Twenty-two Latino legislators dumped their support of Gov. Gray
Davis for re-election this November, striking a blow to his
campaign for the office that approves a third of the funding for
the University of California.
The fully democratic Latino caucus in the state Legislature,
comprised of 15 assemblymembers and seven state senators, announced
Friday it would not support democrat Davis’ campaign largely
because he vetoed legislation which would have allowed illegal
immigrants to obtain California driver’s licenses.
Davis’ office said the declined endorsement and
caucus’ sentiment do not represent the opinion of Latinos in
California, who according to the 2000 census make up a third of the
state population.
“The governor enjoys the support of an overwhelming
majority of the Latino community,” said Roger Salazar, a
press aide for Davis.
But caucus members said this does not mean they will endorse
Davis’ republican challenger, businessman and political
newcomer Bill Simon.
Davis explained his veto of the bill ““ authored by caucus
member and Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles ““ by
writing “the tragedy of Sept. 11 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.”
Some considered this move a slap in the face to Latinos
throughout the state.
“For the governor to just bring (the bill) down, I think
as a community we feel disrespected,” said Elizabeth Delgado,
chair of MEChA de UCLA.
“It’s totally an insult,” she continued.
Delgado added that she was not going to vote for Davis in next
month’s gubernatorial election, nor will she vote for
Simon.
Simon’s political stock has risen since an L.A. County
Superior Court judge tossed out a $78-million fraud verdict against
his investment firm, William E. Simon & Sons. He said he also
would have opposed the driver’s license bill, but would
reconsider if it was included with additional immigration reform
policy.
The gubernatorial race now heads to Los Angeles, where Davis and
Simon will debate face-to-face on television for the first time in
an L.A. Times-hosted event at noon today. The debate will be
broadcast locally on KTLA.