Top Hispanic Republican Defects From Cornyn, Likes Noriega’s Immigration Stance Better

This is indeed interesting news:

One of the top Hispanic Republicans in the nation says he cannot support U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the next election because of the position Texas’ junior senator has taken on immigration reform.

Houston businessman Massey Villarreal told the Guardian he would instead back Democrat Rick Noriega, a state representative from Houston. Noriega is exploring a campaign for the U.S. Senate.

“I have decided to support Rick Noriega for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. I just don’t think John Cornyn hears my community,” Villarreal said.

“I know he (Cornyn) supports some issues that affect my community but immigration reform is one of the defining positions in my community. I have got to support what is good for my community. At the end of the day, regardless of party, we have to come home to our community, where we grew up in the grassroots.”

A native of Corpus Christi, Villarreal is one of the top Hispanic Republicans in the country. Named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2002, Villarreal served as chairman of the board of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly for four terms.

In 2000, Massey was named national Hispanic vice-chairman of the Bush/Cheney for President Campaign and deputy vice-chairman of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia in 2000. He also served on the national steering committee for the Viva Bush Campaign.

Villarreal has been given state appointments, with then-Gov. George W. Bush naming him to the Texas State University System board and Gov. Rick Perry asking him to head up the Texas Department of Economic Development.

His company is Precision Task Group, a Houston-based systems integration firm.

This shows just what kind of appeal Rick Noriega has to Texans of all types. Clearly, not only Noriega’s immigration stance but the fact he actually served on the U.S.-Mexico border are resonating with a lot of people.

And, there will likely be many more Republicans and independents coming into the Noriega camp. Why? Because 2008 will be a year when “single issue voters” will play a major role in Texas. And, we’re not talking about typical single issue voters who vote on wedge issues like abortion. These single issue voters will be voting on issues like the minimum wage, civil rights, the war, the Employee Free Choice Act, immigration and a host of other issues that have a much more significant impact on individual Texan than wedge issues like abortion.

And, there is some interesting commentary on the other camp and relating this back to the Sanchez campaign, too:

If he does run for U.S. Senate, Noriega could face San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts in the Democratic primary. Asked who he would support if Noriega did not make it out of the primary, Villarreal said he was not sure.

“I am not sure if I will support the other nominee. But I still won’t vote for Cornyn. I may just leave that box unchecked,” he said.

Villarreal said Noriega stood a great chance in the primary, however.

“He’s going to get all of South Texas. There are some mistakes to be learned from the Tony Sanchez campaign. That playbook has been read and scrutinized,” Villarreal said.

Villarreal supported Perry in the 2002 gubernatorial campaign against Sanchez, a Laredo banker.

“Tony never came to our community to ask the Hispanic leaders to do anything. He came as the patron, and said, I’m rich, you’re not. I’m going to be governor, you’re not,” Villarreal said.

“Rick is saying, look I’m one of you. He has come to me and said, Massey, tell me how I can earn your vote.”

This is interesting, because it seems as though Watts’ approach to the Latino community, especially in the Valley, is similar to Sanchez’s, where he rolls in as the patron with a pot full of money hoping that will translate from machines and various leaders down to the grassroots–Just like Sanchez.

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