Saturday, June 8, 1996

Hispanics are a political force this year

By ANNA M. TINSLEY
Harte-Hanks Austin Bureau

DALLAS - Victor Morales walked into a crowded caucus room Friday to a standing ovation.

Stopping to look around, he said with a grin, "Every time that happens it's natural for me to go, 'Who's here? Who's that for?' I'm still not used to it, so if I look a little embarrassed, it's for real."

Morales, an ordinary schoolteacher seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate, began an extraordinary trip around Texas in a 1992 Nissan pickup truck to ask for support in ousting his opponent, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm.

Many Democrats say the Mesquite teacher who financed a successful political campaign with his meager savings is a shining example of how diversity - and Hispanic strength in the party - is growing.

"There is an almost unprecedented unity and optimism (in the party)," State Democratic Chairman Bill White said. "We are a party that celebrates the diversity of American life. That's one of our values. We see diversity in America as our asset."

As diverse as the sprawling state they live in, 10,000 Democratic delegates - from Irish-Americans to Hispanics to Muslims - converged in Dallas this weekend for their party's biennial convention.

The different backgrounds and lifestyles they represent, White said, can strengthen the party by providing different perspectives. Even so, White said, Democrats must remain united.

"I believe that if folks want to create a caucus and gather together and talk about common issues, it may give them more of a feeling of empowerment," he said. "But I don't think there ought to be hyphenated Democrats."

More than 20 caucuses, including those for Asian-Americans, Arabs, African-Americans, Irish-Americans, Hispanics and Muslims, gathered during the convention to make decisions about policies or candidates within political groups.

Ron Melugin, a Democratic precinct chairman in Gainesville, said he sees a party both united and diverse.

"Different caucuses show everybody that we really are the people's party," said Melugin, of state Senate District 30, which includes Abilene and Wichita Falls. "We represent a cross section of America and have always been diversified."

The goal of caucuses is to unite members and deliver a message. For Hispanics, that message is clear, said Raul Garcia, chair of the State Democratic Executive Committee's Mexican-American Caucus.

"It's about the importance of the Hispanic vote in Texas and how critical and vital it is to all Democratic candidates," he said, especially now, as Hispanics are gaining more political power - and a larger share of the overall population - across the state.

Two Hispanic officials are running statewide - Morales in his quest for the U.S. Senate seat and Hector Uribe, a candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission.

Population shifts in Texas show Hispanics may soon make up a majority of the state's population. In 1980, Hispanics made up 20.98 percent of the state's population, which increased to 25.55 percent in 1990, according to state censuses.

At the same time, the population of black Texans dropped slightly - from 11.89 percent in 1980 to 11.63 percent in 1990. There also are fewer white Texans, who now make up 60.59 percent of the population, compared to 65.71 in 1980.

Other races were grouped together as "other." That number of Texans increased from 1.41 percent in 1980 to 2.23 percent in 1990, according to state censuses.

"I think (the Mexican-American Caucus) is a very vital party of the party," Garcia said. "As a group of citizens who are emerging as a majority in the near future, it's very vital for them to have a say so in the political arena."

That influence should prove especially powerful this year, as Morales takes on Gramm for the prized U.S. Senate seat.

Widespread enthusiasm for Morales, Democrats hope, could be the incentive needed to get Hispanic voters to the polls in November.

"I think we are going to be very successful with Victor Morales being the nominee for the Senate and several other races with Hispanics across the state," Garcia said. "We stand a very excellent chance of getting the vote out."