Alatorre Takes a Bow, Council Seat : Panel’s First Latino in 20 Years Praised During Ceremony

Newly elected Councilman Richard Alatorre, praised as the “favorite son” of the predominantly Latino neighborhoods of East Los Angeles, was sworn into office Friday as the city’s first Latino council member in more than two decades.

In a ceremony rich with emotion and resounding with mariachi music, the 42-year-old Alatorre took the oath of office from state Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp as more than 500 people packed the ornate City Council chambers to cheer the former state assemblyman.

“We are here this morning to celebrate a milestone in the life of this city,” Van de Kamp said, “and to correct an injustice of 20 years’ standing.”

Called Historic Occasion

Van de Kamp, who referred to Alatorre as “the man whom East Los Angeles is proud to call her favorite son,” was among several speakers--including Mayor Tom Bradley--who praised Friday’s ceremony as an historic occasion.

With his election, Alatorre became only the second Latino on the Los Angeles City Council in this century and the first since 1962 when Edward Roybal, now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, stepped down to run for federal office. Roybal, who was introduced by Alatorre, received a standing ovation from the assemblage.

But it was clearly Alatorre’s day as a mariachi band played “Feria de Las Flores” for the councilman--a song with a message that a person will succeed no matter what obstacles are placed before him.

‘Make a Difference’

Alatorre expressed “great hope and confidence in my ability to make a difference in providing leadership for my district and this great city.” He promised that service to his constituents--which is the nitty-gritty of councilmanic life--will be “the No. 1 priority.” And Alatorre added that he will be “a staunch supporter and an ally of all city employees.”

During the swearing-in ceremony, Alatorre’s prominence as a high-ranking Democrat in the Assembly was evident in the roster of friends who joined him. United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez was present, as was Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), Assembly Majority Leader Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles), Assemblywoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and state Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights).

After all the hoopla and the formality of being seated at his new desk, Alatorre rose a few minutes later to take his first official action as a council member--to introduce a resolution lauding a group of visiting journalists from Taipei.