Local News in Brief : Latino Activist Group Endorses Dukakis

Agroup of San Fernando Valley Latino activists announced support Wednesday for Democratic presidential candidate Michael S. Dukakis, saying that he understands the needs of the Latino community and supports bilingual education, housing and jobs programs.

“As a person of immigrant parents, he understands that the future of our community depends on our ability to be self-sufficient,” said Irene Tovar, a longtime East Valley community leader.

John Dukakis, the candidate’s 29-year-old son, attended the endorsement announcement held at a park across from the San Fernando Mission and briefly addressed the small group in Spanish. Michael Dukakis has courted the Latino vote in the Southwest and California by addressing crowds in Spanish, in which he is fluent.

“I believe it is time the United States has a president that understands Latino culture and what is important for Hispanics,” said John Dukakis, reading from a prepared Spanish text. “Mike Dukakis understands what is America. It is a land of opportunity and possibility with good jobs and good salaries, school for our children and decent housing for our families.”

Tovar and San Fernando City Councilman Jess Margarito head a 25-member coalition called San Fernando Valley Latinos for Dukakis. Margarito said Wednesday that the group will begin a voter registration drive in July aimed at Latinos in the East Valley communities of Sun Valley, Pacoima and Sylmar.