Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

The confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court represents an important and significant milestone for Latinos and our nation. We have achieved much; and in order for our progress to continue, we must not rest in our journey to ensure our communities are fully engaged in the American civic and political process.

Many factors have played a role in the political progress of Latinos in the U.S. Sometimes we have been invited to the table, and sometimes we have had to fight our way into the political arena. In either case, Judge Sotomayor would not have become Justice Sotomayor if Latinos were not leading and shaping our nation in every aspect of society.

As a Latina who has pioneered many firsts (first Hispanic and first woman elected in her own right to the Harris County Commissioners Court), as president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and as a citizen I can tell you that with each milestone achieved I am aware a long path remains ahead.

NALEO is a nonpartisan leadership organization of the nation's more than 6,000 Latinos in public office. We work to ensure that Latinos become full stakeholders in American society and the political process. At the core of our mission is civic engagement.

I am asking that Latinos of all ages see this moment in history as a call to action. Those of us involved in the political process at every level know that full participation is a long-term goal that requires us to maintain the momentum we have achieved.

The growth of the Hispanic population has still not translated into full representation in government. There are so many opportunities for us to lead, serve and contribute to strengthening our communities.

This is why I am excited about the difference NALEO's work, and that of other organizations like it, can make. The confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the nation's highest court reminds us that we must keep on this path.

The truth is that this is in part a numbers game. We voted in record numbers in the 2008 presidential election. But we need to continue our engagement in town hall meetings, committees, boards and commissions at all levels.

For some, the first step toward greater civic engagement might be applying to become a U.S. citizen. Once eligible, the next step might be voting in a local election or being counted as a citizen in the 2010 Census.

Others will grow out of those experiences and will become candidates for school boards or city councils. And from there we may find future county commissioners, state representatives, Supreme Court justices or presidents of the United States.

Those who called and sent letters in support of Sotomayor's nomination made a real difference: They impacted the process. So where do we go from here?

For my part, I will continue promoting the mission and goals put forth by NALEO. It is through civic engagement that we will grow the next generation of leaders and America's public servants.

We celebrate the important milestone the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor represents.

We are not all destined to be Supreme Court justices. But we are responsible for looking to the future. We must learn the ways of our government, teach it to others and make certain that all Latinos are ready for the leadership role that comes with being citizens of the United States of America and members of the second-largest and fastest-growing segment of the American public.

Garcia is commissioner of Harris County Precinct Two and president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.