Hispanic Caucus Assails Precinct Guard Use

The 7-member Hispanic Legislative Caucus in Sacramento on Thursday labeled as “vigilantism” the Orange County Republican Party’s use of uniformed security guards on Election Day at 20 Santa Ana precincts where there are heavily Latino populations.

“This type of action tends to undermine the integrity of our election system,” said Assemblyman Peter R. Chacon (R-San Diego), chairman of the caucus.

County GOP Chairman Thomas A. Fuentes has said the guards were hired because of rumors that there would be attempts at voter fraud. County Registrar of Voters Donald F. Tanney ordered the guards away from the polls within hours of their arrival.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Republican as well as Democratic and Latino leaders. A bipartisan group is expected to file a lawsuit today to overturn the results of the 72nd Assembly District race, in which all 20 precincts are included. Republican Curt Pringle won the election by an 867-vote margin over Democrat Christian F. (Rick) Thierbach.

Chacon said that given the narrow margin of victory, “the presence of uniformed guards may have very well affected the outcome” of the race.

He said the caucus wants to go on record as unanimously supporting investigations already under way by law enforcement agencies.

Other members of the Hispanic caucus are Sens. Ruben S. Ayala of Chino, Joseph B. Montoya of Whittier and Art Torres of Los Angeles and Assembly members Charles M. Calderon of Alhambra and Richard Polanco and Lucille Roybal Allard of Los Angeles. All are Democrats.