Latino caucus dumps Davis
They're angry about his veto on driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
By Emily Bazar -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Saturday, October 5, 2002
The state's Latino Legislative Caucus dealt Gov. Gray Davis a major blow Friday when it announced it will not endorse his bid for re-election.
The move by the group of 22 Democratic senators and Assembly members was triggered by Davis' veto earlier this week of a package of bills that would have allowed some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
In making their decision to withhold support, the lawmakers said they felt betrayed by the Democratic governor, who calls himself the "best friend" of California's Latino community.
"Unfortunately, your rejection of these important measures contradicts our democratic core values of inclusion, safety and fairness," the Latino caucus wrote in a letter to Davis. "For those reasons, we are unable to endorse your candidacy for governor."
According to Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh of Los Angeles -- who will serve as caucus chairman in the next legislative session -- Davis asked the caucus for its endorsement several months ago.
Although the caucus decided to reject his request, members said it will not endorse any other candidates. The group endorsed Davis in his first gubernatorial race four years ago.
The Davis campaign immediately sought to downplay the announcement, saying the governor enjoys broad support among Latinos.
To bolster their argument, Davis aides pointed to the most recent Field Poll, in which Davis led Republican rival Bill Simon by seven percentage points.
In the poll, 61 percent of Latinos opted for Davis, 8 percent for Simon, 7 percent other and 24 percent undecided. Latinos represented 14 percent of the likely voter sample.
Based on those numbers, Davis spokesman Roger Salazar said, the caucus' decision clearly doesn't represent the beliefs of all Latino voters. He also argued that it doesn't represent the beliefs of the entire caucus.
That's because the Latino caucus only endorses a candidate when all members agree. If even one legislator objects, the organization will not collectively support that candidate.
"Is it disappointing that some people like (Assemblyman Gil) Cedillo are not going to back the governor?" Salazar asked. "Of course it is. We hope they understand there were legitimate reasons the governor did this. Hopefully we can work together to find a solution to this problem in the near future."
On Monday, Davis vetoed AB 60, a measure by Cedillo that would have granted some undocumented immigrants the ability to obtain a driver's license.
Proponents of the bill argued that roads would become safer if immigrants could obtain driver's training and testing, and legally purchase insurance.
But the bill ran into post-Sept. 11, 2001, security concerns, and Davis demanded certain safeguards, such as criminal background checks of immigrants applying for licenses.
Cedillo, a Los Angeles Democrat, and other members of the Latino caucus worked with the governor to come up with amendments, which were placed in a companion bill, SB 804.
Still, Davis vetoed SB 804 and AB 60 earlier this week, saying the changes weren't adequate.
The vetoes so enraged Cedillo and other Latino lawmakers that some of them convened on a conference call Friday morning to discuss their options. According to Sen. Deborah Ortiz of Sacramento, 14 lawmakers were represented in the call, either in person or by staff.
After a long and spirited discussion, they voted unanimously to withhold their endorsement.
Assemblywoman Sarah Reyes of Fresno said members were shocked by Davis' veto because they had worked so hard to address his concerns.
"Assemblyman Cedillo negotiated in good faith with the governor and made the changes the governor requested in dealing with security issues. He truly compromised on the bill," she said. "My understanding is that the governor said 'If you make these changes, then I will sign on that bill.' The governor reneged on that."
Reyes had already endorsed the governor as an individual. She said Friday that she is withdrawing that endorsement.
For Reyes, the vetoes weren't the only reason she won't endorse the governor, but were "the last nail in the coffin." The governor, she said, vetoed other measures that were important to the Latino community, including one that would have beefed up bilingual services at government agencies.
Ortiz, a member of the caucus, has not yet endorsed any candidate in the gubernatorial race but said she reserves the right to endorse Davis in the future.
She explained that despite its decision, the caucus doesn't want the governor to lose in November. However, she said the caucus decided not to endorse him because the members feel so strongly about the driver's license issue. "We need to deliver the message that working people who are not criminals need to drive a car in order to keep their jobs," she said.
Not all Democrats supported the caucus' action.
"I didn't know that they were going to take it that far or to that extent," said Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, who acknowledged that feelings are running strong on the issue but warned against the alternative.
"It has become personal to a lot of (Assembly) members. ... Bill Simon wouldn't sign that bill in a million years. Democrats are stronger together."
Simon capitalized on the development, alluding to recent Davis political ads that say "the Latino community has never had a better friend in government," and that Davis is the Latino community's "best friend."
"Contrary to Davis' claims, the Hispanic Caucus and I both agree that Gray Davis is not a friend to the Hispanic community," Simon said in a statement.
But Democratic political consultant Gale Kaufman -- who called the caucus' decision to withhold the endorsement a "powerful statement" -- said it's too soon to tell whether Latinos will, as a result, vote for Simon or another candidate instead of Davis.
Simon has said that if he were governor, he would have vetoed the driver's license bills.
"It depends on what happens now how this translates into votes. Are they going to organize over this issue?" Kaufman asked. "You have to assume the Latino community will hear about this and that it will impact their decision-making."
About the Writer---------------------------
The Bee's Emily Bazar can be reached at (916) 321-1016 or
ebazar@sacbee.com. Ed Fletcher of The Bee Capitol Bureau contributed to this report.
