Latina leaders inspire others to achieve

Recently on a talk radio program, I listened to a commentator remark on Sen. Hillary Clinton's announcement to seek the Democratic nomination for president. He is not the only one giving opinions on the matter. Sen. Clinton's decision to run for president sent shockwaves throughout the country. For the first time in U.S. history, a woman could be the President of the United States. (This is an extraordinary time in U.S. politics, as it is also possible for an African-American or a U.S. Latino to be president as well since Barack Obama has announced he is running and Governor Bill Richardson is considering a presidential bid.)

From radio to television to print, every news outlet covering the election trail whips-up some rhetoric about the female politician and head of state hopeful. The U.S. prides itself on women's rights and equal opportunity. Yet the idea of a woman president seems unrealistic to some vocal media pundits. Sounds like machismo to me. Machismo? Isn't that confined to Latin men with overbearing tempers? Think again.

Latin American countries (along with others throughout the world), have had women presidents. Latina presidents are an inspiration to women around the globe and at the local level of civic responsibility. Some of the Latin American presidents have endured severe hardships which would make any political freshman cringe.

Chile's President Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria has an incredible background. She is a surgeon, pediatrician and epidemiologist and speaks Spanish, French, English, German and Portuguese. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Jeria is the first woman president of Chile and the first popularly elected South American woman president whose political career was established independent of her husband. But her background in politics harken back to her childhood.

Jeria's father was killed by the Pinochet dictatorship and her boyfriend was held captive, tortured and mysteriously disappeared. Jeria and her mother also were detained and tortured. Despite the horrific events, and after living in exile for many years, Jeria returned to Chile to work for public agencies focused on either children of tortured political prisoners or community health programs. In 2006 she won a presidential nomination run off to become the first female president of Chile.

Jeria's win was set by a path of past Latina presidents, some had ambitious political goals, others had power thrust upon them unexpectedly. And though political strategies may differ, all created history in their own right: President Maria Estella Martinez Cartas de Peron (1974-1976, Argentina); Interim President Lydia Gueiler Tejada (1979-1980, Bolivia); President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (1990-1997, Nicaragua); Acting President Rosalia Arteaga Serrano (Sept.-Nov., 1997, Ecuador); President Janet Jagan, (1997-1999, Guyana); and President Mireya Moscoso Rodriguez (1999-2004, Panama).

Locally, we can be inspired by Latina "presidents" as well. The Chamber of Commerce's Hispanic Business Committee (HBC) Chair position has been held by women since its founding in 2004. I was elected founding chair; then followed Rosa Harnack, and currently Mirna Ruiz oversees the active HBC. Maria Elena Serna is a dedicated leader at the Delta College Board of Trustees and headed the effort to bring a Delta College extension campus to Lodi. Cecilia Soto is the Lodi High Spanish teacher and as adviser to the student's MECHA Club continuously works to improve student academics and raise money for scholarships. Mother-daughter team Maria and Laura Ochoa have worked on countless community activities including the Lodi Community Partnership's Celebration on Central and Mexican Independence Day festivities. These are just a few of our local Latina leaders.

This upcoming U.S. presidential race is intensified by the inclusion of a woman running for president. Yet whatever political leanings one may have, the idea of a woman becoming president of the U.S. in the future is thrilling. Luckily in the meantime, we can be inspired by local Latina leaders, Latin-American countries and other governments throughout the world that have voted in female presidents.