Bustamante’s Assembly Rise a Mark of New Latino Power : More are making their voices heard in political process

The rise of Cruz Bustamante, the son of a Latino barber in the San Joaquin Valley farm town of Dinuba, to speaker of the California Assembly will be a first. But beyond its historical significance, Bustamante’s coming ascension to the speakership sends an encouraging message: Getting involved in the electoral process makes a difference.

Many in the Latino community felt under siege during a period of strong political attacks against immigrants, in Sacramento and in Washington. But the negativity spurred a positive reaction: More became citizens and more voted.

The record number of Latinos who went to the polls last week paid off. The larger than usual turnout led to an enlarged Latino presence in the Assembly, an increase to 14 members from 10. Unified around Bustamante’s candidacy, the 13 other elected Latino Democrats were able to help him negotiate within the party for the required votes.

The boost in Latino voting power may not have been possible without the massive naturalization drives among Latinos in the past two years that have produced a record number of new citizens. Since 1992, according to the Southwest Voter Research Institute, the pool of Latino registered voters has grown 28.7%, to more than 6.6 million across the nation. And after years of disappointments about the missed potential of Latino voting, this year saw a marked change. The Latino vote grew to 10% from 7% of the California electorate in 1992, and it made a noticeable difference in both federal and local races.

But numbers alone do not tell the story. By most accounts, Bustamante is a moderate Democrat who has appeal beyond his ethnic constituency. Thus he is in a good position to build bridges to different constituencies; as a Central Californian he may also come to represent a viewpoint more conservative than that of most urban Latino legislators.

Bustamante, echoing the hopes of most Democrats and Republicans these days, says his time as Assembly speaker “will not be about revenge” or “partisan wrangling.” That would certainly be a new--and welcome--approach in Sacramento.