Abstract
Purpose. Popular belief held by many is that Latino elected officials pursue a distinct "Latino" agenda once in office. The "we take care of our own" social value translates into preferred treatment for an historically disenfranchised minority that is growing in California to majority status. This study empirically determined if this practice existed in six counties of Southern California at the municipal level of analysis. Theoretical framework. Social movement theory and theory of collective action suggest that representative politics result in favored public policy for identified group members. This preferential treatment is warranted by the distinct needs of minority groups that have been denied access to public resources and services. Methodology. Face to face personal interviews of thirty randomly selected Latino council persons representing seventy-one cities resulted in a determination of whether a "substantive" or "symbolic" Latino political agenda existed. Substantive agendas include hiring of Latino administrators, awarding of contracts to minority vendors, and passing resolutions for Latino residents. Symbolic agendas are represented by communicating Latino needs to others in various forums. Findings and conclusions. No distinct "symbolic" or "substantive" agenda exists at the municipal level but the perception that one exists at the county level is held by a majority of subjects. Secondary findings indicate Latino council persons feel they represent everyone fairly and do not specifically marshal resources specifically for Latinos. Recommendations. Future studies should examine representative and ethnic politics at the state and county level as contrasted to the local level. Social movement theory should be empirically tested in other municipal settings.