Latino Caucus Won’t Support Davis Reelection

The Legislature’s Democratic Latino caucus, angry that Gov. Gray Davis vetoed legislation to permit some illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, is taking the extraordinary step of not endorsing their fellow Democrat for reelection, several legislators said Friday.

Latino members of the Senate and Assembly circulated a letter Friday, informing Davis of their decision and saying that they are “unable” to endorse him because of the vetoes.

The vetoes “contradict our Democratic core value of inclusion,” says the letter, signed by Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), chairman of the Latino caucus, and the incoming chairman, Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh (D-Los Angeles).

The practical effect of the refusal of the 22-member caucus to endorse Davis remains to be seen. Some Latino legislators who have endorsed Davis have no intention of revoking their personal commitments. Others said that, though they won’t vote for Republican Bill Simon Jr., they have no intention of voting for Davis or dispatching volunteers to help turn out the vote for him.

“I’m not going to lift a finger for the governor,” said Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Whittier). “I’m not going to send my volunteers. My volunteers won’t be there.”

Davis’ campaign spokesman dismissed the development as “unfortunate” but said the decision by the caucus does not represent the views of Latino voters. “One or two legislators do not the Latino community make,” said the spokesman, Roger Salazar.

The governor’s veto of the driver’s license legislation came as a surprise to some lawmakers, because he had been working on compromise language with one bill’s author, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), and had seemed to indicate a willingness to sign the final package.

“People who contribute to our economy and pay taxes are deserving of that privilege of obtaining a license,” the governor said in August.

As approved by the Legislature, the two measures would have permitted immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, provided that they were California residents, had passed criminal background checks, had federal taxpayer numbers and were in the process of becoming citizens.

Davis issued the vetoes despite a promise a year ago that he would compromise.

Because of that promise, Cedillo agreed to pull back measures last year that already had received legislative approval and would have permitted illegal immigrants to obtain licenses.

By August of this year, Cedillo had agreed to Davis’ demand that illegal immigrants seeking licenses submit to criminal background checks. Several top law enforcement officials, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer, endorsed the legislation, which had bipartisan support.

In his veto message, the governor said the bills lacked a requirement that illegal immigrants prove they were working before obtaining licenses. Davis also said the legislation, SB 804 and AB 60, would allow an applicant to obtain a license, even with an arrest warrant pending “for treason, espionage, sabotage, homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, drug trafficking, flight escape or smuggling.” Lawmakers dispute that contention.

Davis cited last year’s terrorist attacks, saying they “made it abundantly clear that the driver’s license is more than just a license to drive.”

“It is one of the primary documents we use to identify ourselves,” Davis wrote.

“Unfortunately, a driver’s license was in the hands of terrorists who attacked America on that fateful day.”

Polanco vowed that the legislation would be reintroduced next year. “We’re not going to go away with this issue,” he said.

Salazar, the Davis campaign spokesman, blamed Cedillo for the Latino caucus’ decision not to endorse Davis, noting that a single member can block an endorsement.

Salazar added that Davis “enjoys overwhelming support from the Latino community.”

Salazar cited an array of actions taken by Davis in his first term to help Latinos, including his agreement to expand health care for poor people, his seeking to improve schools and his siding with workers on employment issues.

“It is unfortunate,” Salazar said of the Latino legislators’ decision. “But the fact is, Gov. Davis has fought hard for Latinos for 26 years, throughout his career in public service.”

Cedillo was upset over Davis’ vetoes. But Escutia and other Latino lawmakers disputed Salazar’s contention that Cedillo had stood alone to block the endorsement. Escutia said that legislators from Sacramento, Salinas, Fresno, San Diego and Los Angeles had joined a Friday morning conference call to discuss the endorsement question.

“This has gone way beyond one person,” Escutia said. “They want to marginalize Gilbert [Cedillo]. But they are marginalizing themselves.”

Legislators who were contacted Friday said the decision against endorsing Davis does not mean that they will vote for Simon.

Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), for one, said she intends to urge her constituents to vote for the Democratic ticket, even though she supported the Latino caucus’ decision not to endorse Davis for reelection.

“In the end, it is a sound position, given the significant, substantive amendments that were agreed to,” Ortiz said.

“It is strong statement and a bold position and it comes with a deeply held belief,” she added.

Other lawmakers said they would not vote for Davis.

“I’m not going to vote for Gov. Davis. I can’t,” Cedillo said. “He gave me his word that we would get this done, and it didn’t happen. I can’t reward that.”