Hispanic leaders join committee for Clinton

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday announced a committee of prominent Hispanics supporting her in Nevada, making her the first candidate to put together a Hispanic group in Nevada, an early presidential caucus state in the 2008 election.

The New York senator’s 18-member Nevada Hispanic Leadership Council includes Adriana Martinez, a former chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, and Eddie Escobedo, editor and publisher of the El Mundo newspaper.

The committee includes prominent businessmen such as Brian Ayala and Javier Barrajas; university officials such as Manuel Bayona of the University of Nevada, Reno, Rene Cantu of the University of Southern Nevada, and Carlos Romo of Truckee Meadows Community College; and activists such as Randy Soltero of the local Sheet Metal Workers Union and Liz Carrasco of Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada.

It is the first Hispanic state committee for Clinton, who earlier this week announced Raul Yzaguirre as co-chairman of her campaign and chairman of Hispanic outreach for her campaign. Yzaguirre is a longtime head of the National Council of La Raza, a major nationwide Hispanic group.

Although no other candidate has formed a Hispanic group in Nevada, the only Hispanic candidate in the race, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, has had one formed for him. Mi Familia con Bill Richardson is a grass-roots group of Nevadans that formed to support the Democratic hopeful, according to his campaign.

Richardson is scheduled to meet with the group in Las Vegas on April 30.