Contact: Cassandra Oshinnaiye
(202) 833-0060
manacatherine@aol.com

Washington, DC. The National Board of Directors of MANA, A National Latina Organization unanimously voted to endorse President George W. Bush's nomination of Alberto Gonzales to serve as Attorney General and is calling upon the Senate to quickly confirm him as the nation's first Hispanic to head the U.S. Department of Justice. The MANA Board’s decision considered Mr. Gonzales’s long and distinguished legal career that includes serving as the President's chief counsel, a justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and Texas Secretary of State. MANA congratulates President George W. Bush on his decision to call on Alberto Gonzales to serve as Attorney General of the United States. Mr. Gonzales’s sound legal decisions have earned the trust and respect of MANA and other Hispanic and civil rights organizations.

President Bush made a record number of Hispanic appointments in his first administration that included now U. S. Senator-elect Mel Martinez as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Rosario Marin as Treasurer of the United States and Dr. Richard Carmona as U.S. Surgeon General. The nomination of Alberto Gonzales to the highest legal position in the federal government is important in itself; however, it is even more relevant because it was President Bush’s first nomination since his re-election.

"Mr. Alberto Gonzales’s success in every position he has held shows that he is an outstanding leader. He has been actively involved and accessible with the Hispanic community and has supported issues of importance to Hispanics," stated Alma Morales Riojas, MANA National President and CEO. “We applaud the President and believe he will continue to nominate Hispanics to Cabinet and senior level positions in his second term. We are greatly encouraged that his first nomination after his re-election is an eminently qualified Latino. Mr. Gonzales’s solid experience, legal judgment, commitment to the community, and personal integrity drive our support for his nomination.”

Mr. Gonzales who was born in San Antonio grew up in Houston with seven brothers and sisters. He served in the U.S. Air Force and received his JD from Harvard Law School. He has been very involved with the Hispanic community, serving as Director of Catholic Charities, Director of Big Brothers and Sisters, President of the Houston Hispanic Bar Association, and President of the Houston Hispanic Forum. In 2003 LULAC, the nation’s largest Hispanic organization recognized Mr. Gonzales with the President's Award for his commitment to Latino issues as White House Counsel.

"At a time when highly qualified Hispanics are still struggling with closed doors in the private and public sectors, it is an incredible and spirit lifting experience that the President has nominated as Attorney General a superbly qualified and deserving Hispanic. The concreteness of the appointment is stronger still with the symbolic “opening of the doors of Justice” for all Latinas and Latinos. Al Gonzales is a wonderful example of the American Dream. For all Latinos who take pride in earning their way, it is reaffirmation that all things are possible in this great country,” said Ms. Morales Riojas.

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MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA) is one of the oldest and largest Latina grassroots organizations in the United States. MANA advances the education, leadership roles, economic condition, political participation, health and mentoring of young Latinas through programs conducted by 20 MANA chapters across the country, affiliate member organizations such as the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas and Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority Inc., a Latina national sorority.