Monday, January 7, 2013

Representative Zamarripa Sworn In For Second Term In The Wisconsin State Assembly

Representative JoCasta Zamarripa

Photo: Facebook

Zamarripa takes office for a second term.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 7, 2013

Madison, WI - On Monday, State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.) was sworn into office in 101 Assembly session for a second term. She will be representing the 8th Assembly District, which has a large portion of the Southside Hispanic community within its borders. Zamarripa made headlines last year after coming out and publicly admitting that she was bisexual, making her the first Latina to serve as a state representative and being bisexual.
Her public admission of being partially gay did not effect her ability to get reelected to office, eventhough most Latinos are traditionally conservative and heterosexual. Zamarripa is the daughter of Patricia Zamarripa and granddaughter of Alicia Zamarripa, an early activist who in the early 1970's was among a group of courageous women, Maria Ortega, Clementina Castro, Marla O. Anderson, known as the "Adelitas" who fought and succeeded to change local and state laws for job equality, bilingual education, migrant rights, welfare rights and higher education for Latinos in Wisconsin. Ortega and Anderson have passed away.
She will serve once again in a Republican control Assembly and the Republicans also regained control of the state senate after Democrats briefly took control in the lame session. 
Zamarripa and other democrats will have difficulty promoting and passing any legislation through the Republican control legislature, including the governorship, since Governor Scott Walker (R) won a recall election last year.

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