CONTACT: SHERI ANNIS (213) 627-0005

August 5, 1997.

Redwood City, CA -- Fernando Vega, a long-time leader of Latino Democrats in the San Francisco Peninsula area, today will endorse California's "English for the Children" initiative drive against "bilingual education," and join the campaign as Honorary Chairman for the Peninsula. Mr. Vega, a past City Councilman and School Board Member, had been recruited by the Clinton-Gore campaign in 1992 to lead the regional drive among Latino voters in the Peninsula area. His appointment will be announced Tuesday August 5th at 10:30am outside Hoover Elementary School, a school at which several of his own grandchildren had been placed in non-English "bilingual" programs against the wishes of their own parents.

During the 1970s Mr. Vega played a central role in establishing "bilingual education" programs at Hoover and other schools in his district, but in recent years concluded that the system is a failure and should be ended. "There is no shame in admitting that you once supported a program which you now see doesn't work in practice," declared Mr. Vega, "What is shameful is that so many politicians continue to support a program which they realize does not work and is hurting the education of millions of young children."

"Mr. Vega's public statements reflect the private sentiments of many, many other Latino political leaders,"suggested Ron Unz, Chairman of the "English for the Children" campaign, "but most are unwilling to take a stand on an issue perceived as too controversial." Mr. Vega added "I hope that more Latinos and more Democrats will now do what they believe to be right and go public with their views on this bipartisan initiative of such importance to the future of California's Latino population."

The initiative, planned for the June 1998 ballot, would immediately move California's 1.3 million non-English proficient students from the native-language system of "bilingual education" mandated by current state law into an intensive program of "sheltered English immersion." "Bilingual education" would remain an option which parents could specifically request for their children. The initiative also allocates $50 million per year for ten years to fund adult English literacy programs. Supporters and opponents both agree that the measure would essentially end "bilingual education" in California, and probably spark a move to do the same nationwide.