Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
February 10, 2004 Minorities missing from most powerful political officesIf America is ever going to see a minority president, more minorities must be elected to the offices of U.S. Senate and governor, says a Purdue University expert in minorities and politics. "There are many black mayors leading America's largest cities," says Judson L. Jeffries, associate professor of political science. "But mayors can only do so much. Black people, and other minorities, are missing from the most powerful political offices in this country." Jeffries is author of "Virginia's Native Son: The Election and Administration of Governor L. Douglas Wilder." Wilder was the first and last black person to be elected governor of any state. The majority of modern presidents were formerly governors. For example, presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter were governors of Texas, Arkansas, California and Georgia, respectively. "When Wilder served as governor of Virginia from 1989 to 1994, he thought he would be the first of many minorities to be governor," Jeffries says. "But, he was the first and last." Jeffries can talk about what it took to get Wilder elected governor and how those same forces apply to the many state races for new governors in 2004. CONTACT: Jeffries, (765) 494-7604, Jeffries@polsci.purdue.edu |