Beenish Ahmed / npr.org
02/02/2012
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A woman who was barred by a judge from running for a city council seat in San Luis, Ariz., last week because she lacked English-language skills has filed an appeal. Alejandrina Cabrera is hoping to get her name back on the ballot claiming her language abilities are sufficient to represent residents of the largely bilingual border town.

"It's not perfect," Cabrera said of her English at a recent press conference. "But it's perfect for this position in San Luis, Arizona, because the people speak both language, but the people prefer Spanish."

The case stems from a nearly century-old Arizona state statute that disqualifies "a person who is unable to speak, write and read the English language" from public office.

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