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GOP Club Tries To Organize Hispanics

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: June 7, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Barack Obama or John McCain?

"El Que Vota Cuenta," a political club is telling Hispanics in West Pasco. The Spanish phrase means "The One That Votes Matters," roughly translated.

The Spanish-speaking population here shares more values with conservative candidates, the founder and president of the Pasco chapter of Club Politico, Louie Rodriguez, believes.

The group has been meeting of late at Juan's Black Bean Deli in downtown New Port Richey. Its next meeting is this Tuesday, June 10.

The restaurant is owned by Juan De Sosa, who left Cuba in 1960.

"It's like any club," Rodriguez said about the group. "It starts out small and grows."

"We found the values of Hispanics resonate more with the values of the Republican Party," he added. "We're a very conservative population."

A member of the Pasco Republican Executive, Rodriguez and Bill Bunting, the committee's chairman, were chatting one day and the idea emerged for the group.

Pasco Republicans have formed a Hispanic club while Pasco Democrats have not, Bunting stresses.

"We're doing everything we can to organize the Spanish electorate," Rodriguez said.

Four goals appear on the main page of the Web site at www.club-politico.org:

To organize voting-age members of the Spanish-Speaking community into a club that is able to promote the goals and mission of the Republican Party.

To educate, instruct, and inform the Spanish-Speaking electorate about political issues and encourage political involvement in Republican Party activities.

To register new voters as members of the Republican Party.

To encourage existing voters to become members.

Republicans can join Club Politico for $12 a year.

The club shifts meeting places every few months around the county, Rodriguez explained. The group had been gathering in Land O' Lakes for a time. Meetings from May through July have been scheduled for Juan's Black Bean Deli at 5706 Main St.

The June 10 session will feature Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley as the speaker. The meeting will start at 7 p.m., with social networking time at 6 p.m.

For information contact Rodriguez by telephone at 727-385-7508 or by e-mail.

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