SVREP Hosts 34th Latino Vote 2008 Banquet
SVREP kicks off effort to register and mobilize 250,000 Latino voters
for November Presidential Election

For Immediate Release - June 3, 2008                                        

Contact: Lydia Camarillo, (210) 922-0225

San Antonio, TX – The Southwest Voter Registration Education Project's
(SVREP) Latino Vote 2008 Banquet will take place on Wednesday, June 4,
2008, at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown San Antonio.
Among the featured guest speakers are Honorable Henry Cisneros, CEO
CityView, Honorable Pete Gallego, Chairman of Mexican American
Legislative Caucus, Honorable Melissa Noriega, Council Member for the
City of Houston, Kevin Wolff, former San Antonio City Council Member.

"This year's message, Vota Una Latina, Vota Una Familia, highlights
the importance of civic participation among Latino families and other
disenfranchised communities.  The strength of families voting will
show the mobilizing power and political potential of Latinos in Texas,
and nationwide.  In this regard, SVREP is dedicated to continuing the
momentum of 07," said SVREP President Antonio González.

SVREP will kick off its 2008 nonpartisan efforts at the San Antonio
Latino Vote 2008 Banquet. The SVREP Latino Vote 2008 Campaign consists
of the Youth Vote, Latina Vote, Campaign for Communities and
Movimiento 10/12. Through its campaigns, SVREP will work with elected
officials and community leaders to expand the universe of first time
voters who will evolve into high propensity voters. Our goal is to
register and mobilize 250,000 new Latino voters by the 2008
presidential elections and beyond.

"Our mission is to increase awareness and encourage Latinos to be
active citizens and vote.  It is with this knowledge that SVREP
continues to empower Latinos through their vote," added Lydia
Camarillo, SVREP Vice President.

If recent history is an indicator, Latinos will vote in unprecedented
numbers during the 2008 Presidential elections. According to an
analysis conducted by the William C. Velásquez Institute (WCVI),
Latinos will number 12 million registered voters by election day. Ten
million of those are projected to cast their vote then.  This are 2.5
million more Latinos expected to participate in the general elections
this year.

Southwest Voter Registration Education Project is a national
nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed solely to the political
empowerment of Latino communities through voter registration, voter
education and voter participation. SVREP was established in 1974 by
the late Willie Velásquez to encourage civic and political
participation in Latino and other underrepresented communities. Since
its inception, over 2.3 million Latino voters throughout the southwest
and Florida have been registered.  Visit www.svrep.org for more
information.

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