Latino issues advisory board stirs controversy

By Dan MacArthur
Correspondent

The Larimer County Commissioners on Feb. 28 will consider forming a new citizens advisory board to offer them guidance on issues of particular interest to the Latino community.

The suggestion by newly elected Commissioner Karen Wagner drew harsh charges of bigotry from the man she defeated, but Wagner flatly dismissed those claims from former commissioner Tom Bender as unfounded sour grapes from an embittered loser.

"I don't have a racist bone in my body," she insisted.

Wagner said she would not again respond to such criticisms from Bender. "That's Tom; that's all I can say," she said. "I thought he would be a graceful loser but I realize I'm going to be on his hit list for a while."

Bender in letters to local newspapers stated that he had hoped to sit back and observe quietly for a while "but Karen Wagner's progressive proposal to institutionalize bigotry in Larimer County government is too much of an embarrassment."

"Wagner's disregard for MLK's (Martin Luther King's) vision of civil rights, equality for all men, and her progressive agenda of racial, cultural, and ethnic grouping makes her a serious liability for Larimer County," Bender continued. "Wagner's proposal to establish only one citizen group while excluding all other races, nationalities and cultural entities is in violation of Larimer County's Fairness Principal that requires all interests be equally represented."

Bender in a telephone interview said it was his understanding--confirmed by Commissioner Glenn Gibson--that Wagner was proposing a board for Latinos that "I guess would represent that group in county government."

He said it's wrong for the county to establish boards based on race or nationality. "They would have to have one for every nationality if they do," Bender said.

"Wagner's attempt to promote division, distrust and hate among county citizens with her proposal of racial, ethnic and cultural bigotry must be nipped in the bud," Bender stated in his letter.

But Wagner said Bender's claims are a gross misrepresentation. First, she pointed out, she suggested creation of a Latino Issues Advisory Board. While it would address issues particularly affecting the Latino community, Wagner said its membership would be open to all - not only Latinos.

"I wouldn't propose anything that's exclusionary," she said. However, she noted that the previous board of commissioners had no such reluctance when it considered establishing an advisory board with membership limited to only property owners.

Such a Latino Issues Advisory Board might deal with migrant, human services, transit or other issues, Wagner said. She expected the board might at first meet quarterly, although Wagner stressed that the need and functions have yet to be established. "It's really for people to tell us," she said.

She said that discussion should begin at a work session set for 10 a.m. Feb. 28 in the commissioners' hearing room.

Commissioner Kathay Rennels said she'd want to ensure there's a real need before establishing any new advisory board. "Let's find out if we have a problem before we try to find a solution," she said.

Rennels said there must be enough to keep a board busy before establishing a permanent one. "If you're going to create a board, you need to honor their time," she said.

Wagner said the concept arose last fall at an election forum attended by the Latino community. Bender was not present, she said, and "had he actually been at this forum, he would know where this is coming from."

"Someone asked the question about how we propose to bridge the gap between the commissioners and the Latino community," she said. While Wagner said she's not certain what that gap might be, she noted participants clearly believed that it exists.

"I don't think we can get too much advice and information from citizens," Wagner said. "I'm not wedded to the idea, I just want to have us consider it."