Pro-Republican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Wisconsin networking to build a GOP base

This past week the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) held its 26th Annual convention in Milwaukee. Michael L. Barrera, former National Ombudsman for the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), leads USHCC. President George W. Bush appointed him to this position in 2001. This past week the USHCC issued a resolve that it supported Judge John G. Roberts for the position of Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

The event was great for the Hispanics Chamber of Commerce - Wisconsin (HCCW), a pro-Republican Party outfit led by Maria Monreal-Cameron it’s CEO and Perfecto Rivera, Chairman of the Board of Directors and a staunch Republican Party backer.

The GOP has been working hard to attract Latino voters over the past couple of years. Republicans have been making inroads into Milwaukee’s Latino community via the networks of the HCCW.

Over the past couple of years key members of the HCCW have been positioning themselves in various political positions aimed at increasing GOP political prowess within the Latino community. Using HCCW networks, some members have been able to establish organizations such as the Hispanic Heritage Council (HHC) and Hispanic Professional of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM). I’ve been told that the HPGM maintains an even political balance. Some members of the organization have written me and have stated that the group has members who proclaim themselves to be leftist. I really can’t confirm that however, because I have yet to be asked to come over to give a presentation to the organization. So, I’ll reserve my opinion on whether or not they have members within that group who are left of the political center.

Anyway, now that the USHCC has come and gone, I have been analyzing things from afar and have come to the realization that the HCCW is on the verge of greatness. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, it will come at their expense.

Here’s what’s happening:

HCCW had one of its most trusted colleagues elected as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the USHCC at the USHCC convention this past weekend. George Franco will be leading the USHCC in the coming year and you can rest assured that the HCCW will be going along for a very interesting ride. How interesting you ask? Well, having been able to get Carlos M. Gutierrez, the 35th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce to speak to the delegates of the USHCC was a great opportunity for HCCW leaders to meet and to get to know the man. Having George Franco now become the Chairman of the Board of the USHCC assures the HCCW leadership access to Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. Why?

Well, HCCW might be having thoughts of going international. Making market contacts in Latin America with the support of the new commerce secretary gives HCCW business members access to new markets around the world. With these new business ventures possibly opening up, one (I) has to wonder which businesses are going to benefit the most from these new opportunities. Are most of them going to be businesses friendly to the GOP? I would say yes!

What a great source of new revenue to tap into. Being able to create new markets overseas under the auspices of a Republican appointed commerce secretary, networking with the CEO of the USHCC, who was once appointed as an SBA official by President Bush, and having one of your own (George Franco) heading the première Hispanic business networking agency–a pretty pro-Republican crowd–in the country.

Sounds to me like Scott Walker and the GOP in Wisconsin will be having even closer ties to the HCCW. But of course, this is all speculation, I mean, HCCW is nonpartisan, right?

Don’t bet on it.

Miranda is a national award winning columnist, Latino community activist and Editor-in-Chief of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal.