This continues to be a time of "firsts" for Latinos. Since 1850, California has elected or appointed thirty two Secretaries of State. None had been Latino prior to the election of Alex Padilla. All but March Fong Eu, elected in 1975 and serving until 1994, have been non Latino whites. Jerry Brown served as Secretary of State from 1971 to 1975, before his election to Governor.

     Secretary of State Alex Padilla was formerly a State Senator and formerly President of the Los Angeles City Council. He is a graduate of MIT in engineering.

Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Dolores Huerta, Senate Pro Tem Kevin De Leon, Norma Alcala, WUSD Trustee

    As Secretary of State, Alex Padilla is California's Chief Election  Officer. He comes into office confronted by record low voter participation. In this regard, the Chicano Latino Caucus makes several recommendation to the new Secretary of State:

1. Work to institute single member districts. In a September 2010 Report from the Cesar Chavez Public Policy Institute at San Francisco State University, The Cesar Chavez Institute reported that two thirds of the School Boards in California have no Latino representation. The Report identifies at large election policies as an important barrier to democratic representation for Latinos. "At large elections" refers to elections in which school board members are elected by residents of the entire district rather than the residents of the areas where the board member lives. According to the study, Latinos are more often elected to school boards in single member districts than in at large districts. When Latinos are the minority of a district they are likely not to be represented in at large districts and more likely to be represented when elections are divided into neighborhoods.  Only fifteen percent of the state's school board members are Latino. Even districts where a majority of the District's students are Latino, display the same malady-no Latino representation. The Report's authors, Max Nieman, Belinda Reyes, Luis Fraga, and Daniel Kimm, assert that Latino representation on school boards is directly correlated to the success of Latino students. Single member districts will allow more people to run for office at a time when money seems to limit access to office.

2. Work to institute same day voter registration. Current voter registration is a vestige of restrictive practices and antiquated technology. States with same day voter registration boast higher voter participation. Same Day Registration allows a voter to register at the same time that they vote. States that allow Same Day Registration consistently lead the nation in voter participation. Four of the top five states for voter turnout in the 2012 presidential election all offered Same Day Registration. Average voter turnout was over 10 percentage points higher in SAME DAY REGISTRATION states than in other states. In the 2006 midterm elections, states with same-day voter registration had turnout rates 10-12 percent higher than in other states. According to the official voting statistics reported by secretaries of state and the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of state population, SAME DAY REGISTRATION states had a voter turnout rate of 70.3 percent in the 2004 presidential election, while non-SAME DAY REGISTRATION states had a turnout rate of only 54.7 percent.

3. Work to institute alien suffrage in school board elections. Among those elected, Latinos cited the ineligibility of parents to vote six times more often than others as a barrier to election than Anglos. Latino school board members cited the franchise as a barrier to election far more often than any other reason including at large elections. The authors of the Report note that prior to 1926 voting by resident aliens was commonplace and persists even today in the Northeast cities of Cambridge, Amherst, and large metropolitan areas such as Chicago. The authors suggest that non citizen voting for resident alien taxpayers is a reasonable remedy for the lack of Latino representation. Single member districts are another remedy. 

4. Institute a uniform ballot in California elections. Currently, ballots vary from County to County.  some ballots fosters confusion, and are an invitation to ballot invalidation for the unwary.

     To be sure, these reforms require legislation.  Mr. Padilla's Senatorial experience will serve him well with this agenda.       

THE CHICANO LATINO CAUCUS EMPOWERS AND SUPPORTS WOMEN

By Gladys Soto, Maria Grijalva, Raquel Andrade, and Krisna Velasco,

members of the Chicano Latino Caucus Executive Board.

    The Latinas of the CLC applaud the Latinos of the CLC for empowering Latinas. Latinas extend particular thanks to the CLC Chair, Carlos Alcala, for his extraordinarily encouragement, excellent leadership, and support for Latina empowerment.

     The Chicano Latino Caucus empowers Latinas. As the majority of both the Chicano Latino Caucus Executive Board and CLC Statewide officers, Latinas are setting the policy of the CLC, and are including men in their decisions. In 2013-2014, the majority Latina Executive Board made a number of significant decisions to set the direction of the CLC.

       First, the Latina majority CLC Executive Board voted to pursue a charter from the CDP. With Latino voter registration and voting significantly trailing all other ethnic groups, the decision to charter will allow the CLC to use its dues to register voters and canvas on behalf of Latina and Latino candidates. At the July 2014 meeting when this action was adopted, Latina Senatorial candidate Paulina Miranda, a college chemistry professor, explained the need for chartering. A clear majority of the CLC membership followed the Latina majority board. The CLC membership listened intently to opposition arguments from Gregory Rivera and others before voting to accept the recommendation of the Latina majority CLC Executive Board.

Raquel Andrade, Chair CLC Latina Advisory, Dolores Huerta, Norma Alcala, WUSD School Board

     Second, the Latina majority CLC Executive Board voted to sponsor numerous resolutions that reflect the concerns of the Latino community. The CLC Board voted to condemn the murder of forty-three college students who disappeared on September 26, 2014 in Iguala, Mexico. This resolution was later adopted by a unanimous Democratic Party State Central Committee. The Latina majority CLC Board successfully sponsored CDP Resolution 14-07.38L which addressed the refugee status of an estimated sixty thousand children that have fled rape, robbery, and gang violence and extortion in their homelands of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala to the relative safety of our nation. Similarly the Latina majority CLC Executive Board successfully sponsored Resolution to establish credit unions and banks loan programs to provide citizenship loans amounting to ninety percent (90%) of the cost of citizenship fees and penalties and back state taxes owed, not to exceed $5000; that all monies obtained from these citizenship loans must be used for direct payment of citizenship.

     Third, the Latina majority CLC Executive Board burst on the scene with phone banking in May 2013 in support of three Latina candidates: Leticia Perez in SD16, Lorena Gonzalez in AD80, and Norma Torres in SD32. Initially the CLC pledged 2000 calls but made nearly double that. Two of the three Latinas won and the third made a runoff. In the runoff, the CLC pledged 5000 calls and challenged all other caucuses. CLC finished with a huge lead over all caucuses, central committees, and clubs with 7,415 calls for Leticia Perez for Senate in SD 16. In February 2014, the CLC phone bank supported David Alvarez in the San Diego mayor's race with a pledge of 7000 calls and made 14,000 calls. In the November 2014 elections the CLC became the first caucus to establish its own onsite phone bank. The CLC listed eighteen candidates for CLC volunteers to support. One of these races featured a Latina, Norma Alcala, endorsed by the Yolo County Central Committee, Dolores Huerta, and the Chicano Latino Caucus CDP. Norma ran against an opponent endorsed by the local newspaper, the town mayor, members of the city council, and the local supervisor. Norma's campaign team included many CLC Latinas, and others. All of the Latina authors of this article walked precincts for Norma. Two of the authors travelled as much as 400 miles to do so. Norma won by a two to one margin overall, with margins as high as four to one in the Latino barrios of West Sacramento.

CHICANO LATINO CAUCUS WORKING TO EMPOWER AND INCLUDE LATINO YOUNG ADULTS

      By Alex San Martin  

     At the January 4, 2015, Chair Carlos Alcala took action to add two young Latinos to the Chicano Latino Caucus Executive Board.  The CLC Executive Board confirmed Julio Esperias Jr. as the  Chair of the Young Adults Division of the Chicano Latino Caucus (Young Chicano Latino Caucus Dems).  The Young Adults Division has been a part of the CLC bylaws for many years but became dormant over time under previous CLC Chairs. Consistent with his promise to bring youth into the Chicano Latino Caucus, CLC Chair Carlos Alcala has revived the long dormant Youth Division in order to promote and support youth involvement in the CLC.  At the same meeting, the CLC Executive Board voted to adopt an amendment to the CLC Bylaws, proposed by Chair Carlos Alcala, that will place the head of the CLC Young Adults Division on the  CLC Executive Board and make it an elected position at the May 2015 biannual convention:

 "The Young Adults Division (YAD) Chair shall be elected by CLC members between the ages of 14 and 35 at the biannual CLC Convention and shall serve as a voting member of the CLC Executive Board. The YAD Chair shall have the powers, duties, and stature of a vice chair of the CLC and shall strive to involve youth in the CLC and the Democratic Party. The YAD Chair shall build collegial, friendly, supportive, cooperative, and respectful relationships with other Democratic Party youth groups."

Eric Riviera Jurado

     Chair Carlos Alcala, who is also President of the powerhouse Dolores Huerta Latino Democratic Club,  supported Eric Riviera Jurado in his successful effort to win a seat on the CLC Executive Board as the representative of the DH LDC.  At age 26, Eric is the youngest member of the CLC Board. Eric is a gifted student who attends McGeorge Law School from which he will graduate in May 2015.   Eric has worked for a number of legislators including retired Senator Darryl Steinberg.  Eric is also a gifted athlete who teaches martial arts in three disciplines at CSUS:  boxing, kick boxing, and Thai boxing.  He also teaches self defense to women.  We are proud to have someone of his caliber and enthusiasm.

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE DEMS HOLD ANNUAL FUNDRAISER "BLUE BALL"

                                                                           By Norma Alcala

      On February 13, 2015, the California College Dems held their annual fundraiser "Blue Ball" at the home of Carlos and Norma Alcala.  The Ball was held to support young College Democrats efforts to attend the Young Dems State Convention in Anaheim.  The fundraiser featured a Great Gatsby theme. A photographer captured the moments throughout this memorable event. Costumes designed by Rory Castillo were presented in a Twenties period fashion show.  College Dems can be reached for further donations by contacting Itzel C. Perez via phone at (916)955-6095 or via email at perezitzel12@gmail.com.  

Rory Castillo, Fashion Designer, with College Dems

APPLY FOR APPOINTMENT TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY COMMITTEES

       By Norma Alcala 

       Committee appointments are a way for grassroots activists to become voting members of the CDP policy making and endorsement process. CDP Chair John Burton appoints committee members annually.        

CLC Executive Board and General Membership Both Vote to Eliminate Executive Director

     The CLC membership voted to eliminate the title of Executive Director. The former Executive Director, Angelica Tellechea, Gregory Rivera, Melissa San Miguel, and Leticia Garcia appealed the vote of the CLC membership to the California Democratic Party.  The CDP denied the appeal.  The position of Executive Director no longer exists in the Chicano Latino Caucus.

The Agenda For The CLC E Board Meetings Can Be Found At The Official CLC Website At:

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