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State officials reiterated their position Thursday that there would be no financial help to put on a Latino Day event planned at the Capitol but again suggested the heat from a debate on immigration reform drove that decision.
Mike Hansen, acting executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Culture, issued a statement to the Hispanic Legislative Task Force that said it was trying to avoid an advocacy role.
"To be clear, we cannot provide any financial resources for the event on February 16, and suggest that your committee assign another lead," Hansen wrote. "We want to be helpful, but are particularly sensitive to any perception of agency advocacy on any issue."
The legislature is expected to debate a wide range of bills dealing with illegal immigration and several have been polarizing — including an enforcement-only bill and a proposal that would repeal in-state tuition for undocumented students.
Hansen characterized initial interpretations by an e-mail sent out Wednesday from the Office of Ethnic Affairs regarding the state's pullout as a lead sponsor as a "misunderstanding" and said it should concern everyone that a "situation as relatively benign as this can get blown completely out of proportion."
Latino Day at the Capitol was first put together by the Office of Ethnic Affairs and the Hispanic Legislative Task Force in 2009 and in the OEA's 2010 annual report, it says the aim of the event is to, "serve as a bridge between the Legislative body and the Hispanic/Latino community."
This year's event will focus on the contributions of Latinos who have served or are serving in the military and task force officials said it's not a political event.
But the wording in an e-mail by Silvia Castro, director of Hispanic/Latino affairs, came under scrutiny when she said the event should be postponed until after the legislative session because of budget tightening and "intense legislative debate about immigration."
Erik Contreras, Republican co-chair of the task force, said he wished the e-mail had been worded differently and still had concerns about the perception that Latino Day and its events would be confused with the issue of illegal immigration.
"There are Latinos advocating for Latino rights and that doesn't mean all we do is immigration," he said. "We hope the message that is related is that Latinos are more than just immigration. We care about the economy, education, our community and our state."
Michael Clara, chairman of the Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly, said he understands the governor's office wouldn't want to appear to take a position on legislation coming before the House and Senate. But he also said it was important that the governor issue a proclamation for Latino Day.
According to the Office of Ethnic Affairs annual report, a proclamation was signed by the governor for Latino Day in 2009.
Ally Isom, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Gary Herbert, couldn't confirm whether the process for getting a proclamation had begun — though officials within the Office of Ethnic Affairs are quietly working on coordinating a proclamation signing.
"The organizers of Latino Day are welcome to submit a request for a proclamation and those requests are taken under consideration by the governor's office," Isom said.
Latino Day
P This year's event • Honoring Latino military veterans
When • Feb. 16 at the Capitol
Who • About 100 veterans expected to attend