Moving America Forward Foundation

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The Moving America Forward Foundation (MAFF) is a Get Out The Vote 527 organization that was formed in April 2003 by Democratic New Mexico governor Bill Richardson to empower Native American and Hispanic communities by voter registration, education and protection. MAFF is coordinating efforts with the Native Vote 2004, hosted by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

During the 2004 presidential election year, they have been working to register voters in 5 key battleground states: New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Florida. Joaquin Geurra, State Director in Colorado, MAFF, headed the effort in that state and there too saw a major increase in Latino participation. He too would go on to help in Governor Richardson quest for the White House.

The effort of this voter outreach, education and empowerment was greatly displayed on the numbers when states like Arizona and Nevada displayed great numbers. In the state of Nevada alone, MAFF registrered 20,000 new registrants, primarily in Clark County with some in other populated counties like Nye, Washoe and Lyon counties. David Negrete, State Director, headed the effort in Nevada and took advantage of the influx of new residents in Clark County and brought the total of newly registrants in Clark county to a record high.

David Negrete, State Director of Nevada's MAFF, later went on to help Bill Richardson in Iowa, as on of the campaigns staff on the Governor's quest for the Presidency. Despite a strong Resume and high qualifications, Governor Richardson fell out of the race after the New Hampshire Primary.