When a federal district court ordered the City of Yakima to create a new election system on the federal Voting Rights Act, communities across Washington State took notice. The Cities of Pasco and Wenatchee went further than most, recognizing that their at-large election systems violated the voting rights of Latinx citizens by diluting their votes through racially polarized elections.

Thanks to intense advocacy by community leaders, including Dr. Jorge Chacón, in 2018 Wenatchee adopted a new system of elections by creating 5 single-member districts and two at-large seats on a newly reconstituted City Council. Wenatchee’s action, which began before the Washington State Legislature enacted the Washington Voting Rights Act, was a critical breakthrough for Wenatchee’s under-represented Latinx communities.

Now, Chacón is running for Wenatchee City Council in Council District – At Large A and OneAmerica Votes proudly endorses Dr. Jorge Chacón.

Chacón is a long time community leader in Wenatchee. A counselor and founder of Northwest Family Services Institute, Chacón has been a pillar of support for countless residents of Chelan County. He also founded Community for the Advancement of Family Education (CAFE) in 2004 alongside his wife, Alma Chacón, when they saw a need to provide opportunities in leadership, civic and social engagement, literacy development, and academic advancement in the Wenatchee community. CAFE partners with One America and the Washington New Americans program that provides information about citizenship and assists eligible legal permanent residents to naturalize. Chacón has also been a regular volunteer with OneAmerica and OneAmerica Votes, engaging in organizing, advocacy and civic engagement in Latinx communities across Washington State.

“Jorge is an outstanding candidate for Wenatchee City Council. He has demonstrated his commitment to Wenatchee, including the Latinx community, in so many ways, and he’s a wonderful human being, father, counselor and community advocate. Electing Jorge Chacón to City Council would be a critical step in ensuring that this important City realizes the potential of its decision to reform its election system to ensure that everyone’s vote is valued. Jorge, as a City Council member, will be both a bridge-building across Wenatchee’s diverse communities and an important advocate for all of Wenatchee.”

-Rich Stolz, OneAmerica Votes CEO