To recognize diversity among the Allen County delegation, The News-Sentinel is profiling Republican delegates chosen by voters to represent constituents at the 2014 Indiana Republican State Convention held in Fort Wayne.
Herb Hernandez, current executive director for United Hispanic Americans, has ran the political gamut.
Elected as Allen County's first Hispanic public official in the early 2000s, he served on Allen County Council and has attended numerous Republican conventions as a delegate. So this year's convention - the first ever held in Fort Wayne - is nothing new for this seasoned politician. However, the doesn't make his role any less important.
Coming from a traditional Mexican Catholic family that now boasts six generations in America, one of the major issues he hopes is addressed at the convention is that of the Hispanic and Latino vote.
When talking about the future of the Republican Party, Hernandez recalls a statement Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus - one of the speakers at the local convention, to be held Friday and Saturday at the Grand Wayne Convention Center - said on CBS's “Face the Nation” in 2013:
“We're going to be announcing a $10 million initiative just this year, which will include hundreds of people, paid, across the country, from coast to coast, in Hispanic, African-American, Asian communities, talking about our party, talking about our brand, talking about what we believe in, going to community events, going to swearing-in ceremonies being a part of the community on an ongoing basis paid for by the Republican National Committee, to make the case for our party and our candidates.”
Steve Shine, Allen County Republican Party chairman, said Priebus' statement reflects what's been going on in Allen County for years.
“The national party is really doing a lot of things that we have done locally and that is to be more inclusive, to spotlight people that believe in the Republican philosophy who show a diverse part of the community,” he said.
Hernandez knows that's a step in the right direction, but he hopes that the party - both local and nationally - stays committed and enthusiastic about broadening the membership.
“We are not thinking about the directing that we are going. Those stereotypes that the party has been trying to get away from, we are not doing a good job. It's like we are continuing hearing that we are the party for the wealthy, the party for the rich, and it's hard to get rid of that,” he said.
And the meaning is in the message, he said.
“Looking at how to get voters to vote for your candidate is what it really comes down to, and I think, in the past, the party has not selected the right message to get elected for the offices and to bring in voters - that's at the federal level - and that has been hurtful,” he said. “The party has to change the message and they have to change the manner in which they include others. We can't just say it, we have to implement it throughout the party.”
Luckily, Hernandez and nearly 2,000 other delegates will be able to have a say in the message and the implementation at the 2014 Indiana Republican Party State Convention when they elect the auditor, treasurer and secretary of state and to approve the 2014 Indiana Republican platform.
When Hernandez votes, he has a lot to consider when voting including his influential past.
“We had 10 kids in our family growing up, and my dad was the sole breadwinner and Mom had to stay home to take care of the kids. Money was tight and it was very difficult, and I have no idea how they did it. I really don't know. But, we had frugal meals and hand-me-down clothes. But that's how it worked. We have to accept fiscal responsibility on our own finances then we can understand what challenge the government has,” he said.
Hernandez is looking forward to the open discussion on the platform, too. At the last minute, the topic of gay marriage was added to the party's platform and could involve a hefty amount of back and forth between delegates.
Shine said on topics such as gay marriage, it's important to have a vigorous, healthy discussion.
“It's a chance to network with political views, and to get people both like-minded and not like-minded in the same room to work out the platform and the views of the party that delegates think are reflective of the views of the people of Indiana and campaign on that platform. That platform is the foundation of what we stand for,” he said.
