Sandoval to help lead GOP recruiting effort

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez will lead an expanded, nationwide Republican effort to recruit Latino and female candidates for state offices to build a base of potential party leaders.

The Republican State Leadership Committee is planning a conference call today with Sandoval and Martinez, the nation's only two Hispanic governors, to announce the formation of the Future Majority Caucus. The caucus will focus on attracting and raising money for more minority candidates at the state level.

Both governors were active in GOP minority recruitment efforts last year, but President Barack Obama received overwhelming support from minority voters, including Latinos and women.

The latest Republican effort seems focused on recruiting and grooming new candidates for lower state offices who can later move up to higher offices.

"I think this is a good thing and great way to reshape the Republican Party," said Bob Quasius, founder of the Minnesota-based Cafe Con Leche Republicans, a group seeking to make the GOP more welcoming to immigrants.

He added that after the November elections, several Republicans "realized that they need to do a better job at reaching out to Latino voters."

Martinez is the nation's first elected Latina governor, while Sandoval is Nevada's first Hispanic governor.

Alejandra St. Guillen, executive director of the Boston-based Oiste, a nonpartisan group that trains Latinos to run for office in Massachusetts, said more Latinos and female candidates were needed in both parties and their presence might help end constant political stalemates.

"People are sick of the gridlock," said St. Guillen. "There's been a lack of leadership from both parties in trying to recruit more Latinos for office. It's time for that to change."

But Hispanic Democrats brushed off the news of the new Republican recruiting efforts.

"Simply changing the color of the icing won't do it," said Sandra Tenorio, chair of the Tejano Democrats, a Texas group partly founded by former members of Viva Kennedy clubs, which helped elect John F. Kennedy in 1960. "I think it's at best naive and at worst insulting to think that Hispanics will vote for someone because of their last names."

Tenorio said that the Republican Party needs to change its positions on education and fighting poverty before Hispanics will take a second look.

The U.S. Senate has three Latino senators: two Republicans and one Democrat.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, a nonprofit , said 31 Latinos serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most are Democrats.