The original intent of the governor's executive order 30 years ago was to have minorities advise the governor directly on how effectively state government was serving them and to recommend solutions to assure equal access to state programs, not preferential treatment. In the '60s, minorities fought against discrimination and exploitation, but now it looks as though the ethnic office is exploiting the plight of those they purport to help. And, like many programs that start out helping the less fortunate in a particular group, they seem to end up primarily benefiting the privileged of that group.

Those Utah minorities who have fought to solve the problems of their respective communities have long dismissed that office and see it as a token and apologist for the "establishment." When the ethnic office plans to provide leadership training to minorities on how to effect change, it is condescending and insulting to those minorities who made the inroads in ending discrimination and improving the lives of all citizens.

The executive order establishing the Office of Ethnic Affairs has become a million-dollar tax waste that does more harm than good and should be eliminated. It has lost touch with the critical problems minorities face and gives well-intentioned elected officials the perception that funding the ethnic office is all that is needed to help minorities. The ethnic office appears to have taken on the role of broker for minorities. Minorities don't need brokers.

The inability of the ethnic office to understand the problems facing minorities gives credence to the belief that the time for having state-funded programs that give preference to one group over another should come to an end. The office now appears to do a disservice to minorities, the governor and the state.

What the state does need are policies that advance the public interest. Maybe the best use of the million dollars would be to provide screening for prevention and treatment of diabetes, and/or to hire staff to help employees get their earned wages from crooked employers.

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Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net