Court says woman with limited English can be kept off ballot

[Cancel 2018. 3]

Court says woman with limited English can be kept off ballot

(Reuters) - Arizona's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a city council candidate with limited English language skills can be kept off the ballot in a largely bilingual town on the Mexico border.

A Yuma County Superior Court judge touched off a furor last week when he disqualified Alejandrina Cabrera, 35, from running for city council in the town of San Luis over what he called a "large gap" between her English proficiency and that required to serve as a public official.

In a brief two-page ruling, the Arizona Supreme Court did not give a reason why it sided with the lower court, but said a written decision would follow "in due course."

The controversy has swept San Luis, a sleepy farming town hugging the Arizona-Mexico border, into the incendiary national debate over immigration.

Immigrant rights activists called such language-based restrictions hostile to immigrants, potentially driving a wedge between Latino communities and the rest of American society.

Proponents of enforcing English as the sole language of state government said that the country needs a common tongue to promote national unity. They cite the immigration and assimilation by generations of new Americans.

http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-supreme-court-says-candidate-barred-ballot-223049511.html

interesting....

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Would this not violate first ammendment rites?

 

[Rationalist]

This is bullshit, especially considering it is a bilingual town (well, practically a bilingual state).

Canada works fine with a bilingual government; someday, the same will be true of the US government. It is inevitable that the US will become a bilingual country.

 

[sedan]

This is bullshit, especially considering it is a bilingual town (well, practically a bilingual state).

Canada works fine with a bilingual government; someday, the same will be true of the US government. It is inevitable that the US will become a bilingual country.

I am 100% in favor of bilingualism!

 

[USFREEDOM911]

This is bullshit, especially considering it is a bilingual town (well, practically a bilingual state).

Canada works fine with a bilingual government; someday, the same will be true of the US government. It is inevitable that the US will become a bilingual country.

You may want to reconsider your understanding of what "BILINGUAL" means; because it does not mean "limited English language skills".

 

[Cancel 2018. 3]

seems like a literacy test. not sure about the 1st amendment, very possible, but i'm not sure her speech is being restricted. if she is competent for the job, then i don't see how they can deny her. i'm not sure what the qualifications are, but i don't recall any local, state or federal qualifications that you must speak english or understand it at a certain level to run for office.

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

I don't see the harm. She can have a translator, just like we do currently when dealing with everyone else.

 

[USFREEDOM911]

I don't see the harm. She can have a translator, just like we do currently when dealing with everyone else.

Now you want them to hire a personal translator and put rhe translator on the payroll, in able for her to do her job.

NANNY STATE, HERE WE COME.

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

Now you want them to hire a personal translator and put rhe translator on the payroll, in able for her to do her job.

NANNY STATE, HERE WE COME.

They probably have one already, since, ya know, it's a bilingual town.

 

[USFREEDOM911]

They probably have one already, since, ya know, it's a bilingual town.

And now they're supposed to assign her to a clerk and ignore everything else?

 

[PostmodernProphet]

if she is competent for the job, then i don't see how they can deny her.

how can a city official be competent for the job if she can't read a proposed city ordinance?......

would you for example, think a person who spoke English, but was functionally illiterate, should be allowed to hold office?.....

 

[Granule]

I'm for diversity and all, but is it too much to ask this person to at least learn enough English to hold the job? She is trying for an elected position, afterall.

 

[icedancer2theend]

how can a city official be competent for the job if she can't read a proposed city ordinance?......

would you for example, think a person who spoke English, but was functionally illiterate, should be allowed to hold office?.....

OH NO'S~ not common sense

 

[Disillusioned]

They probably have one already, since, ya know, it's a bilingual town.

The town's bilingual, she's not. It's rather simple, the french don't elect anyone who doesnt speak french no matter how many muslims are in their comunity, the germans don't elect people who don't speak german but speak great polish. If you want to serve publically, learn the language, then we'll elect you, but I don't want to walk into city all, ask for help and be denied because the people their don't speak english. Sorry guys this is still a majority english country.

 

[Cancel 2018. 3]

she says she can read and understand english...so not sure your concern PMP. there are plenty of people who are "proficient" in english who aren't remotely qualified. if she can understand the proceedings, i don't have a problem with her serving if she is duly elected.

 

[Damocles]

Many people get elected that shouldn't because there is no reason to keep them off the ballot. If she's a citizen and can get the votes I cannot see how they could possibly find a solid legal argument to keep her from the ballot. I don't know if it would be considered 1st Amendment though.

 

[zappasguitar]

You may want to reconsider your understanding of what "BILINGUAL" means; because it does not mean "limited English language skills".

Seems to me a guy who doesn't know when to properly use "to" "too" and "two" should think twice about lecturing others on what constitutes "limited English language skills".

 

[Don Quixote]

Court says woman with limited English can be kept off ballot

(Reuters) - Arizona's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a city council candidate with limited English language skills can be kept off the ballot in a largely bilingual town on the Mexico border.

A Yuma County Superior Court judge touched off a furor last week when he disqualified Alejandrina Cabrera, 35, from running for city council in the town of San Luis over what he called a "large gap" between her English proficiency and that required to serve as a public official.

In a brief two-page ruling, the Arizona Supreme Court did not give a reason why it sided with the lower court, but said a written decision would follow "in due course."

The controversy has swept San Luis, a sleepy farming town hugging the Arizona-Mexico border, into the incendiary national debate over immigration.

Immigrant rights activists called such language-based restrictions hostile to immigrants, potentially driving a wedge between Latino communities and the rest of American society.

Proponents of enforcing English as the sole language of state government said that the country needs a common tongue to promote national unity. They cite the immigration and assimilation by generations of new Americans.

http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-supreme-court-says-candidate-barred-ballot-223049511.html

interesting....

imo if she can get elected, it does not matter what her linguistic skills are

 

[USFREEDOM911]

she says she can read and understand english...so not sure your concern PMP. there are plenty of people who are "proficient" in english who aren't remotely qualified. if she can understand the proceedings, i don't have a problem with her serving if she is duly elected.

WHAT??
And here you said you base your opininons on the offered OP-ED pieces.

"A Yuma County Superior Court judge touched off a furor last week when he disqualified Alejandrina Cabrera, 35, from running for city council in the town of San Luis over what he called a "large gap" between her English proficiency and that required to serve as a public official."

 

[USFREEDOM911]

Seems to me a guy who doesn't know when to properly use "to" "too" and "two" should think twice about lecturing others on what constitutes "limited English language skills".

And once again; Zap graces these forums with his "comments", instead of addressing the thread.

At least he has those "voice overs" and the "hand jobs" to keep him off the streets.