State Rep. Soto Challenges Racist Claims of Sen. Hays

Hispanics in Central Florida are hopping mad over what has been perceived as anti-Hispanic statements made by a member of Florida’s redistricting committee and they would like him booted immediately.

At a press conference Friday, Representative Darren Soto (D-Orlando), blasted Senator Alan Hays (R-Umatilla), for suggesting that the redistricting committee should be careful about creating a Congressional district in Central Florida that heavily favors Latinos, particularly Puerto Ricans, who shouldn’t even be voting.

“The implication is that, the vast majority of Hispanics in Central Florida are somehow illegal or somehow not worthy of voting,” said Soto, who was joined by other Hispanic leaders in Central Florida. “This is simply not true. The people he is talking about are our constitutents, who I represent — folks in the military, small business people, professionals — all entitled to have representation, just like everyone else.”

Soto added that Hispanics could no longer expect to be treated fairly in the redistricting process, if Hays continued to serve on the committee.

“When you think that, about 55 percent of the growth in the State of Florida for redistricting has come from Hispanics, this (Hays’ remarks) becomes even worse,” Soto said. “…We can no longer trust that Hispanics will get a fair shake in the redistricting process while Sen. Hays continues to be on the committee. So, we will be asking Senate President Mike Haridopolos to remove him from the committee, effectively immediately.”

Asked by West Orlando News Online whether he considered Hays’ comments to be racist, Soto replied, “I won’t go straight out and call anybody a racist, but it shows he may be closed-minded to some of the districts that may be drawn, based on population increases.”

This issue has nothing to do with voter turnout in upcoming elections nor is it a campaign matter, rather it is a “matter of making sure Hispanics are treated fairly in the redistricting process; and this has come into serious question,” he said.

Betsy Franceschini, Florida Democratic Party, Hispanic Outreach Director, echoed Soto’s sentiments, observing that the Hispanic community continues to be “very offended” by Hays’ comments.

“We are definitely hurt, its very sensitive,” she said. “We definitely want an apology from Sen. Alan Hays and also his removal from the redistricting committee.”