Orem hopefuls hold race card

OREM — For the past several decades, the Orem City Council has been a monochromatic governing board with no minority council members.

Two candidates — Carl Hernandez III and Tom Fifita Sitake — are hoping to change that this November, but both agree their race is not the focus of their campaigns.

"It's a positive factor," said Hernandez, who is running for one of three four-year seats on the Orem City Council. "It's not the determining factor. I don't want to make it the focus because then people won't focus on my education and my qualifications. (But) with the growing diverse population in the city, I could bring something to the council that's unique."

Orem's Hispanic population is nearly 8,200, according to an American Community Survey in 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau, of a total Orem population of just over 85,000.

The population category of Pacific Islander or native Hawaiian is smaller, with just under 900 residents, according to the Census Bureau.

Sitake, who is Tongan, said he is prepared to listen to all Orem residents equally.

"I'm representing Orem," Sitake said. "I love the city of Orem, and that's why I'm running — to help the community. I'm not just representing minorities. I'm representing Orem residents."

Increasing communication in a community to solve problems should be the goal of any City Council member, regardless of ethnic background, said David Dominguez, BYU professor of law.

"My goal is that every council person would be sensitive to all segments of the population they serve," Dominguez said. "I would not want Carl to somehow be looked to as the minority councilman who would somehow or another adequately address (all) the needs. The idea is that Carl raises the conversation and that every council person becomes far more capable in addressing the needs of all the people in the area."

And addressing those needs may be easier if the candidate is already familiar with them, Dominguez said.

For example, the Orem City Council could work through existing English as a second language programs in Orem to educate parents about vaccinations for children and other safety issues. Or they could tap into the talent pool of multilingual teens and encourage them to volunteer at hospitals, emergency rooms and police stations.

The benefits of increased language skills and healthier children would affect the entire community, not just the minority groups, Dominguez said.

But the candidate still has to be qualified, regardless of race, said Ben Au, vice chairman in the Pacific Islanders Advisory Council.