Latina power group LUPE PAC announced the re-election of their president, Patricia Medina-Campos, and the addition of several new board members.

“I want to thank the members of the Board of Directors for electing me to serve for a third term as the President of LUPEPAC.  Last year, we were able to join efforts with other women groups to mobilize women voters.  And it is because of those efforts that we are seeing positive changes in how the NJ Governor and the Legislature address women issues.  The renewal of funding for women’s healthcare, equal pay and paid sick-leave are victories for all women, but specially for Latina working women in NJ who are often the main breadwinners in their families,” states Campos Medina.  “We also have much to celebrate with the appointment of two Latina Cabinet members and several Latinas to top positions in the new administration.  But while we have accomplished much, we have much more to do to elect more Latinas to local office.  Therefore, I am committed to continue to grow our presence around the state and to raise the resources needed to target key races and make sure those Latinas who step up to run, get elected,” concluded Patricia Campos Medina.

The four new members are:

• Flora Castillo, Atlantic County
• Felisha Reyes Morton, Camden County
• Aida Figueroa-Epifanio, Camden County
• Margarita Echeverria, Hudson County

The New Executive Committee is comprised of the following:

• Patricia Campos-Medina, President
• Zulima Farber, President Emeritus
• Lucia Gomez, Vice President
• Laura Matos, Vice President
• Arlene Quinonez-Perez, Treasurer
• Carol Cuadrado, Recording Secretary
• Cristina Pinzon, Public Relations Secretary

The group said in a statement that “with the addition of new members, the Board of Directors expands the diverse voices of NJ Latina leadership.  The new board members bring different experiences to the table; whether it be in transportation, health, education, community empowerment, legislation and grassroots political organizing, they are all professionals respected in their fields who will use their experience and community networks to grow LUPEPAC’s influence.”

Campos Medina said, “I am excited to welcome our new board members from South Jersey as they will help us increase our ability to train and identify Latinas women statewide who are interested in participating in the political process. Latinas all over NJ are ready to step up and seek opportunities in politics.  We at LUPEPAC are committed to continue to work to identify the resources and connections they need to run for office and win.  I also want to thank the newly elected Executive Committee for their willingness to lend their skills and time to the task of making our volunteered-run organization achieve our goals.  Together with the guidance of our President Emeritus Zulima Farber and our Executive Board members, we are committed to continue to strengthen LUPEPAC as the premiere organization that seeks to empower Latina women and advances progressive policies that impact all women and our families.”

Members of the 2018 LUPEPAC Board of Directors:

Patricia Campos-Medina, President; Zulima Farber, President Emeritus; Lucia Gomez, Vice President; Laura Matos, Vice President; Arlene Quinonez-Perez, Treasurer; Carol Cuadrado, Recording Secretary; Cristina Pinzon, Public Relations Secretary; Grissele Camacho, Milagros Camacho, Flora Castillo, Sonia Delgado, Lizette Delgado-Polanco, Margarita Echeverria, Aida Figueroa-Epifanio, Shawn Laurenti, Kay Licausi, Analilia Mejia, Carmen Mendiola, Felicia Reyes, Ana Maria Tejada, and Noemi Velazquez.