From Modesto to Mobile, Spokane to Springfield, and Rochester to Rockford,
there is extensive variation in the organized representation of racial and ethnic groups in
local politics. In Salinas, California, the field of organizations vying to represent racial
and ethnic groups in local politics is crowded and vociferous. Many of the organizations
in Salinas represent the largest ethnic group there—Latinos—yet the types of
organizations include local chapters of national political organizations, labor unions,
business groups, and neighborhood based organizations. Salinas is also home to several
organizations representing inter-racial coalitions. An article in the local newspaper, The
Californian, observes that the challenge of so many organizations involved in local
politics is “to avoid duplication and turf battles.”
The organizational portrait is quite
different in Augusta, Georgia. Among the handful of organizations representing racial
and ethnic groups in Augusta politics, most are civil rights groups or faith-based
organizations. An article in the Augusta Chronicle compares the historically concentrated
black political power base in Augusta to Richard Daley’s party machine in Chicago.
The contrast between racial and ethnic organizations in Salinas and Augusta
points to several key questions about racial and ethnic mobilization in local politics. What
accounts for the wide divergence in the numbers racial and ethnic organizations in each
city? What factors promote the formation of organizations representing each racial or
ethnic group as well as inter-racial coalitions? What is the relationship between
organizational mobilization and electoral representation?
This set of questions brings together two branches of urban politics literature—
studies of minority elected representation and studies of organizational mobilization.
Research addressing elected representation of racial and ethnic groups has considered the
1
Jimenez, Jerry. “Working for a common goal.” The Californian. September 14, 2002.
2
Wynn, Mike. “Loss of leaders could ring in new political era.” The Augusta Chronicle. October 9, 2005.
2
Convention