Ethnicity Is a Key Factor in Assembly Democratic Primary : Election: Monterey Park contenders, one Latina and one Chinese American, are at odds over leadership, effectiveness.

Assemblywoman Diane Martinez (D-Monterey Park) was supposed to be a shoo-in for reelection. After all, Democrats outnumber Republicans in her 49th District more than 2 to 1.

But that was before fellow Democrat Judy Chu, a veteran Monterey Park councilwoman, issued a challenge that is to be settled in the June 7 Democratic primary.

In addition to her strong standing as a local politician, Chu has an all-important ingredient to put up a good fight. She has raised $163,000 for her campaign so far, about twice as much as Martinez.

She has attacked Martinez, daughter of Rep. Matthew G. Martinez (D-Monterey Park), as an ineffective legislator who cannot get along with other lawmakers.

“This district needs new leadership,” Chu said in a recent interview.

The challenge grates on Martinez, who sees Chu as overly ambitious. With term limits in effect, Chu should have waited for an open seat, the assemblywoman said in a recent interview.

“Instead of dividing our efforts in contested primaries, we should be working to elect a (Democrat as) governor,” she said.

As for her effectiveness in the Assembly, Martinez said she has done considerable work as a freshman legislator and needs a second term to continue her efforts.

Martinez and Chu largely agree on the issues. Both said they will work to improve education and the economy, reduce crime and press for completion of the 710 Freeway.

Much of the debate centers on who is more qualified to achieve those goals. A more rudimentary issue--ethnicity--also is expected to play a role in the campaign.

Martinez and Chu are members of ethnic groups that have been striving for more political representation.

Upon her election two years ago, Martinez joined a small but growing pool of Latinos in the Assembly. Chu hopes to become the first Chinese American in the Assembly since March Fong Eu, now U.S. Ambassador to Micronesia, left the Legislature in 1974.

Because of its sizable Asian population, the 49th District is considered friendly toward Asian candidates.

Asian communities have changed the district’s landscape in recent years. In some parts of Monterey Park, where people of Asian descent are 53% of the population, Chinese writing is as common as English on store signs.

But districtwide, Latinos are about 55% of the population, whereas Asians make up 29%, according to census data. The 49th District includes parts of Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Rosemead, Temple City, El Monte, Los Angeles and unincorporated East Los Angeles.

The picture is even more favorable for Latino candidates when it comes to anticipated voter turnout in the primary. Estimates provided by both campaigns indicate that Latinos cast about 50% of the votes in the 1992 Democratic primary and Asians 9%.

The impact of ethnicity is especially significant in low-profile primaries in which candidates are not household names.

“Race is a very significant factor, particularly in races such as this,” said Alan Heslop, professor of government at Claremont McKenna College.

Chu declined to concede an ethnic advantage to Martinez, but she acknowledged her appeal must go beyond the Asian community.

“I think that people will vote on the issues and on the quality of candidates, and I’m running on that basis,” she said.

Chu, a psychology professor at East Los Angeles College, won a seat on the Monterey City Council in 1988, in part by promising to bridge cultural gaps in the ethnically diverse community. Chu worked toward that goal in 1990, when she spearheaded Harmony Week, an event to celebrate Monterey Park’s ethnic diversity.

She also has shown a willingness to make decisions unpopular with the local Asian community. After Chu cast the deciding vote in 1991 to fire a city manager, members of the Chinese community picketed City Hall, calling for her ouster. Former City Manager Mark Lewis was considered a strong supporter of affirmative action and a friend of the Chinese community.

Although ethnicity may hurt Chu at the ballot box, it apparently has helped fill her campaign coffers. Campaign disclosure statements show Chu’s contributions have come primarily from the Asian community in and around the 49th District.

Martinez has not raised as much money as Chu so far, but that could change as the election nears.

As an incumbent, Martinez has the ability to tap into campaign donors with statewide interests. Her campaign disclosure statements show contributions from special-interest groups concerned with issues from education to gambling.

In addition, Martinez has the support of the Assembly’s Democratic leadership and the state Democratic Party, which could provide mailers and campaign workers to help get out the vote.

Chu angered Martinez in October, when the assemblywoman made it known she was considering running for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles). Torres is running for state Insurance Commissioner. At that point, Chu put her name in for Assembly.

But Assemblywoman Hilda L. Solis (D-El Monte) also was eyeing the seat. Martinez deferred to Solis, generally considered a more effective legislator, and announced she would seek reelection; Martinez feels that at that point, Chu should have deferred to her.

“To me, it’s unfortunate that someone has so much ambition that they can’t wait their time,” Martinez said of Chu.

Chu says the 49th District can’t wait. She cited a recent survey by the California Journal, a magazine on state politics, that rated Martinez as a poor legislator.

The survey polls legislators, legislative staff, executive branch staff, lobbyists and members of the Sacramento press corps. Respondents rate legislators in six areas, ranging from effectiveness to potential.

Overall, Martinez ranked below all but three of her colleagues.

“Our district is clearly being shortchanged,” Chu said. “She doesn’t get along with legislators up there and people don’t respect her.”

Martinez discounted the survey results, saying they are “tantamount to gossip.”

Political pundits have said Martinez is neither a star nor a failure in the Capitol. They said she is not doing poorly for a legislator completing her first term.

But they also note that she has had run-ins that do not ingratiate her with some colleagues.

In one incident, Martinez irked state Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) when she grilled him on his proposal to break up the Los Angeles Unified School District, which the assemblywoman opposed. She later referred to the Senate leader, who is of Italian descent, as the “godfather.”

Martinez said she has rankled some lawmakers by aggressively pursuing her goals--and she does not intend to change.

“If I start to concern myself with how the other legislators view me, and not the issues, I’m in trouble,” she said.

Martinez defended her legislative record, noting that she sponsored a new law that prohibits school district officials from spending public money on alcoholic beverages. She co-authored another law that increases the punishment for armed adults who sell drugs near school bus stops.

And Martinez has a bill pending that would allow Caltrans to continue the Long Beach (710) Freeway through South Pasadena without the agreement of the city, which is fighting the extension.

A third candidate also has entered in the primary. Roy T. Torres has raised $2,230 to fund his campaign, according to campaign disclosure statements.