Noted voting rights attorney Avila addresses political integration

August 14, 2002
Santa Paula News

All have the same goal, the goal of political integration, said noted voting rights attorney Joaquin G. Avila, the featured speaker at the 6th Annual Latino Town Hall Awards dinner.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesAll have the same goal, the goal of political integration, said noted voting rights attorney Joaquin G. Avila, the featured speaker at the 6th Annual Latino Town Hall Awards dinner.This year’s event honored John Macik for Community Service, Andrea Lara for Business, Ben Meraz for Sports, Norah Byrom for Education, Jeffrey Del Rio for Youth, Danza Azteca Tonantzin for Cultural Arts and Vice Mayor Laura Flores Espinosa, who received the Raymond Garcia Humanitarian Award.Avila has an extensive voting rights background and practice; a California native, he received a degree from Yale before graduating from Harvard Law School. Thereafter, Avila served as a law clerk with the Alaska State Supreme Court and then he became a staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (M.A.L.D.E.F.), a national Latino civil rights advocacy organization. He became its principal voting rights attorney and later president of M.A.L.D.E.F.Avila’s achievements include many awards and citations; he also has taught at several universities.
California passed a stronger Voting Rights Act in July, Avila said, and the LTH awards dinner was his first opportunity to discuss same.Accountability and goals go hand in hand, and taking advantage of the right to vote impacts all economic and social issues, he noted.“And there is a need for leadership with a vested interest in the Latino community; we need to be proactive, not wait. Governmental boards must be more accountable,” to all people.The new law is a “remarkable bit of legislature,” that takes effect next year. “No other Latinos have this opportunity; the power of the individual is without limits,” when it comes to having political and social impacts, said Avila.“Reach for the stars, set goals and have a team to help you meet your goals. Only you control your destiny, never give up and never quit trying. . .”



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