Next CBC Chair Faces An Uphill Battle

Crisis, The, Jul/Aug 2006 by Gray, Madison

Two congressional representatives well known for their outspokenness and staunch positions on issues concerning African Americans are looking to take over the top spot in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) during the 110th Congress.

CBC vice chair Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) and CBC whip Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), are reportedly vying to become the next chair of the organization. If either is elected, it will be the first time a woman has led the group during a presidential election season since 1980.

Both women remained guarded on the issue when contacted by The Crisis and other media in late May, offering only statements through their spokespeople.

Lee's office says she is "very interested in pursuing the Congressional Black Caucus chair," according to spokesman Nathan Britton, who added that she "looks forward to sharing her goals and visions for the CBC in the near future."

Tracy Walker, spokeswoman for Kilpatrick (whose son, Kwame is mayor of Detroit), says she "will be running for chair of the CBC during the 110th Congress and will be meeting with Congresswoman Lee within the next week or so."

Both congresswomen are expected to speak further about the race later, their offices say.

Josephine Hearn, a reporter who covers the CBC for The Hill, an independently published Congressional newspaper, says the caucus chair will be an important position during the upcoming political season.

"In 2008 we'll have the presidential election," Hearn explains. "The nominating process is a time when all the candidates are trying to seek favors with members of the CBC and the chair will have an influential role in that process."

Since the CBC is made up entirely of Democrats, Hearn adds, when there is a Democratic president, the caucus carries more political clout.

Both women are known as Congressional liberals whose districts are heavily Democratic. Kilpatrick represents much of Detroit and several of its Way ne County suburbs. Lee represents the cities of Oakland, Berkeley and the adjoining Bay Area communities. Each district has been historically critical in giving thenstates' votes to Democratic candidates in the past few elections.

Ronald Walters, a political scientist at the University of Maryland, says that both women would be good leaders of the CBC.

"Both have the experience and the leadership qualities to do the job," says Walters. "Lee was the only one in the House to vote against the Iraq War. Kilpatrick has been very steadfast on Hurricane Katrina."

But he warns that with issues dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the new chair will have to be creative and come up with new ideas for the ongoing issue.

"You'll need the support of a unified caucus to deal with power centers like the White House, corporations and the Republican-controlled Congress," says Walters.

- Madison Gray