Press Release: LULAC Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama's Announcement Of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson As Secretary of Commerce.

Governor Richardson becomes the first Hispanic Cabinet official as part of the Economic Team.

December 3, 2008

For more information contact:
Lizette Jenness Olmos, (202) 833-6130 ext.16

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) commended the announcement by President-elect Barack Obama of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to the position of Secretary of Commerce today.

“Governor Bill Richardson is a key economic diplomat and brings a wealth of experience and skills. He is a top leader in the community and has a key understanding of today’s economic situation,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales.
At the press conference in Chicago Governor Richardson said, “There is a vital role for the Department of Commerce in our economic recovery. The unique strengths of the department and its talented public servants make it the natural agency to serve as the programmatic nerve center in America’s struggle to rejuvenate our economy. America will once again be at the forefront of innovation, especially in the new frontier of energy independence and clean energy jobs, and we will restore our position of respect in the world.”

“Richardson has experience managing a department and being able to bring a calm rational process to a crisis situation that has been well documented throughout his career. He is credited with bringing jobs to New Mexico,” said LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes. “We look forward to working with him.”

Born in Pasadena, California, in 1947, to a Spanish-born mother and a Nicaraguan-born father, Mr Richardson grew up in Mexico City, before attending boarding school in Massachusetts. He served as a Congressman from 1983 until 1997, when Bill Clinton picked him to become America's Ambassador to the UN. During his time there, he assisted in President Clinton's efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. In 1998, he returned to Washington to serve as Energy Secretary, a role which he performed until the end of President Clinton's administration in 2001. After a brief period in private life, Mr Richardson ran for the New Mexico governorship in 2002, an election he won 59% to 39%, in the process breaking the world record for the most handshakes given by a politician - 13,392 in eight hours. His victory made him the only Hispanic governor of a US state. He comfortably won re-election in November 2006, increasing his winning margin to 36 percentage points.

One of the nation's most prominent Latino politicians, Richardson pledged in English and Spanish to work to renew the economy.

The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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