Latino activist Ray Blanco dies

PLAINFIELD, N.J., July 30 (UPI) -- Ray Blanco, an award-winning television producer and champion of Latino rights, has died at 50 of an apparent heart attack in New Jersey.

Blanco, president of the Plainfield, N.J., City Council, was a "tireless advocate for social justice and for increasing Latino representation in the media," said U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D.-N.J., in a statement to the Newark Star Ledger.

The newspaper said Blanco was recognized twice by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States.

The founder of a television production company called Cutting Edge Inc., Blanco also held positions at CBS-TV, Fox-TV and the Walt Disney Co., the newspaper said.

The newspaper said Blanco earned three New York Emmy Awards and 12 New York Emmy nominations; one national Emmy nomination; five Los Angeles Emmy nominations and a National Education Media Network Award.