Rep. Sanchez in Line for Key Democratic Post

President Clinton plans to recommend Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) for a top leadership spot on the Democratic National Committee that would make her one of the party’s chief agents of voter outreach in preparation for the 2000 elections.

Clinton is expected to make a formal announcement sometime within the next few days. Clinton’s proposal must then be approved by the DNC membership in March.

But Sanchez’s office confirmed that the two-term congresswoman had been tapped for the part-time post, sharing the title of DNC co-chair with two other prominent Democrats in the committee’s restructured hierarchy.

Sanchez, who turned 39 Thursday, burst onto the national Democratic landscape as a dragon slayer in 1996 when she beat veteran Republican Rep. Robert K. Dornan. She owed her narrow victory in part to marshaling a record number of Latino votes in the district, which includes Santa Ana and most of Anaheim.

Dornan spent the next year and a half contesting the election, charging that many of those Sanchez voters were not citizens. After a lengthy investigation, the GOP-controlled House rejected his bid to have Sanchez’s victory voided.

While the battle consumed Sanchez’s freshman term, it also made her a heroine in the Latino community and a symbol of doggedness in the face of adversity--a reputation that could come in handy as Democrats set out to hold the White House and reclaim control of Congress in 2000.

“She has the image of someone who is a fighter, an underdog who was able to prevail,” said Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), former chairman of the congressional Hispanic Caucus. “She has done a lot to rally support and resources for causes, mostly her own at this point, but she survived an assault in Congress to get rid of her and showed the tenacity to make it through.”

Sanchez, who trounced Dornan in a rematch last November, had no immediate comment about the impending nomination.

The DNC, the party’s national political apparatus, is being restructured after the Dec. 2 resignation of co-chairman Steve Grossman. Under the new roster, Joseph Andrew, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, will run the day-to-day operations.

Colorado Gov. Roy Romer will continue as co-chairman and the party’s main spokesman. Joining him and Sanchez as party co-chairs will be Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, one of the nation’s leading black politicians.

While not yet finalized, Sanchez’s duties would include improving efforts to get out the vote and raise money, party officials said.

One of the DNC’s biggest looming decisions is selecting the site for the party’s 2000 convention. Los Angeles, viewed by most as the leading contender, is competing with Denver and Boston for the designation. It was unclear whether Sanchez would have a role in the party’s decision, which is expected within the next month or so.