Racial, Ethnic Rivalry Shapes Legislative Contest -- Asians Compete With African-Americans In 37Th District

When Camille Monzon, a woman of Filipino and Native-American ancestry, stepped to the microphone at a recent forum, she had her son-in-law carry up her prop: a large, cardboard map showing where black churches have been set afire this year.

That the son-in-law is African American, and Monzon brought him before the predominantly African-American crowd, raised a few eyebrows at the First AME Church that night.

"At the political caucus the other day, one non-black candidate made it a point to show off a black in-law," wrote Chris Bennett, publisher of the African-American weekly newspaper, the Seattle Medium.

"I don't need to pander like that," Monzon countered. "A lot of people in the community know my family, and they know my family is very multi-racial. There's as many African Americans in my family as Asians, and Native Americans and white folk."

Nevertheless, the incident, and the response it stirred, was instructive on how race has been an undercurrent in two legislative campaigns in Seattle's 37th District.

The district is perhaps the most diverse in the state, running from the International District through the predominantly African-American communities around Rainier Avenue, and taking in the more affluent, and white, "Gold Coast" around Madison Park.

The candidates themselves have refrained from overtly playing the race card, but they and their supporters acknowledge the contests have pitted against one another ethnic groups longing for more political representation.

"To say that race hasn't played a role is to deny reality," said state Rep. Kip Tokuda, one of two incumbents running for re-election.

Tokuda, one of only two Asian Americans in the Legislature, is being challenged by Mae Scott, an African-American woman. In the other race, Monzon is trying to unseat state Rep. Dawn Mason, the only African American in the state House, and one of only two in the Legislature.

Newspapers back candidates

Bennett has been using the front page of the Medium to push the Scott and Mason candidacies.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Asian Weekly has promoted Monzon's candidacy, running a front-page article about Monzon's campaign kickoff. The article reported without challenge Monzon's charge that Mason has accomplished nothing in the Legislature.

Bennett responded in another front-page column that the Asian Weekly wouldn't criticize Tokuda in the same manner.

Bennett also has used his column to scold African Americans who have crossed racial lines. Former 37th District state Rep. Jesse Wineberry and the state's outgoing Democratic national committewoman, Dee Anderson, are among those backing Monzon. Seattle City Councilman John Manning and the former director of the state Commission on African American Affairs, James Kelly, are among those supporting Tokuda.

All this has put people like Kelly in a tough position.

"As former director of the Commission on African American Affairs, I think we all want to increase representation. In this case the African-American community is very supportive of the African-American candidates, just like the gay community wants to see gays get elected, or women want to see women get elected," Kelly said.

"But I also have a longstanding relationship with Kip as well. We go way back, collaborating on a lot of issues of importance to children of color. All I can say that he's always been there."

Last year, for instance, Tokuda sponsored and pushed through a bill designed to reduce racial bias in the justice system. The bill gives prosecutors uniform standards for deciding whether to press charges. "The same standards are going to be used for an African-American kid in Seattle as for a white kid in Okanogan County," Tokuda said.

Nevertheless, Tokuda is facing criticism in the African-American community, partly because he took on and defeated Vivian Caver, a prominent African-American activist, two years ago. She had been appointed to fill the seat Gary Locke vacated when he became King County executive.

Looking back to Locke

Locke himself caused some tensions when he ran against and unseated African-American state Rep. Peggy Maxie in 1982.

Bennett was speaking for many who didn't want to be quoted when he wrote: "Thus far, Asian male politicians in the 37th and 43rd Districts have walked on the backs of black folk in their quest for political power. We view the challenge to one such Asian politician as healthy. After all, turnabout is fair play."

Tokuda has also been perceived as unresponsive to the African-American community. He said that's unfair, citing his work in the Legislature on issues important to African Americans. As director of the Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Tokuda said he has worked for the benefit of endangered children, regardless of race.

Still, he acknowledged having been more interested in policy than hands-on community activism in the style of Mason and Scott.

That has made him less visible in the African-American community and engendered an image of unapproachability, said Barbara Laners, host of a public affairs show on KRIZ, a radio station owned by Bennett that has a large African-American audience.

On the other hand, Tokuda has developed strong ties in Olympia with legislators on both sides of the aisle. He has won most of the major political endorsements, including those of labor, the Democratic Party, and women's, environmental and law-enforcement groups. That has helped him outspend Scott by a 3-to-1 ratio.

Scott, meanwhile, has been visible and well-respected as a mental-health counselor in the district. She also has had experience in government, working as an administrator at the University of Washington, and like Tokuda, at the Department of Social and Health Services.

She also has a personal history many can identify with. A native of Arkansas, she has lived in the district for 38 years, raising two children, working and earning a masters' degree in social work.

Tokuda acknowledged race and visibility may play a large role in the election, because he and Scott don't disagree on the issues. Both are emphasizing education, children's issues, economic development, and have vowed to protect such programs as welfare and affirmative action.

Mason's race against Monzon, however, offers sharp political differences.

Monzon, calls herself a moderate Democrat and focuses on tax breaks to encourage business growth. She applauded Congress' welfare reforms as "wonderful," saying they would push welfare recipients to find work, rather than "sitting at home and eating bonbons."

Supported by the district's business community, she has raised a large amount of money - although Mason has closed the gap in recent weeks. Monzon also packed the 37th District Democrats endorsement meeting and blocked Mason from receiving the two-thirds vote needed for the party's nod.

She also has the support of African-American political leaders such as Wineberry and Anderson, the state's outgoing Democratic national comitteewomen.

Monzon has attacked Mason as ineffective because she didn't get any bills passed during her first two years in office. Mason says that's unfair. With Republicans holding a wide majority in the House the past two years, House Democrats focused on blocking GOP bills.

Last year, when the House Law and Justice Committee heard a bill to end state affirmative-action programs - affecting hiring, government contracts and college admission - opponents spilled out of the hearing room. Many had come to Olympia after Mason spoke at district churches. "She played a tremendous role" in killing the bill, Kelly said. "It's not uncommon for a Democrat in the minority not to have passed many bills. I don't think I'd use that as a litmus test for success or failure," Kelly said.

Mason said she has been effective in another way. She has brought home about $5 million in state funds for low-income housing in the district.