A Latino on Trump’s Cabinet? It Would Be a Setback, Here’s Why
*Why you should read this: Because this is a conversation worth having. Because Trump has yet to name a Latino to his cabinet and many think it’s better that way. VL
By Suzzane Gamboa, NBC News (8 minute read) 
After nudging President Barack Obama to raise the number of Latinos in his Cabinet to four, Hispanic leaders have been imploring President-elect Donald Trump to nominate at least one.
Trump has just one spot to fill in his Cabinet — the Agriculture Department — and a Latino, former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, is on the short list.
But even if he is chosen, Latinos still would be left with far less representation in the Cabinet than their share of the U.S. population, 17 percent. There are 16 Cabinet positions.
[pullquote][tweet_dis]There is worry that having the only Latino in the Cabinet in [he Agriculture] spot reinforces a view of Hispanics as largely recently arrived immigrant who are here illegally and whose most significant contribution to this country is plowing fields and picking crops.[/tweet_dis][/pullquote]At least one Latino has served in presidential Cabinets in every administration since 1988. That year Ronald Reagan appointed Lauro Cavazos as education secretary.
Latino leaders are still hoping Trump comes through, but some privately have concerns that the only agency that may be headed by a Latino will be the one that largely oversees policies on farming, food programs, agriculture and some natural resources.
It’s not that they consider the agency unimportant. But there is worry that having the only Latino in the Cabinet in that spot reinforces a view of Hispanics as largely recently arrived immigrant who are here illegally and whose most significant contribution to this country is plowing fields and picking crops. Only about a third of the Latino population is foreign born.
“I’m the son of a migrant farmworker and clearly I view it as an important segment of the economy,” said Cristóbal Alex, Latino Victory Project president. “But as a community, not only do we feed the country, but we also defend the country and educate the country and represent the country internationally and in business.
Read more stories about the lack of Latios in Trump’s Cabinet in NewsTaco. >>
Nonetheless, Latino leaders and groups have been trying to drum up support for former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado.If picked, Maldonado, a Republican, would be the first Latino to serve in the job.
In 2010 about 9.3 percent of the population living in rural areas and small towns was Latino, an estimated 6 million people. According to the Census, Hispanics are responsible for more than half of all rural and small town populations growth in the past decade.
Despite being a historic appointment, the country would be left with a stark shift in the representation for Latinos delivered in the Obama administration.
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[Photo courtesy of The Orange Juice Blog]
