California candidate would be nation’s only elected official who speaks no English

On Sunday, the Pasadena (CA) Star-News reported on the Pasadena city council candidacy of Herminia Ortiz. Although the race involves local issues, it has national significance in that Ortiz appears to be the nation's only candidate for office who does not speak English. An immigrant who came to the United States from Mexico in the 1970s, Ortiz will face off against incumbent councilman Victor M. Gordo for the District 5 seat in the Mar. 8 election. Despite three decades in the United States, the Star-News reports that Ortiz only recently began taking English classes.

"This event is troubling for what it signifies," explained Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of the Board of U.S. English, Inc. "It highlights the fact that for many immigrants, English has become optional rather than a civic duty. Tens of thousands of immigrants find that they don't need to learn English to survive in America. Now we have an immigrant who doesn't need to learn English to run for office in America. If many immigrants take the same attitude, our national unity will be in serious jeopardy."

Ironically, Ms. Ortiz is running for the seat once held by the city's first Spanish-speaking council member. The former councilman, Bill Crowfoot, is among many arguing that an Ortiz victory could lead to costly and time consuming translation issues at City Hall. Currently, Ms. Ortiz uses her daughter as a translator when conversing with English-speaking constituents and media.

"Nearly 30 percent of Pasadena's residents speak Spanish at home, but more than two-thirds of the Spanish speakers are also proficient in English," explained Mujica, who immigrated to the United States from Chile in 1965. "They understand that while they may feel more comfortable speaking their native language in private, English is a requirement for success in employment, education and interaction with the overwhelming majority of the population.

"I am sure that Ms. Ortiz has excellent ideas for improving the community. Unfortunately, her inability to speak English would keep those plans from coming to fruition, and would instead impede council business and place her constituents at a disadvantage. Hopefully, she will continue her English language training and return as an American success story in the next election."

## U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.