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“ For Hispanics to be able to make it to the next level as a political force, it needs a business sector that is willing to invest in them. Strong Latino political leadership will translate into benefits for the community as a whole.” — JAVIER CUEBAS voters cast ballots during the same period. “We still don’t have the type of voter participation needed to launch a platform for Hispanic consultants to be able to withstand the off-season in politics,” de la Portilla said. This is only part of the puzzle. Although Puerto Ricans are in the majority, there are large numbers of other Hispanic nationalities in the area, such as Dominicans, Venezuelans, and Colombians. They, too, are relatively new to the area. “This is a business very hard to break in that requires experience and strong community knowledge,” said Bertica Cabrera Morris, who has been in the consulting business in Orlando for 25 years and is a well-known Republican fundraiser. “There are not many Berticas around, because it takes a long time to turn a Rolodex into paid dues and to know the ins and outs of a community as diverse as this one.” Another aspect hampering the development of a stronger Hispanic political infrastructure is the timid financial support from Latino entrepreneurs and businesses. “For Hispanics to be able to make it to the next level as a political force, it needs a business sector that is willing to invest in them,” Cuebas said. “Strong Latino 122 | INFLUENCE SUMMER/FALL 2016 political leadership will translate into benefits for the community as a whole.” Like the rest of the population, most local Hispanic businesses also are young and don’t see political engagement as a priority as they strive to make it. But a transformation is already taking place as the number of Latino-owned businesses soar. At 1,700 members, the Metro Orlando Hispanic Chamber is the largest business interest group in the area. “In addition to the locally founded businesses, we’ve seen a surge in Puerto Rican businesses migrating or expanding here from the island,” Cabrera-Morris said. “Engineering firms, CPA firms and other mature businesses are bringing their talent here.” Padilla estimated the turning point is about 10 years away. State Sen. Darren Soto’s bid for Florida’s 9th Congressional District appears to be the beginning, she said. He won the Democratic primary and likely will become the first Puerto Rican congressman from Central Florida. “Darren’s campaign has had broad support from Latino businesses and mainstream businesses as well,” Padilla said. “Overall, in my 20 years here I had never seen so many Hispanic candidates running and so much political activity in the community. This election season can be a catalyst for Hispanic politics and the political industry, when all the pieces start to come together.” Padilla recently reported on her blog that there are 42 Hispanics running for office in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties — half of them in Osceola County. This is nearly twice the number of Latino candidates (24) that ran in the same counties in 2010. There were 33 Hispanics on the ballot in 2012. Puerto Ricans and Orlando Hispanics in general are on the right track, Cuebas and others agreed. Political power and infrastructure take time to develop and strengthen, but they are well on their way. “It took a couple of generations for Cubans in Miami to be the political force they are today,” Cuebas said. “The same can be said of Puerto Ricans in New York and Arab Americans in Michigan. The structure isn’t fully there, but the people who will be the future campaign managers and consultants are already pounding the ground as volunteers and accumulating experience. Businesses are maturing. They are poised to be a force not to be reckoned with.” CENTRAL FLORIDA


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