ANITA DUARTE TALKS to OUR PAPER Incumbent Keeps Mum on Her Views
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San Jose Repertory: Viva la "Flea"! see page 14 Aoar pap«r your paper Volume I Number 4 October 13,1982 Published biweekly in Santa Clara County by Our Projects, Inc. ANITA DUARTE TALKS TO OUR PAPER Incumbent keeps mum on her views intend to work with the people when I*m in City Hall and let their voices be heard through me.’ —Anita Duarte “The campaign is unwilling to do the interview because of concern about the possible misuse of the material by the opponent.“ —Manuel Sandoval Campaign Manager for Blanca Alvarado Anita Duarte, frontrunning candidate for San Jose City Coun Blanca Alvarado, incumbent councllwoman, decides at last cil District S, Is interviewed by Our Paper. Seepage 2. minute to keep mum on her views. See Editorial on page 4. Gay soldier wins right to re-enlist Duarte challenges opponent Anita Duarte, candidate for “ The taxpayers in District 5 Prior to the sign incident, Alva Seattle (IG NA) A federal Contacted by AP at his home, San Jose City Council District have been left out in the cold due rado had accused Duarte of an judge has ruled that a 34-year- • Watkins said he was relieved at to Alvarado’s negligence," “ attempt to confuse the election” old career soldier cannot be the latest ruling. But he indicated S, has issued a challenge to the incumbent Blanca Alvarado to Duarte told Our Paper. by putting up billboards printed in barred from re-enlistment that he didn’t think his fight with “ At the same time, the incum Alvarado’s bright-orange cam simply because he is an the military was over. “ There’s no defend her record since taking bent has managed to spend more paign color. Duarte’s color is avowed homosexual. telling what they could come up office nearly two years ago. than S 140,000 on her own office,” green. Sergeant Perry Watkins, a 14- with tomorrow,” he said. In a press release received Mon Duarte said. “ It has cost us as year Army veteran, was told by Watkins, a Tacoma native, is a day by Our Paper, Duarte accuses much as $10,000 a month to keep continued page 6 the Army in 1979 that he could personnel supervisor at Fort Lewis Alvarado of non-participation her there doing nothing for us.” not re-enlist when his current tour near Tacoma. and excessive absenteeism “ at the In other developments, the Dis expires this month. But U.S. Watkins’ lawyer, Jim Lobsenz, expense and detriment of the citi trict Attorney’s office announced INSIDE District Judge Barbara Rothstein argued in court that the Army zenry” of her district. Tuesday it would file charges ruled recently that he is eligible to never proved that his client’s Duarte’s allegations are based against Alvarado’s son-in-law, on a report compiled for her re-enlist for six more years. homosexuality harmed his job Frank Ochoa, for tearing down The Army contended that performance. campaign over the last two Duarte political signs. Ochoa re months by a private research military service is a privilege, not a Judge Rothstein disagreed with turned 11 signs, but Duarte main fnterview p) right, and that homosexuality is a the Army’s contention that team. tains that almost SOO signs were According to the report, Alva sufficient reason for disqualifying Watkins knew all along that he taken down. ¡Editorial pd rado missed a combined total of someone. risked losing his Army career Upon learning that her son-in- Judge Rothstein called “ patent because of his homosexuality. 172 ordinance and resolution law had been caught taking down (azin»’p.7 votes since taking office in Janu ly absurd” the Army’s conten She said, “ Plaintiff declared his the signs. Alvarado expressed her tion that enlistment personnel homosexuality to the Army from ary 1981. regret, but maintained that her Ij|^tylèp.l5 the very beginning, and even if he Duarte is particularly critical of volunteers had become “frus were unaware of Watkins’ Alvarado’s absence from impor homosexuality. was not believed at first, (any) trated” by “a pattern...whereby Last May Rothstein ruled that doubt that he was in fact tant budget and capital improve my opponent had placed her cam the Army cannot discharge homosexual was resolved in 1968 ment program meetings at which paign signs...over those previous Watkins simply because he when plaintiff admitted to spending plans were adopted for ly erected by our volunteers,” the city with virtually no input publicly talked about his engaging in relations with other according to the San Jose from the District S represenutive. homosexuality. servicemen.” • Mercury. INTERVIEW Anita Duarte i c 7 { /iid < X 4t toÂcdr ie /i San Jose City Council District 5 Anita Duarte, frontrunning candidate for San Jose City Council District 5, is determined to gain the public to- office that she missed out on in 1980 by one vote in the primary, which took her out of the run-off at that time. In this year’s primary, Duarte pulled ahead o f the incum bent Blanca Alvarado by 103 votes. Duarte, who has always made herself accessible to all segments o f the San Jose community, took time from her busy campaign schedule to meet with Johnie Staggs and Rosalie Nichols o f Our Paper for an interview at her East San Jose home. Our Paper: Of all the districts in the ballot in 1980? are Gays, whether they’re open or open the City Council sessions. San Jose, District 5 probably b AD: In 1980,1 was running for what is called a “ closet” person. Not all religions views were repre most in need of strong representa office and was edged out by one There are many people who live sented, and the Greater San Jose tion at City Hail. Wby do you vote on the primary. I supported in the closet, not only in the Gay Association of Evangclkals was think you’re the most quaUfied to A&B through my literature, community, but in other minority given exclusive control over the provide that representation? talked about it to other people, groups that have felt discrimina selection of ministers for nine Anita Duarte: 1 feel that I’m the and supported it financially. tion — people who are Hispanic months out of the year. How do most qualiPied because if you The reason I supported it was but do not say that they’re His you feel about the issue? examine the records of the two that I talked to the people that it panic, or Jewish people who do AD: I personally believe that we candidates, I have been instru would be affecting. They dis not say that they’re Jewish. have gotten into problems because 4 V mental in getting more things cussed the issue with me and what I believe that is So, and I feel we have not stood by the principle done to benefit the people who it meant to them. that it would be my duty as a of separation of church and state. ‘ ti live in this district. My opponent was discrimina responsive representative of this I feel that perhaps we can just -Ji 1 went to Washington, D.C. in tory. Working with her personal district to see that everyone was have a few minutes of silence 1977 to talk to the Director of friend, ex-councilman David included. HUD and White House represen Runyon, she met with and ac OP: Do you have any openly Gay tatives to bring back Community cepted the support of the so-called people working on your cam Block Grant funds to fix up our "My opponent hasn’t worked for Concerned Citizens opposing paign? Who are they? neighborhoods, homes and u s . ” (© Photo by Ms. Allas Press) A&B, but she did not meet with AD: Yes, I do. I have Gay people streets. the people supporting the working with me, just as 1 have I was instrumental in getting Other four incumbents won in measures. black people working with me, bus shelters in the East Side, and 1 June. My opponent used my position Chicano people, Anglo, and peo hel[>ed to develop the Health Sys My opponent hasn’t worked for on non-discrimination against me ple from every walk of life and tems Agency, which takes care of us. i want to be sure in the two successfully in 1980, and she re every economic level. billions of dollars for county months that she has left that she ceived support from the Con I have a friend of mine, Eladio health services. gets to having input to those cerned Citizens and FAMPAC Guerrero, who has been an acti I have served on a number of council meetings because she owes (the so-called Pro-Family Political vist in the Gay community for ¿PA- M 4- fin-ùtcC fiC ecC dteuteC boards and commissions, and 1 it to us. She hasn’t done the work Action Committee) again in this many years. I have worked with have done a lot of other work. that she was sent there to do. And year’s primary. FAMPAC circu him over the years on many other Coming from a family of 14,1 1 intend to pick up the pieces when lated some hideous “ pro-life” issues that pertain to people’s have worked very hard to get my I get there, but she should be material to the churches in my rights for better health care w d education because i was an 8th working on it right now.