Battalion/Page 3
November 1, 1982
ce
Hispanics’ vote
hard to unite
1 () ne pen,
electoral v!
ill perceJ
les wouli
O the Hr
by Diana Sultenfuss
Battalion Staff
In every election, Hispanic
community leaders proclaim that
they must unite the Mexican-
eusioi) American people. But because
He elecii'the group is becoming diversi-
» of govnlied, leaders are finding it more
i essiona! and niore difficult to keep the
tie vote. vP e rPl e voti ng together.
| )e Reuben Bonilla, general
counsel for the League of United
! Latin American Citizens, said
block voting does occur, but will
ided she i not t> e a controlling factor in
gn head Tilesday’s elections.
W' “Traditionally, the Mexican-
, Americans are Democratic voters
i b, a citvi
i/ed on
appendt
»es matte:
tolls on 1
ill thedif
fed* J
because the Democratic Party
ties more with Hispanic
Bonilla said. “The Re
in Party machinery has by
large ignored Hispanic
so most Mexican-
cans vote Democratic.”
iilla, past president of
C, said that probably 70
It to 72 percent of the Mex-
.merican community
Mark White.
fa,, tt Clements has aimed for
ispanic vote,” he said. “He
> lone this by putting up
5 ual-appeal billboards, and
2* s appointed many Hispa-
| government positions.”
u < lilla said Clements is cater-
3^2 > the Hispanic community
?3^ |fo reasons. First, he said,
cuts wants to enrich Hispa-
5 “< trticipation in the Republi-
arty. Second, he said, Cle-
5 5 wants to make inroads into
■j democratic vote.
1 Antonio Mayor Henry
I tos said the Mexican-
| |ican vote is gaining power
Ise of an increase in the His-
1 i population.
I jeording to figures from the
Antonio Chamber of Com-
.•e, 57.7 percent of San Anto-
titizens are Hispanic,
ts Hispanics are becoming
e sophisticated and more in
indent, their voting patterns
.changing,” Cisneros said. “I
act that in the larger cities like
Antonio, the Mexican-
Biiericans will be voting both
Democratic and Republican. But
hev will be voting for their in-
‘ Cisneros said it is expected
hat Hispanics will vote different
ly as they make economic adv-
nces.
“1 think it’s perfectly natural
[or this to be happening,” he
aid. “I think it’s healthy for the
tate in every respect. I also be-
eve it’s healthy for the Hispanics
l'o know that attention is paid to
|heir needs.”
mi I S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzales
f San Antonio calls the Mexican-
mericans a diverse group.
“San Antonio has historically
tad a substantial presence of
Vlexican-Americans, but the
bup is not homogeneous,”
Dbnzales said.
^ ! He said the group has begun
o participate more in political
md civic processes than it has in
C ^he past 30 years. Gonzales said
fiht Mexican-American com-
rnunity has emerged and is now a
‘definite factor in the political
squation.”
, He added: “In San Antonio,
■nd, have had substantial demog-
lectoratea
lection da*
raphic changes. The Mexican-
Americans were in the ghetto un
til World War II.”
Gonzales said the barriers be
gan breaking down after the war.
He said that with the move out of
the ghettos came a change in vot
ing patterns.
“This is true of every group in
America,” he said. “And some of
these Hispanics are becoming
Republicans. I deplore it — I
wish they would stay Democrats.
But the overwhelming majority
of the community stays with the
Democrats.”
Bexar County Judge Albert
Bustamante said the Mexican-
American community is diversi
fied but predominantly votes for
Democrats.
Bustamante said the commun
ity traditionally unites behind the
organization that will support
them with social programs.
But Bustamante said the unity
of the group is changing because
the younger generations are
earning money.
“They don’t want to share
that,” he said. “They forgot —
they forgot where they got their
education.”
“We need to understand what
brought us to that point. When
we say, ‘let’s cut defense,’ or ‘let’s
cut Social Security,’ we need to
think about our past.”
That past has been marked by
low voter turnout. Those who
did vote supported the Demo
crats.
Bustamante predicted the
Mexican-American community
will vote 80 percent to 85 percent
Democratic in Tuesday’s elec
tions.
“They’ve really been affected
by Reaganomics,” Bustamante
said. “They’re the working class
and are being hit the hardest.”
Cisneros said the turnout will
be heavy in the election because
of high interest in the gubernato
rial race.
“There is a lot of excitement,
not only about the gubernatorial
race, but also about the more col
orful and ekeiting races below,”
he said.
Bonilla said the 800,000 to
850,000 registered Mexican-
American voters in Texas could
be an important bloc if they are
mobilizecl.
According to statistics from
the Southwest Voter Registration
Office, 30.1 percent of Hispanic
voters in Bexar County voted in
the 1978 primaries. The same set
of statistics shows 27.2 percent of
the registered Mexican-
American voters in the state
voted.
But Bonilla said he doesn’t ex
pect a large turnout in the elec
tion.
“The ‘magic’ isn’t there,” he
said. “Because of a lack of either
charisma or lack of identity with
the gubernatorial candidates,
this election won’t get a large
turnout.”
Gonzales said the Mexican-
American vote won’t be much
different from any other. But he
said the turnout will be lower be
cause the election is on Tuesday.
“The Mexican-American is a
working element and employers
don’t always encourage voting,”
he said.
Miss A&M contest
3erri s not all beauty
>
by Angie Kerr
Battalion Reporter
While most people think
“beauty” when the Miss Texas
A&M pageant is mentioned, the
executive director of the
pageant says it’s a scholarship
pageant.
Cindy Hollan said she feels
that the misconception comes
from the swimsuit competition,
which is used to see how the con
testants carry themselves,
f “You can really tell about a
girl’s poise and you can see how
well she keeps herself in shape
when she’s in a bathing suit,”
Hollan said. “You can’t always
tell in an evening gown.”
But Hollan said only 20 per
cent of the competition is based
on evening gown and swimsuit
competitions. Fifty percent of
the pageant is based on talent
and 30 percent on interviews.
I The winner of the pageant re
ceives a $1,000 academic scho
larship, a one-year membership
at Shapeway figure salon and ac
cess to a 1983 Cadillac for offi
cial appearances. A diamond
pendant, shaped like Texas, also
will be given to Miss Texas A&M
— the pendant is passed down
each year to winner to winner.
Hollan said the MSC Hospit
ality Committee, which sponsors
the pageant, has given out more
applications this year than ever
before. So far, about 100 appli
cations have been handed out
and Hollan said 60 to 70 percent
of the applications usually are
completed.
Although only 20 finalists will
be chosen to compete in the
pageant, there is enough time to
screen 120 contestants.
The last day to turn in an en
try form is Friday. Screenings
and interviews are scheduled for
Nov. 13 and 14.
Head yell leader Tom Joseph
and Sheri Ryman, former Miss
Texas and Miss Texas A&M, will
be master and mistress of cere
monies for the final competition
on Feb. 25.
0-C
*
jbor-
rs in
Day students get their news from the Batt.
Make your vote
count
Tuesday.
The general election tomorrow will decide several key races that directly affect
you and Texas A&M.
If you don't vote, "other people" will determine who will hold these important
offices. And you give up your right to have a say in matters that directly affect your
university and your personal life.
Registered voters on the Texas A&M campus can have a significant impact
Tuesday. Special interests always vote in strength and will do so again this year. But
their view may not be the same as students, faculty and staff of Texas A&M.
Take time Tuesday to vote. Let your voice be heard.
Campus Polling Places
(Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.)
IF YOU LIVE IN THESE DORMS:
Clements
Law
Crocker
Legett
Davis-Gary
McFadden
Fermier
McNeese
Fowler
Moore
Haas
Moses
Henderson
Neeley
Hotard
Puryear
Hughes
Schumacher
Keathley
Walton
T COLLEGE STATION
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Precinct 35
(Corner of Wellborn and Patricia across from One Potato, Two Potato)
IF YOU LIVE IN THESE DORMS:
Aston
Goodwin
Bizzell
Hart
Bolton
Krueger
Cain
Milner
Corp Dorms
Mosher
Dunn
Nagle
Francis
Scoates
Gainer
underwood
VOTE AT MSC
Precinct 20
IF YOU LIVE OFF CAMPUS
Precinct
37
21
9
8
31
32
10
34
24
Location
Bryan Municipal Golf Course
Hensel Park Clubhouse
College Station community center
South Knoll Elementary
A&M consolidated High School
College Station Fire Station Number Two
College Station Police Station
College station Central Fire
College Hills Elementary
POUTICAL AO PAID FOR BY COMMITTEES TO ELECT STEVE SMITH, COUNTY COURT AT LAW JUDGE/BETTY MILLER, COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 4/HUGH LINDSEY, JUSTICE OF
THE PEACE PRECINCT 7/JOHN LEVRETTE, COUNTY TREASURER/BOX 9213, COLLEGE STATION, TX 77840