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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Rural Idaho town elects its first all-Latino city council

The town of Wilder near the Idaho-Oregon border has a population of 1,500 that is about 75 percent Hispanic, and it broke political barriers early this month by electing its first all-Latino city council, the AP reports. Community advocates say recent changes in the tiny town mark a huge step for the state's growing Latino population, which has historically experienced a lack of political representation.

As of 2012, Idaho's Commission on Hispanic Affairs estimated there were 20 Hispanic elected officials representing various offices throughout the state, with just five serving in city positions. Meanwhile, Idaho's overall population is more than 11 percent Hispanic. AP reporter Kimberlee Kruesi has a full report here.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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