For a printable copy, click here: New Study Reveals DR. Guillermo Linares Was Not the First Dominican Elected to Public Office in USA

Paterson, NJ — The Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) will release: ”New Jersey Dominicans: A Decade of Accomplishments,” a new book and documentary confirming that the Hon. Kay Palacios was the first Dominican American woman ever elected to public office in the United States of America.  The research rendering  accounts for the presence and accomplishments of Dominicans in the Garden State since their arrival before the 1940s to the present.

In 1994, Mayor Joseph C. Parisi (D) used his tie-breaking vote several times with a Council that consisted of three Democracts and three Republicans. From left, seated are councilwoman Diane Sank (R), the Mayor, Councilwoman Kay Palacios (D). Standing. Left to right, are Councilmen John Murphy (D), Roger Wasik (R), Angelo Mungioli (R), and Harold Austin (D).Paterson, NJ. (Source: Bergen Record).

The publication and documentary will be released at CODA 10th Annual Conference on Dominican Affairs at Rutgers School of Law in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 8 am to 4 pm.

The ILS and CRP research confirms that the Hon. Kay Palacios was indeed elected to public office on November 4, 1991 in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, becoming the first Dominican American woman ever elected to public office in the United States of America.  Dr. Guillermo Linares was also elected councilman in New York City on the same year.

To produce the book and documentary, researchers Montilla and Feliciano interviewed Dominican families and leaders in New Jersey, including Mr. Lucilo Santos, who advocated on behalf of councilwoman Palacios back in the 1990s when she ran for New Jersey State Assembly. “Guillermo was elected in 1991 and he is deemed by all reported accounts as the first Dominican elected official in the United States. However, here, in New Jersey, a Dominican woman who was also elected on the same year, went unnoticed because in the ‘Big Metropoli’ Guillermo captured all the media’s attention.”

“I have always being impressed with Lucilo Santos,” said Palacios when reminiscing about her time as a councilwoman in New Jersey.  “Lucilo helped me a great deal when I ran in New Jersey for State Assembly.”

“My father was so closely tied to the DR because of his activities as a leader against Trujillo, and I feel very proud that I continued his legacy, and was also involved in the affairs of Dominicans. I was very proud of that fact, and thought it was very good to promote that, not for me, but as an example for others who might be interested in getting involved in political activities”, said Palacios about her election as Englewood Cliffs Councilmember.

Palacios is an invitee scheduled to speak at CODA’s 10th Annual Conference.

For more information, and to register for free for CODA’s 10th Annual Conference, visit www.thelatinoinstitute.org or via e-mail at info@thelatinoinstitute.org or by calling at 973-345-3624.

About CODA

Established in 2000, The New Jersey Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that serves as the state forum for analysis, strategic planning and project development on behalf of over 250 thousand Dominicans in New Jersey. It has held nine annual conferences and implemented the following programs and projects:  The First Visual Exhibit of New Jersey Dominicans at the Newark Public Library; The First Socio-Demographic Study of  New Jersey Dominicans; Tu Cuentas! Naturalization Project; Youth Leadership & Mentoring Program (LAMP); The Latino Leadership Academy (LALEA); The Book & Documentary Los Panfleteros de Santiago (Santiago’s Pamphleteers), and the first research study film documentary and book entitled New Jersey Dominicans: A Decade of Accomplishments to be released at this year’s conference at the Rutgers School of Law on Sunday, February 21, 2010.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amiris Perez, 973-432-7688 – thelatinoinstitute@gmail.com

Estudio Revela que el Dr. Guillermo Linares no fue el Primer 

Dominicano Electo en los Estados Unidos de America 

– Mujer Dominicana fue También Electa en New Jersey 

el 4 de Noviembre del 1991 –

(In 1994, Mayor Joseph C. Parisi (D) used his tie-breaking vote several times with a Council that consisted of three Democracts and three Republicans. From left, seated are councilwoman Diane Sank (R), the Mayor, Councilwoman Kay Palacios (D). Standing. Left to right, are Councilmen John Murphy (D), Roger Wasik (R), Angelo Mungioli (R), and Harold Austin (D).Paterson, NJ. -Source: Bergen Record).

Paterson, NJ – La Conferencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos (CODA) presentará “Dominicanos en New Jersey: Una Década de Logros,” un libro y documental escrito y producido por la Dr. María Teresa Feliciano, Presidente del Instituto Para Estudios Latinos (ILS), y Néstor Montilla, Presidente del Common Roots Project (CRP). El libro y documental confirman que la Hon. Kay Palacios fue la primera dominicana elegida en los Estados Unidos de América.  El estudio habla de la presencia y logros de los dominicanos en el Estado Jardín desde su llegada en los años 40 hasta el presente.

      La publicación y documental serán presentados en la 10ma. Conferencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos en la universidad Rutgers School    of Law en Newark, New Jersey el Domingo, 21 de Febrero, 2010 de 8 AM a 4 PM. 

    “Siempre me impresionó Lucilo Santos,” le dijo Palacios recordando su época como concejal en New Jersey.  “Lucilo me ayudó mucho cuando me lance para la Asamblea Estatal de New Jersey.”