Mexico election results felt locally, consul says

By EDWARD HEGSTROM

July 4, 2000 Web posted at: 11:03 AM EDT (1503 GMT)

HOUSTON, Texas (The Houston Chronicle) -- The reverberations of Mexico's presidential election will be felt as far north as Houston, says the Mexican government's top official here.

Mexican Consul General Rodulfo Figueroa said the new government of the National Action Party, or PAN, will take a more active role organizing and defending immigrants residing in the United States.

PAN candidate Vicente Fox won Sunday's election, the first victory by an opposition party in 71 years.

"There is no doubt that Fox understands the importance of these Mexicans (living in the United States), and the importance they have for Mexico," Figueroa said.

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The Mexican Consulate in Houston already has four workers who specialize in cultivating ties between the homeland and Mexicans living here. Figueroa predicted that Fox would pour in resources to expand such programs here and in the dozens of other consulates in the United States.

Fox established himself as willing to work with Mexican ex-patriots when he served as governor of the state of Guanajuato until last year. He often visited his countrymen in the United States and established programs to strengthen links with his home state.

Consulate representatives estimate that 600,000 to 800,000 Mexicans live in Greater Houston.

Previous attempts to organize immigrants in this country have occasionally stirred controversy. When the Mexican consul general in Atlanta recently suggested that migrant workers consider avoiding products of U.S. companies that discriminate against them, some accused him of meddling in American affairs.

Immigration critics say they are worried even more by Fox, whom they see as nothing less than a threat to U.S. sovereignty.

"He is going to be a lot more aggressive in defending the rights of these Mexicans who are invading to conquer America," said Glenn Spencer, a California immigration critic who heads Voice of Citizens Together. "The American people have no idea what they are in for."

The Revolutionary Institutional Party, or PRI, has ruled Mexico so tightly for decades, the party was sometimes indistinguishable from the government. So Fox's victory will almost certainly bring sweeping changes in personnel if nothing else -- even in the consulates.

Figueroa predicted that he will soon be out of a job and that Fox will remain as close to PAN as previous presidents were to the PRI.

Figueroa also forecast that Fox will do a good job governing the country but won't be able to bring change nearly as fast as most Mexicans would like.

"To think that Mexico's problems can be resolved overnight is an illusion," he said.

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