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GOP hopefuls court Latinos Emily Bazar LOS ANGELES -- In what was expected to be their last public appearance together before the March 5 primary, the three major Republican gubernatorial candidates vied Saturday for the votes of Latino political activists, arguing that Gov. Gray Davis has let their community down. With impassioned pleas -- and in one case, a fiery outburst -- Secretary of State Bill Jones, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and businessman Bill Simon persuaded more than 400 Latinos from all over the state, most of them Republicans, that the Democratic governor has destroyed the state budget, contributed to the faltering economy and failed the state's public school system. Riordan kicked off the criticism at a news conference before the candidates' speeches, when he angrily accused Davis of undermining Proposition 227, the successful 1998 ballot measure intended to sharply curtail bilingual education in California. He accused some schools, at the direction of the state Board of Education, of forcing children into classes taught in Spanish against their parents' will. "Gray Davis, in the name of God, in the name of our children, stop this!" Riordan shouted, his face red and voice wavering. Riordan's outburst was an aberration in an otherwise calm day of campaigning at the "Latino Summit," an event sponsored by the state and national Republican parties at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. The gathering was a must-do for the three candidates, who have competed for the growing Latino vote and skirmished over endorsements from Latino organizations. In their eight-minute speeches, the candidates stood side-by-side behind lecterns and refrained from attacking each other, a tactic they have increasingly employed in recent days. Instead, they concentrated on issues that have traditionally concerned Latino voters -- such as family values, education and the economy -- and insisted that they could improve on Davis' performance. Simon, who spoke first, told the group that his policy proposals, such as reducing the capital-gains tax, would spur business and job growth and create opportunities. He also called for local control of schools and additional accountability standards. "When you look at the performance of our present Governor Gray Davis, I don't think we're in any danger of having more jobs or better schools for anyone, much less the Latino community," Simon said. Riordan, who enjoyed significant Latino support as mayor, launched his speech with a theme that has characterized his campaign: The Republican Party can't succeed without embracing women and minorities. "The new Republican Party will be a party of inclusiveness, bringing women, Latinos, other minorities into the leadership of the party, to make it a better party," he said. "All the issues that confront our state for the future ... affect everybody, but particularly Latinos because you are the future of our state." Before his speech, Riordan debuted a Spanish-language television ad that started airing in markets outside Los Angeles on Saturday. The 30-second spot is thought to be the first Spanish-language ad to run during a California Republican primary. Jones focused heavily on his experience as secretary of state, and on his efforts to register voters from all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. He also lambasted Davis' record, saying he can beat the governor in November if he wins the primary. "The California dream that we all came here for is still alive and well, and it rests with the Republican Party," Jones said. Davis campaign spokesman Roger Salazar countered the candidates' claims, saying Davis received 71 percent of the Latino vote in 1998 and has since come through for Latinos by making improvements in health care, education and public safety. "The governor has always enjoyed the support of the Latino community, and that's because he's acted for them," Salazar said. "We don't expect that to change at all this year." He also disputed Riordan's accusation that Davis is undermining Proposition 227, calling it "ridiculous." "The governor has always said he would uphold Proposition 227 ... even if he doesn't agree with it," Salazar said. A little more than a week ago, Davis launched his own Spanish-language commercial, in which Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante praises Davis and lauds him for opposing Proposition 187. The anti-illegal immigration initiative, which was sponsored by then-Gov. Pete Wilson in 1994 and championed by Republicans, alienated many Latinos. Recently, however, Republicans at the state and national level have begun to aggressively court Latinos, the nation's fastest-growing ethnic group and an increasingly prized voting bloc. Shawn Steele, chairman of the California Republican Party, said 90 percent of the party is white. As a result, he said, the party has no choice "but to change and expand and grow." Indeed, to win elections in California, the Republican Party must win Democratic votes, said Rudy Fernandez, director of grass-roots development for the Republican National Committee. "Appealing to the Hispanic community in California and nationwide is going to lead to victory," he said. The Republican National Committee coordinated Saturday's event in conjunction with the California Republican Party and the White House, making for a strong national presence. Images of President Bush, who enjoys high approval ratings among Latino voters, were everywhere. Although the national party will not endorse a particular candidate in the primary, it will support the Republican nominee in the general election, pumping money and resources into the campaign, Fernandez said. "We plan to be competitive in California, in the gubernatorial race and in 2004," he said. Doreen De Los Santos, 34, is a Latina who says she will vote Republican in November. Though she voted for Davis in 1998, she said she has been disappointed by his handling of the state energy crisis and his education policy. The Ventura resident, a registered Republican, said she's not sure who she will vote for in the primary, but is leaning toward Riordan. Davis' "handling of politics in general didn't benefit the Latino population," she said. "He didn't really deliver for us." The Bee's Emily Bazar can be reached at (916) 326-5540 or ebazar@sacbee.com . |