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Linda Chavez (born June 17 , 1947 in Albuquerque, New Mexico ) is a prominent Hispanic -American Conservative Author , Commentator , and Radio Talk Show host. She is of mixed Mexican American (father) and Anglo American (mother) parentage. EDUCATION Chavez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University Of Colorado in 1970 . BACKGROUND WITH UNIONS Starting in 1975 , Chavez was employed within the inner circles of the United States second largest teacher's union, the American Federation Of Teachers . She was responsible for editing that organization's publications, and was a close confidante of Al Shanker , the AFT's president. While she believed in President Shanker's personal philosophy of unionism, she eventually came to feel that many in the organization were intent on moving the union in another direction after Shanker's inevitable passing. She later wrote that the more she learned about the goals of these newer union leaders, the less she felt comfortable in the organization. She left the AFT in 1983 , causing what she stated was a painful personal rift between her and Shanker. Chavez, though a former union official, is now an ardent critic of unions. Chavez's rivals counter that she is a Union Buster , and has sought to limit the ability of American workers to form labor unions. CAREER IN REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS Chavez has held a number of appointed positions. In 1983 , though she was still ostensibly a Democrat, Chavez was appointed by President Reagan to be Staff Director of the U.S. Commission On Civil Rights , a position which she held for two years. In 1985 , Chavez switched her registration to Republican, and was appointed White House Director of Public Liaison. Other positions to which she has been appointed include: membership on the Administrative Conference of the United States (1984-1986), and Chair of the National Commission on Migrant Education (1988-1992). In 2001 , President George W. Bush nominated her for Secretary Of Labor , but the nomination was withdrawn after it was revealed that she had once employed an Illegal Immigrant who lived in her home. While Chavez contended that she had not actually employed the woman, but had merely provided her with assistance, the distinction was lost on both the American people and the President. RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE In 1986 Chavez ran as a Republican from Maryland for the United States Senate against Democrat Barbara Mikulski . Chavez made Mikulski's Sexual Orientation a central issue of the Campaign . Chavez went on to lose to Mikulski by a very large margin {Link without Title} . RECENT WORK Linda Chavez is a syndicated columnist and a Fox News Political Commentator . She has her own radio show which airs weekday afternoons from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the D.C. Metro area on WMET 1160AM . She is also the president of the think tank Center for Equal Opportunity , a Conservative organization opposed to Affirmative Action and Bilingual Education . As they do with most prominent conservative commentators, the left-leaning organization Media Matters For America maintains a substantial list of controversial statements that she has made since May of 2004 {Link without Title} . Her strident conservatism has been controversial to some in the Mexican-American community, as some consider her a "sell-out" or " Vendida ." Chavez counters that, in her view, the American tradition is for individuals to think and speak for themselves, and that the straightjacket of 'group-think' is a bigger sell out. However, As Of 2006 Chavez has come out against strong measures on Illegal Immigration and has supported a Guest Worker Program as proposed by George W. Bush and has criticized hardlining Republicans such as Tom Tancredo and Jeff Sessions . Linda Chavez joined the advisory board of the Conservative group have dropped out of the advisory board due to controversial decisions made by the organization's president, Chavez has remained on the board. FAMILY She is married and is the mother of three grown sons. She currently resides in Reston, Virginia . TRIVIA
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