Electing a Mayor by Ethnicity or Race

Pat Reddy’s Aug. 5 commentary, “Why the Next Mayor Will Be Jewish,” was alarming. I hope many readers had the same immediate reaction I did: What was that all about? Was it an attempt to be funny or just offensive? Following on the heels of a forward-looking article by Joe Hicks of the L.A. Multicultural Collaborative (Opinion, July 20), this felt like two steps backward. Hicks spoke of the need to demand that leaders, regardless of their racial or ethnic background, put the welfare of all of their constituencies first. Reddy’s article assumes that “minority” voters are not capable of such thinking.

The assertion that white voters (except all those “Valley people”) are of mixed religious and political persuasions--and are consequently more diverse in their thinking--is not carried over to the black, Jewish or Latino communities. To think of Latino, black and Jewish voters as monolithic blocs is offensive to all of us. Until we begin to see the diversity that exists in every one of our communities, we are doomed to be--as my dad used to say-- “blockheads.”

JAMES E. HILVERT

Exec. Dir., National Conference

(of Christians & Jews)

Los Angeles Region

* Reddy’s analysis of Los Angeles and urban voting trends is disturbing at best, and insulting at worst. It is disturbing to suggest that in 1997 only Latino voters can elect a Latino mayor. It is insulting to suggest that in 1997 no Latino could possibly assemble a winning coalition.

We must vigorously fight racially polarized voting and never surrender to this vestige of discrimination.

Perhaps Reddy is not familiar with the wide range of potential candidates who already have developed a base beyond the Latino community and are mentioned as possible candidates: Councilman Richard Alarcon, Rep. Xavier Becerra; Supervisor Gloria Molina; Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard; state Sen. Richard Polanco, and Assembly Majority Leader Antonio Villaraigosa. And perhaps Reddy has forgotten that all four of the new Latino members of the Assembly were elected from districts with a minority of Latino voters--only one where Latinos were even a bare majority of the district.

ARTURO VARGAS, Exec. Dir.

National Assn. of Latino

Elected Officials, Educational Fund

Los Angeles

* If Laura Chick runs for mayor she’s got my vote. Because she’s a Jew? Because she’s a woman? No, because from news articles I know she takes positive action against problems in her district, is visible, has a regard for the living conditions in and business climate of Los Angeles as a whole, especially of those with slim resources. Slumlords would meet their match. She’d be a fine mayor.

Let candidates be proud of who they are, but let them not think that their gender, race, ethnicity or religion is enough to get them elected.

DAMIANA CHAVEZ

Los Angeles