California recall will have major impact on minority residents

Crisis, The, Sep/Oct 2003 by Haines, Errin

The California recall election, scheduled for Oct. 7, could have major consequences for minorities. The election may not only result in a new governor, but also a new policy on how racial and ethnic data is collected by state and local agencies - both of which are significant to the state's voters of color.

There are 135 candidates vying to replace current Gov. Gray Davis, who is being blamed by recall supporters for the state's $38 billion deficit. Among the candidates are Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante; actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican contender; syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington and child star Gary Coleman as independents.

Civil rights groups, however, are concerned about the impact the recall election will have on California's minority citizens, who represent 30 percent of registered voters, 8 percent of whom are Black.

"There is an impact that people need to start seeing right away," says Alice Huffman, executive director of the NAACP California State Conference. "It has all kinds of implications."

Minorities should definitely be concerned about whether a Democrat or Republican is elected governor, says Michael Harris, assistant director of the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.

"There are a number of issues that are below the radar that will have a substantial impact on people of color depending on the outcome," Harris says.

He points to issues such as racial profiling, education and criminal justice matters that might be addressed differently based on who is elected.

"The larger issue is just funding priorities," Harris says. "The governor is responsible for developing the budget with a great deal of influence on what to pursue and not to pursue. Things that are important to Democrats are not as important to Republicans."

Luis Rodriguez, president of California's La Raza Lawyers Association, says that if .a Republican is elected, it could mean the rolling back of progress for people of color.

"Republicans are proposing cutting back on social servic- es, education, health care," says Rodriguez. "We are in dire need of these services in our communities."

Voters may decide not to recall the governor. But civil rights groups believe minority residents will be disenfranchised on election day because of outdated voting machines. The "punch card" machines are located in six counties that have a 45 percent minority population.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to postpone the recall. The federal appeals court postponed the election because of the outdated punch card machines.

A major issue for minorities, however, is the Racial Privacy Initiative, also known as Proposition 54. If passed, the initiative would prevent public agencies in the state from collecting data on citizens' race, ethnicity or national origin in public education, contracting or employment. Recall candidates Bustamante and Schwarzenegger oppose the measure.

"The passing of Proposition 54 would create a chain reaction of other initiatives that would be designed to undercut civil rights and voting rights protections we have," says Greg Moore, executive director of the NAACP National Voter Fund in Washington, D.C. "That's a very dangerous precedent we want to stop at the gate in California."

- Errin Haines