Globe Mayor Shipley will serve on NALEO Board

By: Linda Gross

The 2010 Conference of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials just wrapped up last week and Globe’s Mayor, Fernando Shipley, was one of seven new members elected to a three year term on this prestigious 23 person board which includes State Senators, Councilmen, School Board Members, and other leaders at the local, State and National levels.

NALEO, formed in 1976, is a non-partisan organization which helps build leadership skills and facilitate “full Latino participation” in the American political process. It’s constituency includes more than 6000 elected and appointed Latino officials.

NALEO grows leaders

The roster of NALEO reads like a who’s who in local, State and Federal politics. Membership in the organization gives one access to some of the best training on a number of levels from green energy initiatives to school board issues; and from immigration to education. But the value of networking and mentoring with some of the best is a benefit which goes well beyond the organization itself.

“I was invited years ago to join, after I’d been elected City Councilman, ” said Shipley. ” At the time it seemed the group’s focus was education. And truthfully, I was skeptical about joining because I don’t believe in groups which fight for the rights of just one segment of people. So I didn’t want to be a part of it.  I think what is good for one, should be good for all.”

Yet, he was encouraged to join by his regional boss at State Farm who not only gave the group a wholesale endorsement of his own, but as a corporate sponsor, State Farm Insurance has supported NALEO’s annual conference for years. State Farm offered to sponsor him to the conference and so he went.

And he quickly changed his mind about the group.

“The whole goal (of NALEO) is to help you become a better leader. A better policy maker. To find ways to work through issues and… get all sides of the story so you can make decisions which are best for your community or constituency.”

Encouraging Debate on all issues: Shell Oil and renewable energy

He has attended two workshops/institutes every year since he joined in 2004,  and this May went to Houston for an energy summit dealing with sustainable energy. There he met with one of the top leaders in the oil industry, John Hoffmeister, who was at Shell Oil from 2005 – 2008.

Typical of the kind of discussions which take place at NALEO was a panel discussion involving renewable energies in which Hoffmeister complained “‘renewables’ would not be feasible were it not for the huge subsidies that they receive.”

Shipley said, he was on that panel, and that Hoffmeister believed renewables were not cost effective for this reason and went on to say…”we’d be better off just saving our money. And because oil, gas and coal are still the cheapest things out there we should quit subsidizing renewables.”

Shipley then asked the question, ” Of all the subsidies for energy- including coal, gas, renewables etc – what percentage do you think goes to traditional energy sources like coal and gas? ” Hoffmeister didn’t answer, but another panelist offered up the answer:

“…96% of all subsidies for energy go to traditional fuels. Coal, Crude Oil, Gas. So what he was really saying is that he was complaining about the 4% which go to renewables.”

So the complaint about 4% subsidies for renewable energy comes from a corporate spokesperson, whose company, Shell Oil just posted a 57% increase in profits which amounts to 5.48 billion. (CNN news/April 2010)

NALEO encourages debate where all sides of an issue is explored.

“Its amazing what kind of information you get if you ask the right question,” said Shipley.

Learning the ropes through NALEO

NALEO which is non-partisan, also tries to maintain a balance of representation from the various States, as well as status. The organization includes Senators, School Board Leaders, community organizers, and mayors. It includes both Republican and Democrats, as well as Libertarians and Independents. While the organization will take a stand on national issues; ie, they recently came out against SB1070 saying the law itself was unconstitutional, their primary goal is to develop leaders who can be effective in the political process on a local, State or National level.

Shipley learned about walkable communities, safe routes for kids, school districts, renewable energy sources – all through NALEO. “Alot of the stuff that I’ve been able to help Globe move forward with has been as a result of NALEO. And the contacts that I’ve made through the organization has also helped that process. In fact now, I have people calling me with something that they learned or are involved in which they feel might help Globe.”

” I have alot of people watching out for Globe now, which is really nice.”

The NALEO Board Members 2010

Shipley will have three years on the NALEO Board, and could be re-instated for another 3 year term. He shares this position with the following latino board members :

LOS ANGELES — The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
(NALEO) announced the election of seven new board members, including the re-election of
Harris County Commissioner Sylvia R. García for a second one-year term as NALEO President.
The board members were elected at the organization’s Board of Directors Meeting on June 27 in
Denver, Colorado, following the group’s 27th Annual Conference.
The new members elected to the NALEO Board of Directors include: Maryland State Delegate
Ana Sol Gutiérrez; Councilmember Michelle Martínez, City of Santa Ana, CA; California State
Senator Alex Padilla; Councilmember Justin Rodríguez, City of San Antonio, TX; Utah State
Senator Ross Romero; New Mexico State Senator John Sapien; Mayor Fernando Shipley, City of
Globe, AZ. The Board of Directors unanimously re-elected Harris County Commissioner Sylvia
R. García to serve as President of the organization. Additionally, New Mexico Deputy Secretary
of State Don Francisco Trujillo was elected Vice President; Wisconsin State Representative
Pedro Colón was re-elected Treasurer; and East Chicago School Board Member Fernando
Treviño was elected Secretary.
“I am proud that this board of directors continues to reflect the diversity and high caliber of
individuals who serve our nation as Latino elected and appointed officials,” said NALEO
President Sylvia García. “I look forward to working with our members across the country as we
continue to empower and advocate for strong, healthy communities for our constituents.”