CONTACT: SHERI ANNIS
(213) 627-2913

March 20, 1998.

The latest statewide Field Poll, released on March 20, shows a substantial rise in support over the past six weeks for Proposition 227, the "English for the Children" initiative to dismantle bilingual education in California. During this period, support among likely voters has risen from 66% to 70% and opposition has dropped sharply from 27% to 20%. The measure now leads overwhelmingly among all ethnic and demographic groups in the state.

The rise in support for 227 was greatest among Latinos, climbing 15 points to reach a 61% to 34% figure. The February Field Poll, showing Latinos evenly divided, had been based on a much smaller Latino sample size, which was statistically unreliable. Among all ethnic groups, Asian support for Prop. 227 is greatest, being 75% to 14%, or better than 5 to 1.

According to Prop. 227 Chairman Ron Unz, the rise in support for 227 is especially impressive given the reluctance on the part of California's establishment politicians to embrace the measure. "Right now, not a single candidate for governor has been willing to publicly endorse Prop. 227, yet public support for Prop. 227 is greater than the support for all four candidates for governor---combined."

Leading opponents of Prop. 227 include: Antonia Hernandez, President of MALDEF; Ron Prince, Chairman of the Prop. 187 Committee; Michael Schroeder, Chairman of the Republican Party; Art Torres, Chairman of the Democratic Party; and the leaders of most of the other large, establishment political organizations of California. Leading supporters of Prop. 227 include the people of California.