Latino bigs rip judge-list snub and Paterson

Latino bigs rip judge-list snub and Paterson
BY Jeff Wilkins DAILY NEWS WRITER
Latino leaders stepped up pressure on Gov. Paterson to name more Hispanics to key roles in his administration Thursday.
"We always see how politicians like to pander to the Latino community," said David Galarza, a spokesman for the National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights. "It's not enough to talk in español come election time. We want them to talk in español when it comes time to select good, qualified Latino candidates for government positions."
The National Latino Officers Association, which held the press conference outside Paterson's Manhattan offices along with other Hispanic organizations, wants the governor to consider minority candidates when making his political appointments for the upcoming year.
Along with replacing the Senate seat slated to be vacated by Hillary Clinton, who has been nominated to be President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state, Paterson must also appoint a new chief justice to the New York Court of Appeals.
There are currently seven finalists to lead the state's highest court, none of whom are Hispanic.
Demonstrators said Paterson must do more for the state's largest minority group.
"The Latino community is shocked and appalled that not one Hispanic is on that list," said Nester Diaz of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County. "It's six white men and one African-American. We don't understand why there isn't more diversity on the list."