The Kansas City Star reports on how names can sometimes hinder your career in politics. According to the Star, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is “facing a challenge in his presidential bid: convincing voters that he is Hispanic.” [Ed. Note: He should seriously work on that, for the longest time we thought that Bill Richardson was that 700 Club hater Pat Robertson]. Apparently, the Kansas City Star sleuths are on to something, as there have been a number of politicos who have modified their names in order to sound more espanish:

• Once Republican Loretta Sanchez-Brixey ditched the Brixey part (as well as the Republican part) and won a seat in the Orange County district
• Rebecca Klein, Republican head of the Texas Public Utility Commission changed her name to Rebecca Armendariz Klein when she ran for Congress a few years ago
• Texas representative Tracy Fischer changed his name to the definitely more chimichanga-friendly Trey Martinez Fischer when running for the San Antonio seat

Lionel Sosa, a “consultant on Hispanic Voter outreach”, said that ” Politicians probably will continue to change their names to showcase their Hispanic heritage […] Latinos want a candidate who is qualified, whom they can trust and identify with, regardless of name.” Hear that, Ríchardson? There’s no denying the nopalito growing from your forehead, regardless of your name.

Names can sometimes hinder Latino politicians [Kansas City Star]