Do leaders’ race, ethnicity count?

Today’s moderator

When then- Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Lui Damiani to temporarily replace disgraced Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernández, some were disappointed that he didn’t appoint another Hispanic.

Sixteen months later, some Hispanics were again disappointed, this time by Gov. Rick Scott’s choice of John Martinez, son of former Sen. Mel Martinez, as a permanent replacement for Fernández after she copped a plea. John Martinez is of Cuban descent. He’s not Puerto Rican, which make up the bulk of Hispanics in Orange’s District 3 melting pot.

So go the complexities of race and ethnicity in American politics.

Today’s Front Burner features two very different takes on the role of ethnicity in electing our leaders. Trini Quiroz contends that there are distinct cultural differences between Hispanics, while Damiani says ethnic litmus tests are divisive. DISTRICT 3 SNAPSHOT Total population: 199,697 White: 146,215 (73.2 percent) Hispanic: 82,683 (41.4 percent) Black: 20,101 (10.1 percent) Asian: 6,127 (3.1 percent) Other: 27,254 (13.7 percent) WHO’S RUNNING? Announced candidates for Orange County Commission, District 3 Michael Andrew Aviles Peter D. Clarke Lui Damiani Jr. Eric Armando Lasso Lydia Pisano Rei Vazquez Peter A. Vivaldi Jr. CENTRAL FLORIDA HISPANIC OFFICEHOLDERS State Rep. Darren Soto Orange County Commissioner

John Martinez Osceola County Commissioner

John Quinones Osceola County School Board

Member Julius Melendez Orlando Commissioner Tony Ortiz