Democrats Seek Diversity for L.A. Convention

SACRAMENTO — California Democratic Party officials announced plans Wednesday to send the most diverse delegation of any state to the national Democratic convention in Los Angeles next August.

The state party wants 26% of its delegates to be Latino, 16% African American, 10% disabled, 9% Asian-Pacific Islander, 1% American Indian, 5% gay men and 5% lesbian.

Half the delegates will be men and the other half women, said state party spokesman Bob Mulholland.

The goals are the same as those written for the 1992 and 1996 conventions, he said, and will continue California’s tradition of reflecting the most diverse population in the country at presidential nominating conventions.

Since 1988, national Democratic Party rules have required delegations to reflect the diverse faces of their home states. Each state sets its own goals.

“We ended up with the most diversified delegation in the United States in 1992 and 1996,” Mulholland said.

“At our convention in Los Angeles, I think you are going to see an America that exists today,” said state party Chairman Art Torres. “Whereas, the diversity of the Republican convention is going to reflect the diversity of Idaho.”

Demographic projections have forecast that racial and ethnic minority groups are expanding so quickly in California that they will soon outnumber whites to become the collective majority of the population.

Torres said California’s intent as it hosts the convention is to showcase its diversity and its leadership in the recruitment and election of minority group candidates.

Gov. Gray Davis, who recently vetoed Democratic-sponsored legislation that would have continued some minority outreach programs in state hiring, will head the 432-member California delegation. Preferences for minorities and women in state hiring are prohibited under the voter-passed Proposition 209; the vetoed legislation would have permitted nonbinding outreach efforts to encourage diversity in the pools of applicants.

Davis opposed Proposition 209, but has said he will enforce the ballot initiative as an expression of the voters’ will.

Mulholland said he sees no conflict in Davis vetoing the bill but heading a delegation dedicated to diversity.

“Political parties are different than government. The Democratic Party’s agenda under Art Torres is to build a delegation that reflects California. That is why we have the affirmative action goals.”