S. Carolina’s Clyburn Chosen Black Caucus Head

Rep. James E. Clyburn, the first black to represent South Carolina in Congress since Reconstruction, was chosen Tuesday to chair the Congressional Black Caucus.

Clyburn, 58, a low-key, three-term lawmaker, was the only candidate running to succeed Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles). He will serve a two-year term coinciding with the next session of Congress beginning in January.

President Clinton said Clyburn would be “a most able successor” to Waters.

“Throughout his career, he has been a tireless advocate for his constituents and he has been a national leader on issues including rural economic development and affirmative action,” Clinton said.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus also chose a new leader Tuesday, electing Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles) to succeed her fellow Angeleno Democrat, Rep. Xavier Becerra.

Clinton called Roybal-Allard “an excellent advocate for the caucus and the entire Latino community.”

Clyburn also becomes the first southerner to head the caucus, which represents the interests of the 38 black House Democrats, including two nonvoting delegates elected earlier this month.

Clyburn, in an interview, said his priorities include seating of more black federal judges, particularly in Southern circuits, protecting the environment in minority areas, maintaining affirmative action programs and achieving a more accurate Census.

Republicans strongly oppose administration proposals to use sampling in the 2000 Census to correct undercounting in urban and minority areas.

Clyburn said Waters, a fiery speaker and outspoken critic of GOP policies, was “just what we needed” after the Democrats’ 1994 election losses. But “going into the 2000 election, what we need is someone who is much more of a technician, someone much more interested in strategy.”