Area Mexican-Americans abuzz over leader's election in Mexico

By Naomi Dillon

July 7, 2000 Web posted at: 11:51 AM EDT (1551 GMT)

ARLINGTON, Illinois (Daily Herald) -- Distance, whether measured by miles or by generations, could not diminish the intensity and fascination with which Mexicans living in the United States watched the political events unfold in their homeland on Sunday.

Mexican president-elect Vicente Fox

A new chapter in Mexico's history began as the second-longest ruling party in the world - the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI - was replaced by Vicente Fox, the charismatic leader of the conservative National Action Party, or PAN.

Some say the mere downfall of the 71-year-old fixture - a government that has been accused on many occasions of corruption and ballot tampering - is an omen of things to come for Mexico and its people.

But will the ripples of change extend as far north as the Chicagoland area? Many believe they can.

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Julio Cesar Valdez, president of the Hispanic Heritage Coalition in Elgin, said the huge political upset in Mexico has been the talk of the town.

"Mexican citizens and even people just of Mexican descent are really interested in what's going on down there," he said. "It's been all the buzz in the Latino community."

The cynicism local residents have felt toward the government in Mexico has transformed into cautious hope, said Manuel Barbosa, an Elgin resident and U.S. bankruptcy judge.

"Most people in general are somewhat enthused about what appears to be a new era in Mexico," Barbosa said. "There's a feeling of optimism."

Maria Elena Jonas, one of the founding members of the Latino Coalition in Lake County, hasn't completely shed the pessimism she has developed from years of empty promises by the PRI.

"I'm happy that the ruling party was finally defeated," Jonas said. "But I'm very surprised the PRI didn't fix the votes, as they have always done. I don't know if it's genuine or it's an arrangement with the PAN."

However, Michael J. Gonzales, professor of Latin American history and director of the Center for Latino and Latin American studies at Northern Illinois University, doubted the defeat was a smokescreen.

"I think the PRI felt the opposition was so strong, it would be politically risky not to allow a free election," Gonzales said.

Indeed, many political analysts have said it was the first time in decades Mexicans participated in a truly clean and fair election process. Valdez believes there was a changed attitude toward democracy.

"This legitimized democracy," Valdez said. "I think, before, people felt 'Why bother? The election has already been decided.'"

Interestingly enough, Valdez said the new openness would not only increase citizen participation inside, but outside the Mexican border.

"People living here will tell people in Mexico, hey you better vote, because it counts," he said.

With history still fresh, few were willing and even able to say what it could specifically mean for Mexicans living in the United States.

"We just have to wait and see," Gonzales said. "Fox has said he wants to improve the economy and education in Mexico, which would mean more opportunity in the country and maybe less Mexicans coming to America."

Gilbert Feliciano, President of the Elgin Hispanic Network, also agreed if Mexico's historically poor economy did take a turn for the better, less migration could be expected.

"Not all Mexicans come to America because this is such a great country," he said, "but because there are better economic opportunities, and if it were the same in Mexico, they'd probably stay there."

Valdez said, like many other Mexicans, his family emigrated in search of economic advancement.

"Why else would we go to a country where we don't speak the language, where we don't know anybody, where our culture isn't always embraced?" he asked, rhetorically. "There's just no jobs in Mexico."

Besides increasing the number of jobs, Luis Pelayo, the president and founder of the Hispanic Council - which recently moved its offices from Bensenville to Chicago - said "education is key."

"If people are educated, they are less likely to emigrate to the United States," Pelayo said. "If (Fox) promotes education, improves the small business and regional economic pictures, that means more jobs and a better future for Mexico."

Although it won't take another 71 years, Gonzales said it would be foolish of anyone to think changes will occur immediately.

"I wouldn't expect a great deal in the short term," he said. "The PRI is so entrenched, the idea of Fox going in and replacing top-level officials with people in his own regime is pretty naive. It's going to take a long time before we see anything substantial there and here."

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