BROADCASTS.com

b'

MCALLEN, Texas - The co-chair of the National Republican Committee, Thomas \\u201cTommy\\u201d Hicks, Jr., says the Republican Party has to do a better job of engaging with minority populations across the United States.

Hicks was in McAllen recently to officially open a new RNC Hispanic Engagement Center. The center, on Nolana Avenue in McAllen, was packed with Republican Party members and supporters for the opening. Food and refreshments were provided.\\xa0

\\u201cWe want to share our values throughout this great nation. Today we are putting that commitment into action by opening our second community center in Texas, right here in McAllen,\\u201d Hicks said.\\xa0

\\u201cWe are investing the most resources in our history to reach out to the Hispanic community, the Black community, and the Asian-Pacific American community. And this is across the country. We know that we have to do a better job of getting to know the voters that traditionally have not voted Republican because we want all Americans in this conversation. And that is why we are here today.\\u201d

Hicks added: \\u201cWith the help of those in this room we are going to make a real difference, not just in elections but in the lives of people that we seek to represent.\\u201d

Other speakers at the event included Robin Armstrong, national committeeman for Texas on the RNC, and Adrienne Pe\\xf1a-Garza, the Hidalgo County Republican Party.

Here is a podcast of the event.\\xa0

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.