Action splits Hispanic group

A controversy over local control has split the ranks of the Nevada chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, with a contingent of 10 board members resigning in protest last week over the ouster of the chairman.

Otto Merida, the president of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce who had been serving as chairman of the group, was removed from his post by the national leadership of the 34-year-old GOP subsidiary. Local activist and business owner Tibi Ellis, previously vice chairwoman, was named acting chairwoman in Merida's place.

In response, a news release went out Tuesday on Nevada Republican National Hispanic Assembly letterhead. In English and Spanish, it stated that the chapter "announces the resignation of their entire Board of Directors in protest and disagreement to the unwarranted removal from office of our duly elected Chairman, Otto Merida, and repudiate the temporary appointment of Tibi Ellis to the position."

The statement called on the state and county Republican parties and the Republican National Committee to investigate the matter.

"At a time when the Republican Party needs to be united, we denounce the coup d'etat effectuated and the tactics employed" by Ellis and the assembly's national chairman, Danny Vargas, it stated.

Didi Lima, whose name was listed on the release, said she and those who resigned believe Merida's removal violated the group's bylaws and represented a power grab by Ellis, who has the backing of Vargas but not of local activists.

"He was the chosen leader, the elected leader," Lima said. "He has been there for this community for 30 years and for this organization from the outset. He was duly elected, and they had no authority to remove him from office."

In addition to the 10 board members, 10 other members of the 112-member, year-old Nevada chapter have dropped out over the matter, Lima said.

Merida, a Cuban-born businessman who is a local Hispanic power broker, said the national group made the "wrong decision" in getting involved. Personality conflicts and squabbling, he said, are taking up valuable time that should be used to rebuild the ranks of Hispanic Republicans from the grass-roots level.

According to exit polls, President-elect Barack Obama won 76 percent of the Hispanic vote in Nevada, while Republican John McCain took just 22 percent.

"They have made the decision and that's fine. We will move on," Merida said of his removal.

Merida said he would look for ways to support his party and its Hispanic outreach efforts outside of the assembly chapter.

Vargas and the national organization did not return phone calls last week.

Ellis blamed Lima for the dispute and claimed that the 10 who resigned were not actually board members in the first place.

"That board was not official. It was never recognized by the national organization," she said. "Ms. Lima had no authority to send that communication. She's not recognized as an official of the organization at this point. She's not even a member. This is a very divisive and incendiary press release that does not represent the position of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly."

Ellis accused Lima of trying to exact revenge for her September firing from the Clark County GOP, where she had been communications director, and a ceremonial post with the McCain campaign. Lima was removed for comments she made to The Associated Press saying Democrats had made blacks "dependent on the government" and Hispanics had to avoid the same fate.

"To be a member, you have to be in good standing with the party, and obviously if you get fired you are not in good standing," Ellis said.

Earlier this month, she said, the national organization requested information from Merida that he did not provide, and as a result, he was removed.

"We need to mentor and support and educate, and we really haven't done that in the last few months," Ellis said. "Otto was a very good chairman. He is leaving a legacy of unification. But it's time for expansion and, to be quite honest, he's a busy man."

Ellis said the local chapter wanted an independence it could not have as a branch of a national organization.

Lima said the current controversy had nothing to do with her firing.

"I stayed with the Nevada Republican National Hispanic Assembly," she said. "They supported me. They did not ask me to leave. They agreed with the statements I made."

NEVADANS CHIP IN, SORT OF

President-elect Barack Obama may have raised almost $22 million so far to pay for the parties and parade that will celebrate his inauguration next month, but he hasn't gotten a lot of help from the Silver State.

Only three Nevadans are listed among donors to the Presidential Inaugural Committee, according to the organization's Web site. As of Friday, the committee had disclosed 1,036 donations of $200 or more.

Alfred Lin, chairman and chief operating officer of Henderson-based Zappos.com, the shoe and apparel online retailer, gave $25,000. Reno attorney Keith Lee gave $500 while attorney Edwin Basl of Reno donated $200.

The inaugural committee has set a $50,000 limit on individual donations, and is refusing money from corporations, labor unions, political action committees and current federal-registered lobbyists.

Among the recognizable donors are movie stars Tom Hanks, Jamie Foxx and Halle Berry; filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemekis, James Lassiter and Jeffrey Katzenberg; music mogul Berry Gordy; technology captains Steve Ballmer of Microsoft and Rob Glaser of Realnetworks; and financier George Soros.

Each gave the maximum $50,000 and, it is assumed, will be given tickets to an inaugural ball and have good seats reserved at the inaugural parade.

Stephens Media Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault contributed to this report. Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball @reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.