Progress in state politics

At 95, Raul Castro has lived it. Before his election in 1974 as Arizona’s 14th, and first Hispanic, governor, Castro earned a law degree, was elected Pima County attorney and was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a series of Latin American diplomatic posts.

After completing his term as governor, Castro was appointed ambassador to Argentina by President Jimmy Carter. Castro left that post in1980 and moved to Nogales, where he continued to practice law.

Castro’s election was a celebration of Arizona’s diversity, a victory that is still used as an example of the state’s progress in racial equality. To Castro, diversity defines Arizona. One of its benefits, he said, is “the combination of Anglo-hispanic culture in food, music and way of life. And that’s very productive.”

It is part of the massive Spanish and Mexican influence on Arizona that began when Spain sent its explorers to conquer the New World in the 15th Century and gather its riches.

Hispanics now represent 30 percent of Arizona’s population; they are by far the state’s largest minority population.

Its growth continues to spawn expansion of the Hispanic cultural influence, even as the protracted debate rages over the immigration of Mexicans across the Arizona-mexico border.