SAN CLEMENTE : Turnout Poor for Bilingual Forum

Despite a poor turnout, local leaders say a landmark bilingual forum for City Council candidates over the weekend was an important start toward increasing communication with the city’s growing Latino community.

About 30 people attended the 90-minute candidates’ forum Sunday evening at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Hall, the first forum of its type ever held in South County. Most of those in attendance were either friends or family of the panelists, translators and council candidates.

“It was disappointing for the turnout,” said the Rev. Anthony Guillen of St. Clement’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. “I thought we would have had more people. But this is really new. For Latinos who came here more recently, they’ve never been empowered or given the opportunity to speak up. I think this is a good beginning.”

Forum organizer Jim Miranda, a realtor and community activist, said it will be up to the few Spanish-speaking residents present at the event to carry the messages of the candidates into the Latino community, which makes up about about 14% of San Clemente’s 43,000 residents.

“(The candidates) are a lot more sensitive to the issues now,” Miranda said. “I hope others will now pick up the torch. I basically just lit the candle.”

During the forum, the six candidates vying for two City Council seats in the Nov. 3 election were asked about what they would do to improve relations with the Latino community, especially in wake of a fatal police shooting of a Mexican immigrant in Bonita Park on Sept. 27.

Police officials have also been criticized for calling in back-up from U.S. Border Patrol agents to help disperse a crowd of about 25 to 40 Latinos who had gathered near the site of the shooting. Police say that some members of the crowd were getting violent and that Border Patrol agents were the closest officers available to help.

The candidates said they would be more than willing to do whatever is necessary to improve relations and communication.

“I’m willing to listen to anybody,” candidate Daniel Huard said.

Councilwoman Candace Haggard, who is seeking her second, four-year term, said she is sorry that there’s a perception that the city is not “sensitive to other people’s needs.”

“I feel like we have (been sensitive),” she said. “I feel like four years ago, this kind of forum wouldn’t have happened. Whether you rate this as a success, failure or somewhere in between, it happened. It’s a start.”

Candidate Glenn Edward Roy proposed that bilingual mailers be sent to residents about important city issues. “I’m also for a bilingual ballot,” he said.

Councilman Scott Diehl, who is seeking his third term, said he believes that curbing a high Latino dropout rate at San Clemente High School should be a top priority.

“Partnership is what makes our community work,” he said. “I’m willing to be a partner, to meet the needs as best I can.”

Candidates Mark Blencowe and David T. Leland said that if elected they also would take extra steps to address the problems.

“I know that there are problems that exist, but I really feel I am sensitive to those problems,” Leland said.

“It is only by communication,” Blencowe said, “that we can truly make a difference, and to make the city government responsive to every one.”