JOSE HERNANDEZ ALLOWED TO RUN AS ASTRONAUT ON BALLOT

THE HISPANIC BLOG IS THE LATEST HISPANIC NEWS BY JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ

A judge ruled that the former space shuttle astronaut can list his old occupation on the ballot. (Facebook.com/joseforcongress)

California congressional candidate José Hernández (D) will be able to call himself an “astronaut” when his name appears on the ballot, a judge ruled Thursday.

The ability of the former astronaut, who flew on a space shuttle mission, to list that profession on the ballot was challenged by a law firm with ties to Republicans in a state court this week. Judge Lloyd Connelly dismissed the firm’s argument that “astronaut” not appear on the ballot because it had not been Hernández’s primary profession for over a year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“I was never in doubt that I would be able to use astronaut on my ballot,” Hernández said in a statement. “I am glad that common sense prevailed and we were able to defeat this lawsuit and get back to talking about real issues.”

Hernández, who is challenging freshman Rep. Jeff Denham (R), publicly called attention to the suit this week. In an interview with Univision News, the ex-astronaut said it made him “flabbergasted,” blaming it on his opponents who felt threatened by his personal background.

“I’ve heard in reports that they probably did some type of polling and they found that referring to me as what my career was last, which was an astronaut — that they probably didn’t do too well. So they are throwing everything including the kitchen sink at us,” said Hernández.

Denham had no official role in the suit, but the law firm that brought the suit to court, Bell, McAndrews and Hiltachk, has been paid by the congressman’s campaigns in the past for legal services.

The firm criticized the ruling in a statement to the Times.

“Allowing a candidate out of nowhere to use the profession of ‘astronaut’ when he hasn’t served in that profession recently, is akin to allowing someone to use a title of ‘sailor’ when they no longer own or operate a ship,” spokeswoman Jennifer Kerns said in a statement.

READ MORE: UNIVISION NEWS

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WHO IS THE HISPANIC ASTRONAUT RUNNING FOR UNITED STATES CONGRESS?

THE HISPANIC BLOG IS THE LATEST HISPANIC NEWS BY JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ

FOX NEWS LATINO SPEAKS WITH JOSE HERNANDEZ: CLICK HERE OR ON HIS IMAGE TO WATCH & LISTEN TO HIM SPEAK OUT ABOUT RUNNING FOR U.S. CONGRESS

Adam Eschbach/IPT

Jose Hernandez knows all about launches: The former NASA astronaut is helping to kick off the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI)’s conference at the Sheraton hotel in Chicago Thursday, hoping to inspire thousands of students to reach for the stars.

As a child, Hernandez and his family toiled as migrant farm workers. He remembers clearly his father’s words after a hard day of picking cucumbers.

“He said, how do you kids feel right now?” said Hernandez. “Of course, after a hard day’s work, we answered, we’re tired. He said, remember this feeling because you kids have the privilege of living your future now.”
That meant going to school and getting an education. And Hernandez had a goal: to become an astronaut. He applied to the program several times.

AP Photo/Hernandez Family
Future NASA astronaut & US Congressman Jose Hernandez,f ar right, with his brothers Gil, left, Chava and sister Leticia, didn't learn English until he was 12.

“I didn’t get accepted the first time, second time, third time, It took 12 years to get accepted, 12 years, so that’s perseverance.”

In 2009, Hernandez took flight onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Latino Leadership Initiative participants met with astronaut Jose Hernandez photo via CNN

“I was raised by a single mother,” said Adeyanira Escuadra, Whitney Young High School junior. “We come from a low-income family. I think seeing other people start off from a small place and they were able to prosper in life, it’s a very high inspiration for us.”
Chicago is just one stop. The U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute announced Thursday that student events, like the one being held in the city this week, will be held in more than 20 states this year. The ultimate goal for every Latino family?

“In every household, and there are millions of them, we have to work towards this – we have to ensure in every household there is a diploma – for high school graduation, for post secondary education or training,” said Dr. Juan Andrade, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.That’s an important message for the young minds who are looking ahead.

“Anything is possible in this country,” he said. “If folks are willing to work hard, get themselves a good education, anything is possible.”

Jose Hernandez announces his run for the 10th Congressional District seat during a ceremony at the Tracy Transit Station Tuesday afternoon. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
Read more: Tracy Press - Shooting for the moon

Hernández announced at Pacific Union College on September 29, 2011 that at the urging of President Barack Obama he was considering a run for the U.S. House of Representatives and would announce his decision on October 11, 2011. He announced his candidacy as promised on October 11 via Twitter by linking to his campaign website. Hernandez made his first public campaign appearance on January 14, 2012, at a Democratic Candidate Forum in Tracy at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

UPDATE & FOR UPDATED BLOG ABOUT THIS STORY CLICK HERE: In March 2012, Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, a law firm with links to the California Republican Party, sued in Sacramento County Superior Court to block Hernandez from describing himself as an “astronaut/scientist/engineer” on the June ballot.

WATCH US ASTRONAUT JOSE HERNANDEZ IN SPACE…CLICK HERE OR ON HIS IMAGE BELOW

The lawsuit stated that “astronaut is not a title one carries for life”; the election code requires the description be accurate for the previous calendar year. “Allowing a candidate out of nowhere to use the profession of ‘astronaut’ when he hasn’t served in that profession recently is akin to allowing someone to use a title of ‘sailor’ when they no longer own or operate a ship,” said Jennifer Kerns, a California Republican Party spokeswoman. On March 29th, a Sacramento County Superior Court judge ruled that Hernández may be described as an astronaut on the June 5 Democrat primary ballot.

Photo Credit: NASA

FOR MORE ABOUT JOSE HERNANDEZ VISIT HIS PAGE AT HTTP://JOSEFORCONGRESS.COM

Read More: Chicago ABC News

SUBSCRIBE to The Hispanic Blog and stay on top of the latest Latino news, politics and entertainment!

Don’t be shy SUBSCRIBE – COMMENT – LIKE ME -CIRCLE ME AND FOLLOW ME

If you have any questions, concerns or simply would like to get a quote on my Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media and/or Events services, please feel free to contact me at thehispanicblog@gmail.com.

God Bless and may you have a fabulous day!

powered by Influential Access – “Transforming the Ordinary to EXTRAordinary!” – CEO – Jessica Marie Gutierrez – Creator of The Hispanic Blog #thehispanicblog

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