The snub of Tony Yapias underlined some Latino leaders' deep resentment of him, a resentment that has been building for some time.

Yapias, a Democrat and Peruvian immigrant, said he was invited to and had a ticket to Fox's community meeting that was attended by 850 people, mostly Mexican immigrants, but he was not allowed into the event at West Valley City's Utah Cultural Celebration Center. So he left.

"I didn't want to cause any problems," Yapias said on Friday.

Event organizers said his name was not on the guest list, room was limited and the event was for members of Mexican community groups and special guests. Members of the Utah-area council of Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME) - a group of 45 Mexican representatives of federal programs for Mexicans who live outside of the country - coordinated the community meeting.

"Why should he be invited?" said Sylvia Haro, Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly chairwoman and IME member. "President Fox wanted to see his people."

Yapias, a former director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs and chairman of the Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucus, said he is the leader of several political and community organizations and has traveled statewide to advocate for immigrant rights. The April 9 demonstration he initiated and helped organize drew 40,000 participants and energized the Latino community.

But Yapias said he was not invited to any of the events, especially the community meeting, because he is not Mexican and because Haro blames him for having to resign from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s Cabinet within a week after she was named in January 2005. Haro dismissed the accusations.

Luz Robles, IME president, said there was nothing personal in the decision not to invite Yapias to the community meeting.

"There were a lot of people who have helped the community who weren't there - it's not a big deal," she said. "It was too big of an event for personal agendas."

Still, some Latino leaders said Yapias being kept out of events during Fox's visit was intentional because they resent him for his ability to cultivate the news media in a way that makes him appear as the Latino community's chief spokesman. One person said Yapias was interviewed during Fox's visit by several reporters who then didn't speak to any Mexican immigrants.

Michael Clára, Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly vice chairman, said currently Yapias is "not well-respected by other advocates" and "not highly regarded" by political leaders. He said Latino leaders are fed up with Yapias speaking on behalf of the Latino community.

For example, Yapias sends out news releases on behalf of Proyecto Latino de Utah using phrases such as "Utahns react." Yapias said he is working on membership and the group is run by a handful of people.

Clára said many Latinos are frustrated that the Utah media seems to focus only on Yapias and doesn't seek comment from others.

"Who elected him?" Clára said. "He's not a reflection of Utah Latinos. . . . He doesn't represent us."

Robles said she respects Yapias' leadership role in the community, adding "he has his own style."

"I don't think a lot of people agree with that style, but they agree with his mission - to elevate the lives of Latinos in Utah," she said.

Yapias, who moved to Utah for college in 1987 and has been involved in the community since then, said he doesn't try to speak for the Latino community. He said he works with the media to inform Utahns about issues, such as immigration, that affect Latinos.

"I feel I have the authority to represent the community and their concerns," he said.

jsanchez@sltrib.com