You missed Patricia Madrid - Letters - Letter to the Editor

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, Dec, 2003 by Roberto Vega

Mr. Wilson,

I read a recent edition of your magazine and wondered why you hadn't included New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, the first woman Latina attorney general in the nation, on your list?

She was elected to her first term in 1998 and recently was elected to her second term, getting more votes than any Democrat in the state. She was also the first woman elected to the district court bench in New Mexico.

The Hispanic National Bar Association named her the National Latina Lawyer of the Year in 2001. In 1999 she received the Trailblazer Award from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women. In 1993, she received the Governor's Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women, was honored by the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association for her dedication to the preservation of civil rights, and received the New Mexico Hispanic Quincentennial Award for Political Achievement. Madrid has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Latino Public Broadcasting.

The Government of Mexico recently presented her with the prestigious Premio Ohtli, in recognition of her work on behalf of Mexicans living abroad.

She was also recognized for establishing a bilingual advocacy program in her Consumer Protection Division.

Her achievements speak for themselves, and I was puzzled why she never made it to your list.

Having said that, your special edition was clearly better than Newsweek's half-hearted attempt at coveting Latino politics.

Yours,

Roberto Vega

Albuquerque / New Mexico