State Auditor Hector Balderas was elected to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Board of Directors on Thursday in Washington, D.C.
The group is a national, non-partisan organization that has a network of more than 6,000 governmental, political and business leaders who conduct civic projects, training and technical assistance, and information dissemination on behalf of the Latino community. There are 24 members on the board.
“I’m honored to serve on the NALEO board with distinguished public servants from throughout the country who are committed to advancing issues that not only are of particular concern to Latinos but to all Americans,” Balderas said in a release. “My primary focus will be educational outreach to Latino communities in an effort to reduce the high school dropout rate and promote higher educational standards.”
At 35, Balderas is the youngest Hispanic statewide elected official in the nation. Earlier this year, he was named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the country by Hispanic Business Weekly magazine.
Balderas is frequently mentioned for a possible appointment to lieutenant governor if Bill Richardson leaves the state and Diane Denish becomes governor.