Hispanic residents make up more than half of the population in Ford, Finney and Seward counties, but there is only one Hispanic elected official in all three southwestern Kansas counties and their three largest cities.
Some groups want to recruit more Hispanic candidates so residents can choose leaders who truly represent them.
League of United Latin American Citizens’ Liberal President, Karem Gallo, says the group has been working to let Latino residents know they have support to seek public office.
Garden City School Board member Tim Cruz says money and time remain the biggest hurdles, while Finney County Commissioner William Clifford points to the county Republican party’s failure to recruit immigrant groups.
Clifford, who chairs the party, says immigrants deserve representation.
