(WEST ORANGE, AUGUST 31) - Republican Gubernatorial Nominee Bret Schundler returned Friday afternoon from a two-day trip to Puerto Rico and Miami, during which he met with leaders of the Hispanic community.

“Many of the people I met with during this two-day trip have friends and relatives in New Jersey and they are anxious to help our campaign in any way they can,” Schundler said. “I appreciate the warm reception I received at all of the events we attended during the past two days. I will be working hard this September and October to earn the support of Hispanic voters across the state of New Jersey, just as I did in my three campaigns for Mayor in Jersey City. As Governor I will make sure that the Hispanic community is well-represented in my administration.”

Schundler was accompanied on his trip by Gil Medina, the first Hispanic to serve as the head of the Commerce Commission and a current co-chair of the Republican State Committee, and Jose Arango, a Cuban-American who serves as co-chair of the Hudson County Republican Party. During this trip Schundler met with business leaders and elected officials, many of whom have ties to New Jersey.

Alina Garcia, senior aide to Miami Mayor Joe Carollo, presented Bret with a city plate during an event Thursday evening. Shayna Bechtel, representing Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, also attended the event.

On Friday morning Schundler visited the Freedom Tower at Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. The Freedom Tower has been called the Ellis Island of the Cuban-American community. Between 1892 and 1943, 16 million immigrants had their naturalization papers processed there. From the early 1960s through the 1970’s, it was the first stop for nearly 400,000 Cuban refugees who arrived in South Florida by raft, boat or other means.

Schundler, who received 70 percent of the Hispanic vote in his 1997 re-election campaign as Mayor of Jersey City, has said that he will reach out to representatives of all ethnic groups as part of building a winning coalition for this November’s election.

“Hispanic voters in New Jersey are concerned about rising property taxes and failing schools, and they are looking for the candidate who has real plan to address those issues,” Schundler said. “In Jersey City I cut violent crime, provided parents with better educational options, and held the line on property taxes. That is why I received such strong support from the Hispanic community in my mayoral elections and that is why I will receive strong support from those voters this November.”