7A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016
Minorities missing in many legislatures
Disparity is
especially large
for Hispanics
This story is part of Divided
America, AP’s ongoing explora-
tion of the economic, social and
political divisions in American
society.
By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press
As Virginia’s only Latino
state lawmaker, Alfonso Lopez
made it his irst order of busi-
ness to push for a law granting
in-state college tuition to immi-
grants living in the U.S. illegally
since childhood.
The bill died in committee.
So Lopez tried again the next
year. And the year after that.
Now, in his ifth year in
ofice, Lopez is gearing up for
one more attempt in 2017.
“If we had a more diverse
(legislature) and more Latinos
in the House of Delegates,” he
says, “I don’t think it would be
as dificult.”
America’s government is a
lot whiter than American itself,
and not just in Virginia.
While minorities have made
some political gains in recent
decades, they remain signii-
cantly underrepresented in Con-
gress and nearly every state leg-
islature though they comprise a
growing share of the U.S. pop-
ulation, according to an analy-
sis of demographic data by The
Associated Press. The disparity
in elected representation is espe-
cially large for Hispanics, even
though they are now the nation’s
largest ethnic minority.
Consequences
A lack of political represen-
tation can carry real-life con-
sequences, and not only on
hot-button immigration issues.
State spending for public
schools, housing and social pro-
grams all can have big impli-
cations for minority communi-
ties. So can decisions on issues
such as criminal justice reform,
election laws or the printing of
AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bob Brown
AP Photo/Nati Harnik
Tony Vargas, candidate for the Nebraska Legislature, accompanied by his fiancee Lau-
ren Micek, center, campaigns in a shop in Omaha, Neb., in June.
public documents in other lan-
guages besides English.
When the people elected
don’t look, think, talk or act like
the people they represent, it can
deepen divisions that naturally
exist in the U.S.
Campaigning door-to-door
in the heavily Latino neigh-
borhoods of south Omaha,
Nebraska, irst-time legisla-
tive candidate Tony Vargas has
talked with numerous people
afraid to participate in democ-
racy. Some felt shunned or con-
fused when they once attempted
to vote. Others have misconcep-
tions about the legal require-
ments to do so. Some simply
believe their vote doesn’t matter.
“You can hear the fear in
people’s voices, and you can
hear that they feel like less of
a member of society, less of an
American,” says Vargas, whose
parents came to the U.S. from
Peru.
Though Hispanics now
make up 10 percent of Nebras-
ka’s population, there is not a
single Latino lawmaker in its
Legislature.
The numbers
The Associated Press ana-
lyzed data from the U.S. Cen-
sus Bureau, Congress and the
National Conference of State
Legislatures to determine the
extent to which the nation’s
thousands of lawmakers match
the demographics of its hun-
dreds of millions of residents.
The result: Non-Hispanic whites
make up a little over 60 percent
of the U.S. population, but still
hold more than 80 percent of all
congressional and state legisla-
tive seats.
Among major minority
groups:
• Blacks are the least under-
represented but still face sizable
gaps in some places. In Missis-
sippi and Louisiana, about one-
third of the population is black.
Yet each state has a single black
member of Congress and a dis-
proportionately small number in
their state legislatures.
• More than half the states
still have no lawmakers with
Asian or Paciic Islander heri-
tage, and just four states have
any in Congress.
• Hispanics comprise more
than 17 percent of the U.S. pop-
ulation, yet they are fewer than
7 percent in Congress and fewer
than 4 percent of state legisla-
tors. The gaps in representation
exist even in California, New
Mexico and Texas, with the
largest Latino populations.
Differences
There are many reasons for
the disparities.
The U.S. Hispanic popula-
tion generally is younger and
less likely to be eligible voters.
And those who can vote often
don’t. Voter turnout among
Hispanics (as well as Asian
Americans) dipped to just 27
percent in 2014, compared with
41 percent for blacks and 46
percent for whites, according to
the Pew Research Center. Low
voter involvement can make it
harder to recruit minority can-
didates, and less likely for
minority communities to be tar-
geted by campaigns.
“It becomes sort of self-ful-
illing — they’re not likely vot-
ers, so you don’t talk to them,
and because you don’t talk to
them, they don’t become likely
voters,” says political consul-
tant Roger Salazar, whose cli-
ents include California’s legis-
lative Latino caucus.
The power of incumbency
also can work against minority
representation. Decades of
deeply ingrained name recog-
nition have helped white law-
makers continue to get elected
in some districts where popula-
tion shifts have gradually made
racial minorities the majority.
Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, speaks to the House of
Delegates at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va. Virginia’s
only Latino state lawmaker, Lopez made it his first order
of business to file legislation granting in-state college tu-
ition to immigrants living in the U.S. illegally since child-
hood. So far, the bill has died in committee each year Lo-
pez has submitted it.
Another factor is the way
legislative districts have been
drawn. Racial gerrymandering
can occur either when minority
communities are divided
among multiple districts to
dilute their voting strength or
when they are packed heavily
into a single district to dimin-
ish the likelihood of minorities
winning multiple seats.
Some success
In states that have elected a
critical mass of minority legis-
lators, they’ve claimed some
policy successes.
In California, a new law
expands the state’s Medi-Cal
health care program for low-in-
come residents to immigrant
children, regardless of their
legal status. The state budget
includes $15 million for non-
proits to help immigrants gain
U.S. citizenship or remain in
the country. And a law that
kicked in last year provided
drivers’ licenses to more than
600,000 people living in the
country illegally.
But minority legislators in
numerous states told the AP
that their priorities have been
stymied partly due to a lack of
others like them.
For 22 years, Delaware state
Sen. Margaret Rose Henry has
been the only black senator in
a state where African-Ameri-
cans comprise more than one-
ifth of all residents. Henry says
she has long sought to improve
the educational opportunities
for black children bused under
a Wilmington desegregation
plan to suburban schools. But
recommendations from multi-
ple studies have gone nowhere
over the years.
Now, a new commission
has recommended realigning
Wilmington area school dis-
tricts and revising the state
funding formula to direct more
money to schools with larger
numbers of students who are
low-income, learning English
or at high risk of not complet-
ing school. Henry fears the
plan will again be dificult to
pass.
“If there were more black
elected oficials, we would
have a better chance to get
something done,” she says.
he Daily Astorian
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BANKRUPTCY $275
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(503)440-0281 / (503)678-7939
Billing Specialist Needed:
Responsiblities include billing out
daily accounts and handling
insurance claims. Making patient,
hospital and insurance phone
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Send resumes to jobs@medix.org
or Medix Ambulance, 2325 SE
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97146
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46 Announcements
Sunset Empire Park & Recreation
District announces a change to
their Monthly Board of Directors
Meeting Schedule. Beginning in
July, Board of Directors Meet-
ings will be held on the 3rd
Tuesday of each month at 4pm.
All meetings are held at the Bob
Chisholm Community Center in
Seaside and are open to the
public. The July Board Meeting
will be held on Tuesday, July
19, at 4pm.
61 Bankruptcy
BANKRUPTCY $275
26 Years Experience
(503)440-0281 / (503)678-7939
MISCELLANEOUS
300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jewelry
310 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tools & Heavy Equipment
350 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appliances
360 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Furniture & H H Goods
365 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Antiques & Collectibles
375 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Misc. For Sale
379-395 . . . . Swap Meets & Garage Sales
400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Misc. Wanted
430 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arts & Crafts
EMPLOYMENT
060 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Babysitters, Child Care
070 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Help Wanted
080 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Work Wanted
FINANCIAL
105-106 . . . . . . Business For Sale- S ales Op
120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Money To Lend
REAL ESTATE
130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Open Houses
150-200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Sale
160 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lots & Acreage
195 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homes Wanted
205-275 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rentals
285-290 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RV/Trailer Space
ANIMALS/LIVESTOCK
460 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Animal Boarding
470 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fe ed-Hay-Gr ain
475-495 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anim al-Live stock
485 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pets & Supplies
MARINE
500-525 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marine
AUTOMOBILE
535-595 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Automobile
70 Help Wanted
Full time/Half time Truck driver:
Class A CDL, medical card, on
road/off road experiance required.
Call 503-791-7038.
Beautiful, Young, Siamese Cat
Owners Moved and Abandonded It.
Call 503-836-2142
For More Info or Arrange Meeting
45 Public Notices
70 Help Wanted
ANNOUNCEMENTS
035 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lost & Found
040 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Personals
050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professional Services
061 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bankruptcy
Astoria Riverwalk Inn
is under new management
and is currently accepting
applications for
•Front Desk
•Housekeeping
•Laundry personnel.
We offer competitive wages
starting at $12 per hour plus an
end of summer bonus!
Interested applicants should
apply in person at 400 Industry
Street here in Astoria.
Accounting/Data Entry Clerk
(Astoria, OR)
Small office looking for an entry level
accounting/data entry clerk
This position is FULL TIME and
YEAR ROUND
Mon-Sat 7am-5pm
Wage $11-$14 per hour
Send reply to Box 242, c/o Daily
Astorian, P.O. Box 210, Astoria,
OR 97103
BioOregon Protein has an
immediate opening for a
Lab Technician I.
Apply in person at
1935 NW Warrenton Drive in
Warrenton. 503-861-2256.
Pre-employment screening
required. EEO and e-verify
company.
Hiring experienced Journeyman
Electricians to join our team.
Located in Seaside.
Bill’s Tavern and Brewhouse is
hiring for the following positions:
•Prep Cook, PT/Nights
•Servers, PT/FT
•Bussers PT/FT
Please apply in person at
188 N Hemlock,
Cannon Beach.
503-436-2202
70 Help Wanted
Clatsop Care In Home Caregiver
positions available. Bring your
caring attitude for our clients.
Flexible hours, experience
preferred, but will train. Employer
paid benefits upon eligibility.
EOE. Apply at
www.clatsopcare.org or
646 16th St. Astoria.
Helly Hansen is hiring retail staff to
sell outdoor apparel at its Seaside
store! Apply:
store.seaside@HellyHansen.com
Requirements:
Oregon General Journeyman
Electrician License. Residential
card OK.
Oregon Driver’s License
We offer TOP PAY for qualified
applicants.
Paid holidays and paid vacation.
Call John 503-739-7145 or
email resume to:
joan@jjelectricservice.com
MAKE A SOCIAL IMPACT!
MTC seeks candidates for several positions at Tongue Point Job Corps.
We teach 473 youth, ages 16-24, the academic, technical training, and
employability skills they need to become prepared for successful
careers. Students apply through a Job Corps admissions counselor and
have to be accepted into the program. Training is open entry, open
exit and can last up to 2 years. Students work at their own pace,
guided by staff who are committed to their success. MTC has some of
the best benefits on the North Coast including 3 weeks vacation,
2 weeks sick leave, 11 paid holidays, and fully-vested 401-k.
Please consider joining our amazing team.
Not sure? Call for a tour! 503-338-4924.
Clean-Sweep Paving & Maint.
Truck Driver/Equipment Operator
Laborer
Full Time, Perm Position.
Acceptable Drivers License (Class A
CDL) Pre-Employ Drug Test.
Benefit Package, Competitive Wage
DOE.
1570 Lewis & Clark Rd, Seaside
503-738-7556
cs@cleansweeppaving.com
Campus Security Officer
Human Resources Assistant
Custodian
Recreation Advisor (full & part-time)
Residential Advisor (full-time & oncall)
Records Clerk (temporary)
For more information, go to www.mtctrains.com. Select Careers and the
Tongue Point location. Drug and tobacco-free workplace.
Equal Opportunity Employer. Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
MTC Values Diversity!