Candidates for Governor Address Latinos

As the largest, youngest, and fastest growing ethnic group in Greater New Haven and the state of Connecticut, Latinos are inextricably linked to the region's vitality and prosperity.

Continuing its tradition of providing the community with information that matters to Latinos, the Progreso Latino Fund recently asked each gubernatorial candidate a series of questions about issues of importance to both Latinos and the broader public.

Candidates were given the choice to respond to a set of questions in writing or in person. Candidates Foley and Visconti responded with written answers; candidate Malloy chose to be interviewed on October 1, 2014. The questions were:

1. How would your administration include the voices, experiences, and leadership of Latinos in our state?
2. The Latino population is young and growing. Yet the younger generation of Latinos has low rates of voting and citizen engagement. How do you propose bridging that gap and connecting with this demographic?
3. The unemployment rate for Latinos in 2012 was 16 percent, more than double the White unemployment rate of seven percent. On average, Latinos earned 55 cents and Blacks earned 72 cents for every dollar earned by Whites. How do you propose to eliminate these gaps and improve economic opportunity for Latinos?
4. Significant numbers of Latinos have low literacy, limited English proficiency, and limited education. How do you propose to improve their educational outcomes?
5. What steps would you take as governor to ensure that the workforce is trained to meet the present and future needs of the state's employers?
6. A significant number of Latinos live in Connecticut's urban areas. What steps will you take to create a climate for job growth in these places?
7. How do you propose to ensure affordable access to quality healthcare for Connecticut's working people and small businesses?