Gov. Scott McCallum will receive the Friend of the Hispanic Community Award in Milwaukee today from the United Community Center.

The Hispanic population is growing across the state, and McCallum, who has pledged his support for the community, recently spent time touring the state to address concerns.

According to the 2000 U.S. census, the Hispanic population has more than doubled in Wisconsin since 1990. This census report does not take into account the number of illegal immigrants.

The first Hispanic cabinet member, Oscar Herrera, and the first Hispanic judicial appointment, Kevin Martens, were both appointed by McCallum.

The governor?s first trade mission, an attempt to facilitate trade with Wisconsin, was on behalf of state Hispanics. He has been to Mexico to meet with Mexican president Vincente Fox about illegal immigration in Wisconsin.

The governor?s office is working on a project to determine the number of Hispanic students that go on to higher education. McCallum said he would try to help cut the cost of tuition for children of illegal immigrants.

But Rep. Pedro Colon, D-Milwaukee, said the governor is not a true friend to the Hispanic community.

“While I appreciate the work that the UCC and director Walter Sava do for my community, I have been working tirelessly for this community and have been thwarted by McCallum at every turn,” Colon said.

In the last state budget, Colon moved to allow students of undocumented parents to receive in-state tuition in the UW System. The bill?s language was similar to a law in Texas and California.

“The governor vetoed out this language and still has not come up with a plan like he has promised,” Colon said.

He also says the governor has not been a strong leader for this Latino community. “[McCallum] has done nothing in the area of tuition for undocumented students, nothing for health care for the poor and undeserved in my community and nothing to help the plight of the workers who were cast aside,” Colon said.

The governor said he has enjoyed working with the community and that they have many common goals such as education, family, and strong communities and values.

Walter Sava, executive director of UCC, disagreed with Colon and said the governor is being recognized as a Friend of the Community because of his support in the school choice program in Milwaukee and the charter school movement in the state.

“Private school education in Milwaukee has now been made available to many families, not just those who have already established an impressive record of appointing Latinos to positions of leadership,” Sava said. “By being active, visible and available to the Hispanic community, he is sending a clear message that Latinos matter.”