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City council hopeful: 'My English is good enough'
When a judge ruled that Alejandrina Cabrera’s name couldn’t be on the ballot for City Council in San Luis, Arizona, because she couldn’t speak English well enough, it was not only a blow to her, but to her fellow citizens, Cabrera told CNN.
“When he took my right to be on the ballot he took away the right of the people who want to vote for me,” Cabrera said in an interview conducted in Spanish with CNN en Español.
A battle over Cabrera's run for office began when Juan Carlos Escamilla, the mayor of San Luis, said he was concerned that Cabrera might not have the proper grasp of the language for the job. Escamilla filed a lawsuit in December that asked a court to determine whether Cabrera's skills qualified her under state law to run for the council seat.
The fight began as a purely political one, with opponents seeking to block her from running for office after she tried to recall Escamilla from office twice, according to The New York Times. But it has turned into a firestorm in a town where many constituents have the same grasp of English as Cabrera. Those questions, and the political fight they stirred, led to a court hearing to determine whether Cabrera spoke English well enough to be able to run for office. The ruling was that she did not.
The issues at the center of this debate: Just how much English must you understand to run for a political office? And what does it mean to be proficient?
According to a judge, you need to know more English than Cabrera was able to demonstrate.
But by Cabrera's account, she's fluent enough to serve her community, and she isn't running for national office.
“I think my English is good enough to hold public office in San Luis, Arizona,” she told CNN.
“I am not going to help (at the White House)," she added. "I will be helping here.”
When she said her English is good enough for San Luis, she brings up a point that’s been a large part of the debate about her language skills.
In San Luis, 87% of residents speak a language other than English in their home and 98.7% are of Hispanic origin, according to 2010 U.S. Census data. Most of the people there, by all accounts, speak in English and in Spanish. In the comfort of communal settings, they'll speak the way they're most comfortable.
Which may be why, when CNN en Español asked if she would conduct the interview in English, her lawyer instructed her to speak only in Spanish.
Instead of the confident, strong way she speaks in Spanish to the residents of San Luis, Cabrera speaks a bit more slowly, and perhaps with a bit less conviction, when she switches to English. That's something she admits, but she says that she can communicate at the level she needs to in English, given where she lives. She grades her English proficiency at a 5 on a scale from 1 to 10.
“It is true my English is not fluid, I am a very honest so I can tell you I’m not fluid in English, but I do understand it. I can read a a letter. I can read a book,” Cabrera said. “Right now I have a private tutor helping me improve my English.”
While she’s doing that, Cabrera still feels her language skills are where they need to be.
“From my point of view, it would be more helpful to have someone who speaks Spanish (in San Luis),” she said.
Escamilla, the mayor who began the fight over Cabrera’s skills, notes that many of the other council members are also Hispanic but they are truly bilingual.
“With all due respect for Ms. Cabrera, I think she is a good person, but her understanding in English is not good enough. She struggles to speak it, and she doesn’t understand it,” he said. “All our meetings are in English.”
During the court hearing on the issue, Yuma County Superior Court Judge John Nelson made the ruling after testimony from linguistics experts and Cabrera's own testimony, where she answered questions and read a few documents.
Cabrera, a U.S. citizen who graduated from the bilingual Kofa High School in Yuma, Arizona, was questioned in English on the stand about where she graduated, where she was born and what her name was. She was able to tell her lawyer her name and where she was born, but struggled with what school she had graduated from, according to the Yuma Sun.
Cabrera believes that ruling is stripping her of the her right to run for office. Escamilla believes the court is just enforcing the law.
In 2006, Arizona passed a law that made English the official language of the state. Earlier, in 1910, Congress passed the Enabling Act, which allowed Arizona to become a state with certain requirements. Among them was one that addressed the English language.
"The ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language sufficiently well to conduct the duties of the office without aid of an interpreter shall be a necessary qualification for all state officers and members of the state legislature," a section of the act reads.
But Cabrera's lawyers argued in court that her disqualification was unfair and may be unconstitutional, seeing as there is not an actual standard for a specific level of proficiency for a council candidate.
That’s something Escamilla disagrees with vehemently.
“We are not taking Alejandrina’s rights away - we are just following the state law,” he said.
Cabrera believes the mayor and others have taken the issue too far, that she is well-qualified to serve the community she lives in, and that the language testing she was given was at a much higher level than necessary.
“I am not applying for a job with President Obama,” she said. “All I want is to do my job as an activist helping my community.”
Glenn Gimbut, the city attorney for San Luis, says he believes the right decision was made for the people of San Luis.
“The votes of the people who might have voted for her would have been wasted, because they could have voted for someone better prepared to be an elected official,” Gimbut told CNN.
But one resident, Ana Maria Beal, said that someone with Cabrera’s background is exactly the kind of person she’d like to see represent her.
“She is someone who wants to work and worries for our people. That’s the type of person we need up there,” she said. “We don’t want someone who comes from Harvard.”
And that sentiment may be why Cabrera plans to appeal the decision, according to an interview with the Yuma Sun.
“I can't give details about the appeal, but the judge's decision was not just,” Cabrera told the newspaper. “He can't take away my constitutional rights, and if he takes away my rights, he takes away the rights of the community.”
While we’ll have to wait and see what happens with an appeal, one thing is sure: Cabrera’s case has sparked a national debate about whether English should be the official language of the country and also leaves open many questions about the democratic process.
Let us know what you think about Cabrera’s situation and her response to being taken off the ballot in the comments section below.
- Journalist Valeria Fernandez, CNN Español's Gabriela Frias, Fernando del Rincon and Gustavo Valdes contributed to this report.
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She's a legal citizen, allow her to run for the position. I don't understand our Government. AND as I see it Arizona has become prejudice against Latins, hispanic's or Mexican's. Lest ye forget Arizona was once part of Mexico so of course you are going to have more spanish speaking people's. Here's another example of white man geonocide of a beautiful culture.
rmurphy: "She's a legal citizen, allow her to run for the position. I don't understand our Government. AND as I see it Arizona has become prejudice against Latins, hispanic's or Mexican's."
Yeah, right, it has to do with prejudice, not with the fact that someone who is (theoretically) going to be writing, voting on and upholding city ordinances can't speak the language those ordinances are written in.
You're smart.
I agree. And neither should your lack of apostrophe skill prohibit you from seeking office.
Since when does citizenship matter? There are multiple laws and regulations that prohibit legal citizens from running for office.
The issue here is where does it stop? Should all communities have that option. Italian towns speaking Italian, German towns speaking German, etc. etc. Oh wait I forgot to put the most important part in there = AMERICA/Italians. In order to conceptually understand Federal Laws (which States are obligated to enforce) you need to have not just a grasp of English but a good grasp of it. Ever tried to read a Law or Regulation? Most people that only speak and read English can't understand them.
This woman is a US citizen and spent 12 years in the Arizona K-12 school system yet she can only score 5 out of 10 on English proficiency? This is what happens when schools think being PC is more important than teaching-reading, writing and ENGLISH! If people want to immegrate here, work, live and participate in our political process then yes you must master the English language.
Sorry, but immegrate is not a word. Learn english please.
Read the article: 87% of residents in her county speak a language other than English in the home. In cases like this, don't blame the schools because she didn't get the practice and reinforcement at home. Something similar happens with students who are raised in homes where a non-standard form of English is spoken–such students usually become "bi-dialectal" and are able to work in standard English and "home" English–my background is Applachian/Southern English and I communicate in both worlds. What do you propose, have a language police go into homes and enforce spoken English?
Also, were the proficiency tests written or oral? Most people who study foreign languages usually achieve higher proficiency in reading and writing an unfamiliar language than they do speaking it. I can read Spanish fairly well, but can't speak it worth squat.
The woman is a citizen and seems to be representative of the people she wants to serve. She should be allowed on the ballot.
Hey Jan Brewer, got another mess on your hands.
Better start wagging your finger.
The offcial language of Arizona was SPANISH for several hundred years until the US invaded and stole the land – English speakers are invaders – look at the place names – SPANISH
Let the voters vote – that is Democarcy
Hey you dont speak english then you dont get the job, oppurtunity etc... Instead of wasting court time she should take english classes.
Isn't it the voters' choice whether or not she gets the job? If her language is a problem to them, they won't vote for her, and then yes, she won't get the job. This is how elected office works.
Nope.
Elected offices have some requirement for eligibility.
Many do at least (and IMHO, there aren't enough).
This woman is a US citizen and spent 12 years in the Arizona K-12 school system yet she can only score 5 out of 10 on English proficiency? This is what happens when schools think being PC is more important than teaching-reading, writing and ENGLISH! If people want to immigrate here, work, live and participate in our political process then yes you must master the English language.
I very strongly believe in America, and OUR language is English. My grandparents needed to learn to speak english and they wanted to be part of America, language and all. This is NOT little Mexico, it is the United States of America. AND, the language is NOT SPANISH...IT IS ENGLISH.
You may STRONGLY believe it all you want... Newsflash, we have no official language.
Interpreters and translators are required in many cities for citizens under disability and this is could be considered a disability. As such this is not a fight that any city could afford in these times.
A disability? We decide to declare obesity a medical disability and now ignorance is too? So, what can I get away with under the guise that a clear lack of knowledge is a disability?
A physical disability does not equate to lack of proficiency in a language.
Understand that distinction first. Then reconsider your argument.
I applaud anyone who wants to take the time to run for an office. It's a thankless job and you never make everyone happy. Good luck Ms. Cabrera, if I was a resident of your area you would have my vote. Continue to fight for your right to be on the ballot. The people should determine who they want to represent them not a judge. Oh wait, I think that's called an election – go figure.
The judge was simply doing his job: upholding requirements established by a law.
Upholding a law in itself has nothing to do with voters.
The law that the judge was up holding was subjective and he and only he determined the level of Englished required. Again, let the voter decide who they want to vote for.
What's the Problem - We let Geo W Bush be Pres
"...the language testing she was given was at a much higher level than necessary...". They asked her what high school she graduated from! Here is the bottom line: they are not even looking for someone with a college education, they are simply looking for someone who speaks the language of the laws of this country. Her level of English comprehension is incredibly poor, which interferes with her ability to understand her colleagues and proficiently (there is that word again) perform her duty as a public servant.
There is no official language of the USA. She can speak whatever she wants to. Let the voters decide.
cam: "There is no official language of the USA. She can speak whatever she wants to. Let the voters decide."
And if the voters, through their representatives on the city council, say they want people who can read, speak and write in the language that the council works in, you'd still be crying about racism, wouldn't you?
Let's toss out judges and the court system, while we're at it.
Bottom line: the judge was upholding an existing law. Nothing to do with voters.
If they have issues with that law, take it up with the court system. Or encourage the current council members to pass a new one to change it.
Mob rule is never the answer.
No english, no vote, no job...learn english, your in America.
You should heed your own advice.
...you're in America. (proper English)
Were it not for your other posts, I would think you posted this as a joke. Instead, your own obvious lack of English skill just makes you laughable.
We as a nation are very accomodating to all, but there needs to be a standard. Speak a dozen languages and I applaud you, but for official communication and governance, the standard must be English.
I'm sure she speaks English better than Sarah Palin.