Area Latinos still seeking political clout despite growing numbers

Good News at Noon Director Alejandro Oropeza recently has been cleaning out one of the shelter’s storage buildings. Oropeza has acquired insights into the local Hispanic community from his almost 18 years as a pastor and work at the faith-based men’s shelter.

0507ATTITUDES2 — Good News at Noon Director Alejandro Oropeza recently has been cleaning out one of the shelter’s storage buildings. Oropeza has acquired insights into the local Hispanic community from his almost 18 years as a pastor and work at the faith-based men’s shelter.

There’s no doubt in the mind of Alejandro Oropeza that Gainesville will have a Latino mayor within the next 20 years. Oropeza is no political scientist, but has acquired insights into the local Hispanic community from his almost 18 years as a pastor and work helping the poor and homeless through the faith-based organization Good News At Noon in Gainesville. The prediction that a Latino will be elected mayor of Gainesville sooner rather than later may not be a shock to many given the dramatic growth of the Hispanic population that is expected to keep rising in the coming years.