LACC); actualmente es miembro del consejo directivo de la Federación de Mexicanos Unidos de Utah, del consejo asesor de la Comisión del Trabajo del Estado y del grupo que organiza el Festival Brasileño en SLC; en 2008 fue nombrada una de las 20 hispanas más influyentes en Utah por la revista Business Connect.

http://ahorautah.com/articles.php?id=4600#article

Political Commentary on the Utah Compact – By Antonella Romero Packard

Political Commentary on the Utah Compact

By Antonella Romero Packard

Utah business, religious, and community leaders took a bold step in creating and publicly embracing “The Utah Compact”.  The unveiling of the Compact comes three hundred and ninety years to the day after the Mayflower Compact was signed.  The Mayflower Compact was a seminal document that allowed the Pilgrims to draw up fair and equal laws for the general good of the settlement and for the sake of their own survival. The document was signed on November 11, 1620. John Adams and many historians have referred to the Mayflower Compact as the foundation of the U.S. Constitution.  Compliments are in order to the crafters of the Utah Compact on their timing to unveil a simple, pragmatic, principled and compassionate approach to the hot button issue of immigration with Thanksgiving just around the corner.

The Utah Compact is a declaration of five principles to guide Utah’s immigration discussion.   These are Federal Solutions which make it clear that immigration is a federal policy issue “between the U.S. government and other countries—not Utah and other countries”; Law Enforcement, while it does call to support the “rule of law” , it specifically calls for local law enforcement resources to focus on criminal activities and not to focus on civil violations of federal code, which is what being undocumented is; Families, which are core to Utah’s and America’s values, are acknowledged in the Compact with the statement, “Strong families are the foundation of successful communities…” and opposes “…policies that unnecessarily separate families”; the Economy is another of the Compact’s principles which calls for a “free-market philosophy that maximizes individual freedom and opportunity” and recognizes the economic role immigrants play as workers and taxpayers – further recognizing the state as having a global reputation as a welcoming and business friendly state; and the last principle is one of a Free Society and it clearly addresses the  fact that immigrants that are integrated into communities across Utah. The Compact asks that we “adopt a humane approach to this reality, reflecting our [Utah’s] unique culture, history and spirit of inclusion. The way we treat immigrants will say more about us as a free society and less about our immigrant neighbors. Utah should always be a place that welcomes people of goodwill.”

The document has support from a broad spectrum of Utah’s community.  Notably, very conservative leaders which include, two former Utah GOP Governors, Norm Bangerter and Olene Walker; former GOP Senator, Jake Garn; former GOP Congressman Jim Hansen; Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Republican; the highest ranking Catholic Church official in Utah, Bishop John C. Wester; Paul Mero, of conservative think tank, The Sutherland Institute;  Lane Beattie, head of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce;  Debra Bayle of the United Way of Greater Salt Lake; and Juan Manuel Ruiz, President of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, were among the prominent signers of the document at its unveiling.  Conservative GOP Hispanic organization, Somos Republicans,  has also signed the Utah Compact.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) otherwise known as the Mormon Church, which is the predominant religion practiced in Utah, issued a supporting statement following the unveiling of the Utah Compact.  In its statement, the LDS Church opens with: “The Church regards the declaration of the Utah Compact as a responsible approach to the urgent challenge of immigration reform.  It is consistent with important principles for which we stand”.  This is not new and it is truly sad when many have to be reminded by religious leaders to be just and compassionate. One of the LDS Church’s books of scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants, has a passage that reads “According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I [the Lord] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles” (D&C 101:77). All does not mean some.  Arizona’s Russell Pearce, Utah’s Stephen Sandstrom, Paul Ray, Chris Herrod,  who call themselves Latter Day Saints, must have fallen asleep during their Sunday School lessons.  These men have stated on several occasions that undocumented immigrants have no rights in this country. The LDS Church’s pronouncement is an emphasis on these “just and holy principles”.

Paul Mero, President of conservative think tank, the Sutherland Institute stated, “from an authentic conservative position, there is really only one public policy option on immigration: help bring immigrants into society, into accountability and the rule of law”. Conservative principles are consistent with the Compact approach to immigration reform. Sadly, a very fringe element of society has hijacked the term “Conservative” and have aided those with a nativist agendas to pollute the issue with half truths and flat out lies.  The word Patriot is another word hijacked by this nativist fringe. Many choice people have been deceived by this poisonous rhetoric.

Although there has been broad support from Utahans, there has also been widespread repudiation of the Compact by many who call themselves Mormons. Utah House of Representatives state Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, a Republican from Orem, UT and a self-described “active” Mormon, is crafting legislation similar to Arizona’s SB 1070. He stated in an interview, “I kind of wish I’d been given more of a heads-up because it is taking aim at the bill I’m doing. My other thought was that I thought the church’s no-position was the best way to go and to let this be the purview of government.”  A few days later, Mr. Sandstrom stated that he agreed with the LDS Church’s statement and that his SB1070 style bill was precisely in line with the statement.  Very contradictory statements, on one hand, he wants the LDS Church to butt out of politics and on the other he suddenly decides that he agrees. This is indeed confusing. We want to know to whom is Mr. Sandstrom is beholden. Why the stiff-necked resolve to pass legislation that further polarizes a community and may have dire economic consequences for Utah?

Eli Cowley, the head of Utah’s Minutemen Project, stated in interview with Utah’s local NBC affiliate that the compact and its supporters just want to “fill the pews with derrières” and want cheap labor for their businesses. His remarks were vitriolic and carried a strong contentious spirit. It is of note to know that the Southern Poverty Law Center has listed the Utah Minutemen Project as a hate group with ties to the John Tanton Network. Cowley is a strong longtime supporter of Mr. Sandstrom’s anti immigrant agenda.

The Utah Compact is a call back to reason, pragmatism, and all that makes America work. Utah is a state that consistently ranks among the top ten places to conduct business in America, a great place to raise families, and a high quality of life by various well known publications such as Forbes Magazine, Newsweek, among others. Utah knows about sustainable prosperity.  Tinkering with laws that will derail its progress is bad public policy. The Utah Compact is a solid, principled based model that follows strong values that are intrinsically American. It is a great model for the nation and other states to adopt.

About Somos Republicans:
The Mission of Somos Republicans is to promote political education and information needed to make more informed political decisions. To inspire the Hispanic people to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their neighbors through collaborative political education, volunteer commitment and responsible participation in society. Our vision is to increase the Latino Republican voting block by 100% within two years. To increase voter registration, precinct committeemen recruitment, campaign volunteering, fundraising and events to reflect quality and integrity of future Latino leadership.

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