California: Latinos Underrepresented in State and Local Government

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In California Latinos are underrepresented in state and local government, according to a report, Los Angeles Times informs.

The report by The Leadership California Institute entitled “ The Status of Latinos in California,” shows that although Hispanics make more than 30 percent of the state’s population, they represent only 10 percent of county supervisors, 15 percent  of city council members, 12.5 percent in the state senate and 23.8 percent in the assembly.

Part of the issue, according to the report is that many Latinos are ineligible to vote for two reasons, they’re either not citizens or under 18 years old.

But there many eligible Latino voters who report not being “reached by campaigns seeking their vote.”

“One of the structural problems we have in our democracy is that if you are not a likely consistent voter, you then are structurally excluded from the process,” said Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials “No one’s going to campaign for your vote if you’re not even registered to vote. And if you’re not registered to vote, but only voted once in the last six elections, you’re not going to be campaigned to by the candidate.”

Poverty

The report also found that “there are no cities with a Latino majority council when the Latino poverty rate is above 30 percent, unless the city is at least 85 percent Latino overall.”

The report concluded that Latinos fare well in smaller cities, but when it comes to running for higher office is hard to mobilize Latino voters.

“The trajectory for an elected official starts at the local level, but the findings suggest there are weaknesses in growing our bench that we need to address,” added Latino Caucus member and Chair of the Latino Caucus Subcommittee on Civic Engagement, Assemblymember Susan Talamantes-Eggman (D-Stockton). “These studies are critical in order to illustrate the work that needs to be done if we are serious about accurately representing California’s largest ethnic group, and that work begins in our own backyard.”