The Political Representation of Latinos in Washington
By Ian Warner
Executive Summary
The Political Representation of Latinos in Washington
Ian Warner, Whitman College
Executive Summary, November 27, 2006
“Every
time I would bring an issue up it would get shot down. Was it because I
was a woman bringing it up and they were all men, was it because I was
Latina, I don’t know. But it didn’t feel like was accomplishing much
except that I was brining issues up that they never discuss, things
that they never considered in the past. And maybe they didn’t consider
them but at least they were brought forward. They were brought into the
public.”
Benjie Aguilar, former city council member, Sunnyside, Washington
Topic:
The general topic area of this report is the political representation
of minority populations. The main question my research seeks to answer
is; What are the main causes of the discrepancy between Washington’s
growing Latino population and the low level of Latino representatives
on city councils in key areas of the state?
Methods: This report
began by collecting census data about Washington State’s Latino
populations. By compiling election returns and voter lists the report
presents detailed information about current voting trends and their
impact on city council elections in the state. The report specifically
focuses on Sunnyside, Washington. Sunnyside was chosen because it
accurately represents the apparent discrepancy between Latino
populations around the state and their political representation. 75% of
Sunnyside’s population is Latino while there is currently only one
Latino on its city council. The report details the impact of at-large
elections and racially polarized voting upon the political
representation of the states largest minority population. The
statistical presentation of racially polarized voting is accompanied by
testimonials of voters in Sunnyside and an interview of a Latina
politician involved in several recent elections. The report employs the
scholarly research of academics in order to establish the historical
importance of voting rights litigation and the relationship between the
Voting Rights Act and my findings.
Findings: The most
significant aspect of my report is in reference to the 1982 amendments
of the Voting Rights Act. Sunnyside constitutes a situation in which
all three requirements for a minority population to bring suit against
the state are fulfilled. (1) Sunnyside has structural obstacles to the
electoral success of minorities, such as at-large elections; (2) in
Sunnyside behavioral patterns that interact with the social obstacles
to exaggerate the political power of the majority- - i.e., racially
polarized voting exists; and (3) a resulting under representation of
the minority community relative to is proportion of the population is
present in Sunnyside. These facts the provide grounds for a
re-examination of the use of at large-general elections in Sunnyside
and other cities around the state.
Recommendations: My research
demonstrates that that the at-large election format in Sunnyside is in
violation of the Voting Rights Act. An alternative election format,
such as district elections, should be implemented. In addition, there
should be a renewed effort in Sunnyside and elsewhere to increase voter
participation.
Community Partner: The inspiration for my
project was initiated by my community partner Joaquin Avila, assistant
professor of Law at Seattle University School of Law. Professor Avila’s
previous work and expertise was central to creating the direction that
my project was to take and the conclusions that it has produced.
