Fernando Vergara missed voting in the presidential election by only 5 days. He made certain he cast his first ballot as a U.S. citizen for the election that will wrap up today at 7 p.m.
“I did an advance vote. It’s very convenient,” said Vergara, who became an citizen of the United States last fall.
Vergara came to Emporia from Colombia, where he was a professor of education and sociology before retiring. Here, he is a teacher aide who specializes in the dual language aspect of education at Riverside School. He has worked there about five years.
Vergara received his naturalization papers five days after the presidential election on Nov. 4, after completing residency, English proficiency, civics and history, fingerprinting and background checks, and other requirements to become a U.S. citizen.
His brother, Ricardo, came to Emporia a few years earlier and already became a citizen.
Voting was important to both brothers when they lived in Colombia, and it is equally important now.
“I want to be involved in the civic process in Emporia, in the community,” Vergara said. “My brother actually voted an absentee ballot because he’s in Bogota” visiting family.
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Good for him! I wish all native-born citizens took voting as seriously! I've voted every presidential election since I was old enough.
April 7, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Happiness09 (anonymous) says...
Crack: Give it a rest. PLEASE!
April 7, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slvrnblck (anonymous) says...
Congratulations. I am glad to see he is excited about taking part in one our nation's greatest privelages.
April 7, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Crack: Bad news: the war is over. Go home.
Mr. Vergara: Welcome, and congratulations to you and your brother for choosing to become Americans and doing so in the proper and ethical way. That is, legally, as in:
You became a citizen "after completing residency, English proficiency, civics and history, fingerprinting and background checks, and other requirements to become a U.S. citizen. His brother, Ricardo, came to Emporia a few years earlier and already became a citizen."
All who come here through proper channels are welcome.
Those who skirt the system and enter illegally are criminals and give all immigrants a bad name.
April 7, 2009 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Well said, BJ! I know several people who immigrated here legally. I think it's great.We're all descended from immigrants when you get down to it.
April 8, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Absolute (anonymous) says...
Yes, because clearly, the foundation of America was legal immigration. Manifest Destiny anyone?
April 8, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )