This is the fourth of a five-part series. Part One is here, Part Two is here and Part Three is here.
This week we highlight some of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Latino leaders. Previous lists of the state’s most influential Black, Latino, Native American and Asian American leaders are published at Madison365.org/MostInfluential.
Johnathan Delgado
Johnathan Delgado is founder and owner of Delgado Campaign Solutions, a small business dedicated to uplifting communities through meaningful relationships and culturally centered initiatives through small business development. He is also founder of the Puerto Rican Awareness Project, a coalition and organization devoted to recognizing and acknowledging the Puerto Rican Diaspora in Wisconsin. Johnathan chaired the Community Initiative Action Council with the United Way Of Dane County, was appointed by the Mayor to serve on the city of Madison Public Safety Review Committee, and has led multiple successful campaigns for local government. Recently, Johnathan has returned to complete his undergraduate degree in Psychotherapy and Social Work.
Pedro Colón
Pedro Colón is a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I, and a candidate in the 2027 election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Gov. Tony Evers appointed him to the appeals court in November 2023, making him the first Latino to serve on it. He previously served as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge from 2010 to 2023 after being appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle. From 1999 to 2010, he represented Milwaukee’s 8th District in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where he was the first Latino elected to the Wisconsin Legislature. He announced his Supreme Court candidacy in April 2026. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marquette University and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Julia Arata-Fratta
Julia Arata-Fratta is mayor of Fitchburg, the first Latina to hold the office. First elected in April 2023, she won re-election in April 2026. She previously served on the Fitchburg Common Council from 2015 to 2023, including as council president in 2020, and chaired the city’s finance committee and Community Economic Development Authority. She is also a senior manager in client advisory services at Wegner CPAs and has more than 20 years of experience as an accountant, business consultant and tax preparer. She serves on the board of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, is a former chair of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County and co-founded the Latino Professionals Association. Originally from Argentina, she has lived in Fitchburg since 2004. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business and accounting from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina and an MBA from Kennesaw State University.
Cynthia Bell Jiménez
Cynthia Bell Jiménez is principal of Meadow View Elementary School in the Sun Prairie Area School District, where she has been a principal for more than seven years. Under her leadership, Meadow View earned Leader in Me Lighthouse certification, which recognizes schools for their work on student leadership and school culture. She received the Charles L. Hopson Racial Equity Principal Leadership Award through the National Courageous Conversation recognition program. She also works with educators and school districts on building school and workplace cultures centered on dignity, belonging and accountability. Before Meadow View, she coordinated and taught in dual language programs in the Delavan-Darien and Waukesha school districts, and she has worked as a bilingual teacher leader, curriculum developer and coach. She has more than two decades of experience in education. Born and raised in San José, Costa Rica, she moved to the United States in 2009. She holds master’s degrees in clinical psychology, education and educational leadership.
Part Five coming tomorrow!
