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Spanish Speakers Sought
by John Marc Green

CBS 42 News
2008-09-10 14:32:29.0



The Jefferson County personnel board is actually contracting with a local company to market jobs to people who speak Spanish. It's a move that could benefit the law enforcement, fire fighting, and medical communities. "Whether our citizens agree or disagree, we're getting a very large and growing Hispanic population, that's just the fact of the matter," said Sheriff Mike Hale.

Sheriff Mike Hale says he's been asking the personnel board to hire more bilingual deputies for three years, and he's glad they are now marketing that outreach. "It's just critical, it's tactically critical to successful law enforcement," Hale said.

If you speak Spanish and you're interested in a job in Jefferson County, you can come to the personnel board office on 8th Avenue North. They have computer stations that will allow you to fill out a paperless application.

"That's one of the focuses of the Jefferson County personnel board, not just hiring bilingual employees but people who have the experience dealing with another culture," said Hernan Prado.

His company, KPI Latino has been contracted by the personnel board to help advertise the new outreach with print, radio and television ads. "I believe it's necessary for every public agency and private company to start dealing with accommodating the services to these new growing Hispanic population, because it can be a better service for the whole community, better also it will improve their businesses," Prado said.

Prado says he expects to see more Hispanics working government jobs over the next few years.

For more information, go to:

www.jobsquest.org