State Rep. Juan Candelaria at WNHH FM.
Juan Candelaria knew many Latinos cringed at the term “Latinx.” Others wanted to make sure that people who identify as neither a man nor a woman have a word that recognizes them.
Candelaria, a New Haven state representative, tackled the issue at the Capitol along with his colleagues, and found a compromise: A law that directs state agencies to use the word “Latine” rather than “Latinx.”
Debate over “Latinx” reflected the way that social issues have helped the Republican Party lure enough new Latino voters to potentially affect the outcome of this year’s presidential election and party politics for years to come.
The passage of the state law last year reflects the way that Democrats should address the challenge of seeking votes from the state’s fastest-growing demographic group, Candelaria said in an interview Tuesday on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven.”
“There’s a real divide, even in our own party,” on issues like immigration, abortion, and LGBTQ rights, observed Candelaria, a Democrat who is running for a 12th two-year term representing the Hill and Fair Haven in the 95th General Assembly District.
“Within our own community you have the religious … people that were raised a certain way and have conservative views. Others have changed with the times. These are serious issues. We need to ensure that we are inclusive of everyone.”
Candelaria credited Republicans for stepping up recruitment of Latino candidates. He urged his party to do the same.
When it comes to addressing hot-button issues, Democrats need to navigate the need to uphold the positions they stand for and engage people to “ensure that we are inclusive.”
Like on the “Latinx” debate.
“Generally Latinos did not feel comfortable with the term. The Spanish language does not recognize Latinx,” Candelaria recalled. But they felt differently about using “Latine” for the same purpose, because it “conforms with the Spanish language.” So in the bill that passed, sponsored by Waterbury State Rep. Geraldo Reyes, Jr. and cosponsored by Candelaria, among others, legislators were able to make sure everyone was heard while also standing for having official language represent all people, he said.
Candelaria, who has served as chair of the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and president-elect of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, said he’s running for a 12th term because he believes he can make a real difference in the lives of his constituents. He cited work he has done with colleagues to make driver’s licenses available to undocumented immigrants and to ensure that tax proceeds from the legalization of recreational cannabis support small businesses and nonprofits.
“I love what I do,” Candelaria said. “I love when I’m walking in New Haven and someone approaches me and says, ‘Thank you. The bill that you worked on, now I can drive. I can take my kids to school. I can go to work and not be afraid that an officer is going to arrest me, is going to deport me.’ With the cannabis bill, instead of those dollars going to the black market, we’re reinvesting those dollars in our communities.”
Johnnie McFadden is challenging Candelaria as an unaffiliated candidate in the general election.
If reelected, Candelaria said he hopes to work next term on supporting efforts to recruit more teachers of color to public schools and to revisit rules governing the state budget “volatility cap” in order to free up money for education and social services.
Click on the video to watch the full discussion with State Rep. Juan Candelaria on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven.” Click here to subscribe or here to listen to other episodes of Dateline New Haven.