Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton released their first Spanish-language television advertisement Wednesday.

The 30-second ad, titled "Lo Justo," features Lawton herself highlighting — in Spanish — the differences between Doyle and his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis.

"It's important for Gov. Doyle and I to change the tenor of the conversation here and to remind our Latino citizens who are voters that we want you to participate," Lawton said in an interview with The Badger Herald. "What was a great, important stress was to acknowledge the value of the contribution they make that enriches our culture and our economy."

Doyle's campaign is utilizing Lawton's experience as a Spanish speaker, as she received her master's degree in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin and has lived in Mexico and Chile.

But TV ads are not the only Spanish-language addition to this November's election; absentee ballot request forms and voter registration forms are also available in Hmong.

"If you are a citizen, you should be able to participate," said Kyle Richmond, public information officer for the State Elections Board. "Just because your English isn't perfect doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to vote."

Although these two forms will be available in Spanish and Hmong, the ballots themselves will still only be available in English. Wisconsin does not meet the Hispanic or Hmong population threshold at which the Voting Rights Act requires states to provide ballots in other languages, Richmond said.

Hispanic groups in Wisconsin said they are pleased with Doyle's new Spanish advertisements.

"It's a good strategy to outreach to those who are may be more comfortable hearing the campaign ad in Spanish versus English," said Maria Monreal-Cameron, president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, about 4.3 percent of Wisconsin residents are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and about 7.3 percent of Wisconsin residents speak a language other than English at home.

Richmond said he has received very few complaints about the Spanish and Hmong registration and absentee request forms. In fact, Richmond added most of the complaints he has received are from people who think everyone in American "should be able to function in English."

"Most people who are going to stay here [in America]. … They are eventually going to end up functioning in English, so they'll have the option next year, if they register, to do it in English," Richmond said.

While Green runs Spanish language print ads, his campaign has yet to come out with a Spanish ad on either TV or radio.

"[The Hispanic community's] concerns are the same as everyone else's in Wisconsin," said Luke Punzenberger, a spokesperson for Green's campaign.

However, Monreal-Cameron said releasing Spanish-only TV and radio ads is a good campaign strategy, as many Spanish-speaking and bilingual people tune in regularly to Hispanic programming.

She added that these advertisements — coupled with the grassroots efforts underway in Hispanic communities to encourage people to vote — could result in a higher Hispanic turnout come Election Day.

"This is just a part of a very robust media start that the campaign is waging," Lupardus said.

–Dan Powell contributed to this report.