News Release

Baldo Creators Encourage Voter Initiative

San Antonio, TX  (09/23/2004)  Creators of the comic strip “Baldo”, Hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos, have teamed up with Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) to encourage voter registration for the November 2004 presidential election.

In the Sept. 28 comic strip, Baldo, the main character, gives his tia (aunt) Carmen a piece of paper with information about SVREP on it, including the organization’s Web site, 800 number, and motto “Su voto es su voz! (Your vote is your voice!). The publication date of Sept. 28 is also National Registration Day.

“We think it is important to remind people that we all have a responsibility to register and get out and vote,” said Hector Cantu. “Baldo and tia Carmen get it. Hopefully the people who read our strip will get it, too. Whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent, the stakes are high this election. We just felt strongly that we had to do something about it and Baldo is a perfect voice.”

“We are excited about a partnership with Baldo,” said Antonio Gonzalez, president of the San Antonio-based SVREP. “This partnership provides a unique opportunity for SVREP to reach out to those who have yet to register and remind them time is running out.”

SVREP has been educating Latino communities across the Southwest about voting and the democratic process for over 20 years. SVREP is working to increase Latino voter registration by 2.5 million this year, and the Latino votes cast by 2.2 million.

Cantu and Castellanos have used their comic strip to bring light to some of their other social concerns since its first appearance in April 2000. “Baldo”, focused on National Literacy Day in June 2004, featuring a Web site for more information. In Oct. 2003, the comic strip was incorporated into a public awareness campaign to encourage the Latino community in the Dallas area to walk for health and the economy. Billboards in Spanish featuring the characters of the strip were displayed in and around Dallas.

“Baldo” is published in over 200 newspapers nationwide, and has doubled it’s syndication in the four years since its release. One of a few bilingual comic strips, “Baldo” tells humorous family stories while incorporating the Latino culture that defines its characters.

Creator(s): Hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

Contact(s): Kathie Kerr

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