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Show Chicanos urge vote in election by RON VARELA Chronicle Staff The Spanish Speaking Voter Registration Committee presented a fiesta and rally featuring Lieutenant-Governor Robert Mondragon of New Mexico Monday night at 6:30. The fiesta, complete with Mexican food, drink and music, was held at the Hacienda restaurant (129 North Fifth West). In a meeting with Chicano students at the University at 4:00 p.m. Monday, Mondragon noted that the rally would urge young Chicanos in the Salt Lake area to register and to vote. "We want to make them aware that they can cause change from the inside by voting," he remarked later. Vote Democratic The rally also urged Chicanos to vote for democratic candidates i n the upcoming elections. Mondragon Mon-dragon pointed out that, "We have received the most specific committment com-mittment from McGovern and Shriver. Nixon got his chance four years ago and didn't do anything in four years. Now let's give McGovern a chance." The lieutenant governor ex- pressed hope for American Chicanos through the Democratic Party. He said of La Raza Unida, the Chicano political party, "Organizations such as La Raza Unida have their function. The goals of La Raza Unida are the same as my goals: To do the best we can for our people. But I don't think I could have been elected if I had run under the Raza Unida party." Throughout the meeting at the University, Mandragon stressed his accomplishments for New Mexico's Chicanos, about forty percent of the state's population, especially in the areas of health, education, and housing. He said several times, "I have made the job of lieutenant-governor a full-time ib." Before his election, he contends, New Mexico's lieutenant-governor did little more than preside over the state legislature and fill in for the governor when the top man can't fill his duties. Communication Mondragon was born in Mexico in 1940. In 1966, and again in 1968, ne was elected state representative w New Mexico. While working as ' radio announcer, he says he Earned, "to try to be in contact and communication with the people. If Vou have a problem in govern-ment, govern-ment, you don't try to solve it R6lf; Y0U 9 t0 the People and them tell you the solutions. Mis four-year term as lieutenant-aovernor lieutenant-aovernor began in 1970, amid controversy and attempted bribes. However, he maintains, "they coudntbuyme out, and from now hi .lY re not 9in9 10 be able to "I these Young Chicanos who allY want to help their people, fouvegotto become a part of the system ,f yoU want t0 ch jt ,rm the inside." |