Latinos Could Have District
If the Ventura County supervisors really wanted Latino representation on the board, they would create a district composed of east Oxnard, El Rio, Nyeland Acres, Saticoy and Santa Paula. This would enable the highest concentration of Latinos to fall into the same district and make it feasible for a Latino to actually get elected to the Board of Supervisors. The last Latino on the board, Adolfo Camarillo, was elected in 1905.
The political tune coming from the county is not a true Latino district, where a Latino could get elected. Instead, the incumbents, including John K. Flynn, make the case that they will represent the Latino voters--along with a majority of Anglo voters.
Attorney Marco Antonio Abarca has the right idea, but he needs to enlarge the proposed Latino district to include Santa Paula and Saticoy--both being smaller towns that could use some real political muscle in county politics.
Not forgotten are the efforts from 1988 and 1989 to form district elections in Oxnard. The city officials gave lip services to Latino interests, but in the main, they wanted to keep all the power where it is--in the hands of the incumbents.
GILBERT G. BEEZLEY, Oxnard
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