Bolstered by role at
RNC, Howell delegate
on mission to get out vote
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer
Howell Councilman Juan Malave was a delegate at the Republican National Convention in New York City and had a chance to meet former presidential candidate Arizona Sen. John McCain. HOWELL — Township Councilman Juan Malave left last month’s Repub-lican National Convention in New York City exhilarated by the experience and raring to advance the Republican Party among Hispanics statewide.
Malave attended the convention as a state delegate, having been personally chosen by state Republican Chairman Joseph Kyrillos.
Malave said his new mandate is to enlist Latinos into the Republican Party. Malave said he also will be working hard to see that Puerto Rico becomes the 51st state.
“I am convinced that in my lifetime, Puerto Rico will become the 51st state,” he said.
Malave said that during the convention he got to meet former President George Bush, following the former president’s talk to an organization known as the Hispanic Alliance Committee.
However, he said it was the president’s nephew, George Prescott Bush, whose address to a group called “Viva Bush” imbued him with the drive to work statewide to involve Latinos in the Republican Party.
Malave said once the Hispanic community is educated as a whole on what the Republican Party stands for, it will respond to the values of the Republican Party because those values reflect the ones held precious by Latinos.
“More Latinos are now leaning toward the Republican Party due to their philosophy,” he said. “The Republican party esteems family values and integrity, not just values the Hispanic community values, but the community at-large.“
Added Malave, “Latinos are a proud people of integrity and strong family values looking to be treated fairly and equally.”
Malave said the Republican Party also will help attract Latinos by offering equal opportunities.
He said that in the last several years, the Republican Party has been noticeably “opening itself to the Hispanic community.
“Latinos are better informed now than ever before and they feel Bush is the better person to lead the nation for the next four years,” Malave said. He believes the Latino vote will put Bush “over the top” in the November election.
As for the convention itself, Malave said he found it to be a well-organized event.
He said although an armed police presence at Penn Station on a Sunday night gave him pause, he said there was just enough security all week between his hotel and Madison Square Garden where the convention was held to make him feel safe without feeling intimidated.
Malave said he even got to exchange political ideals with one of the demonstrators who was gathered in protest at the convention.
Malave said it was his observation that for the most part, the demonstrators were reasonably orderly, and were “there to exercise their right to protest.”
Highlights of the convention for Malave included having his picture taken with New York Gov. George Pataki, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Malave said he was interviewed by local and international media, including the Latino newspaper El Diario and a television station that broadcasts in Spain.