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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information Contact:
September 2, 2005

Office of The Attorney General
- Peter C. Harvey, Attorney General

 

Tracy Munford
609-341-3235 or 609-571-5101


 

Tropical Music Sensation, Arts High School Graduate And Newark Native Frankie Negron Joins New Jersey’s Campaign to Register to Vote State’s Latino Community
Negron is State’s First Tropical Music Celebrity to Join “BE POWERFUL, BE HEARD” Voting Initiative

Arts High School graduate and Newark native Frank Negron filled the halls of his alma mater with sounds of Tropical music today as part of the New Jersey, “BE POWERFUL, BE HEARD” voter outreach and education initiative. Negron taped a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to encourage the state’s Latino residents to register and vote.

Negron, who performs frequently on stages across the United States and Latin America, is also an accomplished songwriter as well as a singer. He boasts an impressive catalog of original compositions. Negron is considered an established and accomplished musical artist. His three previous records have sold over a million copies worldwide for WEA Latina, the record company that first signed him. He has numerous Platinum Record awards and his music dominates the airwaves of many Latin American countries. He is already considered a legend of Tropical music.

“BE POWERFUL, BE HEARD” is the public outreach component and slogan of New Jersey’s voter education initiative and includes PSA’s, college bus tours, concerts and other voter registration and get out the vote efforts. Attorney General Peter C. Harvey said, “The “BE POWERFUL, BE HEARD” initiative is a comprehensive approach to voter education and voting. We have an opportunity to raise awareness and educate New Jersey residents about the power of the vote. Frankie and his music will help us reach an important segment of the Latino community, particularly young voters.”

The PSA is a component of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, a federal law providing for federal monies to assist states in upgrading voting equipment, election procedures and education and outreach. Through HAVA, the Office of the Attorney General has sponsored a number of outreach initiatives designed to educate New Jerseyan’s about the importance of voting and voter registration.

Negron’s PSA joins a group of PSA’s, some of which have been nominated for Emmy Awards. The Emmy nominated PSA’s include actors Michael Douglas and Jason Alexander; actress and singer Queen Latifah and former New Jersey Nets player Kenny Anderson. Actor Billy Baldwin has also been instrumental in the “BE POWERFUL, BE HEARD,” voting initiative.

Negon said, “I grew up in Newark. This community shaped me as a person and inspired me as a artist. It is important to give back. I am proud and honored to participate in the “BE POWERFUL, BE HEARD” voting initiative. It is extremely important for people in Latino communities across New Jersey to have a voice in selecting elected officials and community services.”

Harvey said, “We have significantly increased voter awareness through HAVA and the “BE POWERFUL, BE HEARD” initiative, resulting in a record number of registered voters - more than 460,000 bringing New Jersey’s number of registered voters to more than five million for the first time in state history.”

The Negron PSA will air on local, cable and other television networks. Joining Negron today were Pedro Toribio, Arts High School alumni Noel M. Rodriguez, and current student Victtor Averos. The trio played congas, piano, and the trumpet.

The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8. The registration deadline for the General Election is Tuesday, October 11. People can apply for absentee ballots by mail up to seven days in advance of Election Day and in person until 3 p.m. the Monday before Election Day. For more information about voting, visit www.njelections.org or call 1-800-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837).

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