Richard Romero, Chairman 32nd Board of Commissioners October 2008 - September 2009

---

The Board of Commissioners is the body in which rests the statutory responsibility and authority of the agency. It is comprised of eleven members appointed by the Governor. Each commissioner serves for a three year term, and may be reappointed to serve additional terms. The terms of office of the commissioners are staggered so that approximately one-third of seats on the board is open for appointment/reappointment each October.

By law, Commissioners are required to be residents of the State of Ohio, citizens or lawful residents of the United States of America, of Latino heritage, and with some degree of ability to speak Spanish.

Although they are gubernatorial appointees, the Governor is not the only state leader with a say in the appointment of commissioners. The Governor has carte blanche authority to appoint five commissioners, the Speaker of the Ohio House and the President of the Ohio Senate each recommend two commissioners for appointment, and the Minority Leaders of the Ohio House and Senate each recommend one commissioner for appointment.

The Commissioners as a whole have a final say in determining the policies, the annual budget plan, the direction and the initiatives of the Commission. Any action of the Board of Commissioners requires at least six votes in the affirmative. The Director of the Commission is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners.

Beginning with the 30th Board of Commissioners (October 2006-07), the Commission has a new Committee Structure to reflect the Strategic Plan for the 2008-2009 Biennium (plan originally known as the Global Ready Ohio for the 21st Century.)

 

Chairman's Greeting

Fellow Ohioans,

As the Chairman of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, I welcome you to our new and exciting website (ochla.ohio.gov). The new OLAnet information system will provide access to information to Latinos and non Latinos across the state. We have worked hard and feel confident that we have compiled a website that will be very useful to the Latino community all over the state of Ohio. This system will allow us fulfill our statutory mandates and encourage greater understanding and collaboration between Hispanics and other Ohioans.

Many have asked and wondered “What does the Commission do?” or “How can the commission help the Hispanic community?”

With our new website, you can find the answers to these questions and much more information.

I encourage you to explore every page, attend our regular board meetings, and to send your feedback to us on how we can better serve your needs as citizens, residents, elected officials, business people, community servants, organizations, in short… as Ohioans.

On behalf of my fellow Commissioners, I thank you for your support and again, I welcome you to ochla.ohio.gov!

Richard Romero
Chairman
Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs