Central Florida GOP Officials Want Apology from Sen. Hays

A group of Republicans along the I-4 corridor -- where a congressional district has been discussed that would be weighted heavily with Hispanics -- want an apology from Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, for comments regarding Hispanics that Hays made during a redistricting hearing last week.

The Orlando Sentinel reported that those calling for an apology on Thursday included: Osceola County Commissioner John Quinones, Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson, Longwood Deputy Mayor Bob Cortes, Kissimmee Vice Mayor Art Otero, Osceola County School Board Vice Chairman Julius Melendez, Orange County Republican Party Chairman Lew Oliver and Osceola County Republican Party Chairman Danny Sexton.

There is no indication from any source that Orange County has an unusually high illegal immigrant population, Oliver told the Sentinel. The vast majority of Hispanic residents are Puerto Rican. They are American citizens and have as much right to be here as I do. I, for one, welcome them with open arms.

Hays, who has not returned a request for comment, cautioned members of a Senate redistricting subcommittee on Oct. 18 that many of the people in the new district may be illegally in the country.

Before we design a district anywhere in the state of Florida for Hispanic voters, we need to ascertain that they are citizens of the United States, Hays said during the subcommittee meeting. We all know there are many Hispanic-speaking people in Florida that are not legal, and I just dont think that its right that we try to draw a district that encompasses people that really have no business voting anyhow.

Read the story here.