Latinos to Press Clinton for More Appointments

Hoping to flex their political muscle in an unprecedented united front, about 60 Latino leaders gathered for a closed-door meeting in Dallas on Monday to press for more appointments to President-elect Bill Clinton’s transition team and Administration.

The three-hour strategy session, which included elected officials as well as representatives of public policy groups, reflected Latino leaders’ determination to hold Clinton to his campaign pledge that his appointments would reflect the diversity of the country, participants said after the meeting.

“(Clinton) said he would do ‘better’ than (President) Bush. I don’t think it’s high pie in the sky to believe that someone is going to keep their promises. I think it’s hard-nosed politics and accountability,” said Andy Hernandez, director of the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project.

Given that Latinos make up 9% of the national population, Hernandez added, the number of Latinos in the Clinton Administration should reflect that percentage.

Several of those attending the meeting expressed concerns that such a goal was unlikely to be reached unless Latinos got a larger voice in the transition.

Three Latinos have significant positions in the transition: former San Antonio Mayor Henry G. Cisneros is a member of the board of directors, and Jose Villareal and Maria Echaveste serve as staffers, both with special responsibility for liaison with Latinos. All attended Monday’s meeting.

Those three appointments “are a very big step in the right direction,” said Texas State Rep. Roberto Alonzo, who attended the session. “But we are going to need to have more people to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.”

The meeting dramatized the intense interest of Democratic constituency groups in ensuring access to appointments denied them during 12 years of Republican rule. Last week, for example, the National Women’s Political Caucus released a list of 79 women it said should be considered for top jobs.

David Wilhelm, the assistant transition director for political affairs, said Clinton welcomed such input--and would soon announce an outreach plan to solicit names and policy recommendations.

Speaking specifically about Monday’s meeting, Wilhelm said: “I think they are right to be vigilant, but we are committed to outreach and they have points of entry into this campaign.”

One spur to the Latino group was the women’s list itself, which failed to include the names of such prominent Latinas as Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina or Antonia Hernandez, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Those at the meeting stressed that they want Latinos considered across the board, rather than only in areas that have traditionally been offered to minorities.

“We want to be cooperative and competitive,” said Raul Yzaguirre, president of the National Council of La Raza.