Dolores Huerta’s term as a regent expires today, and though Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not said whether he will offer Huerta another term, his office has received over 1,800 e-mails and at least 50 letters asking that he reappoint her.
Huerta, an activist who worked with César Chávez and co-founded the United Farm Workers of America, has served as a regent since September 2003, when Gov. Gray Davis appointed her to the remaining six months of an unfinished term.
Each of the 18 appointed regents of the University of California are appointed by the governor to serve for a certain period of time. Once that term runs out only the governor can reappoint them.
Schwarzenegger’s office would not comment on the likelihood of Huerta being reappointed.
Huerta has made it clear that though being a regent is a time-consuming and unpaid job, she wants to continue to help govern UC policy.
“If I am not appointed there is always a lot of work to be done with unity and everything, but I really would like to be reappointed,” she said.
During her short time as a regent, Huerta has become popular among students and labor organizations.
As a labor activist and one of two regents from the San Joaquin Valley, Huerta has an insider’s view on the needs of low-income workers and student issues like financial aid, fees and outreach.
And as Huerta herself often mentions during regents meetings, she is the mother of 11 grown children and has vast experience with public education in California.
“Most of the regents are successful business people, but Dolores comes from a different background,” said Matt Murray, the student regent for 2003-2004.
“Her background in social justice and labor struggles makes her voice important at the table … it would mean a lot to lose her,” Murray said.
Many organizations and individuals who sent letters to the governor in response to Huerta’s request for support share Murray’s opinion of Huerta’s importance to the board.
The UFW has recorded over 1,800 e-mails sent to the governor asking for Huerta’s reappointment.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation has also received copies of 50 letters, but “those are only from the people who took the time to CC their letters to us,” said Camila Chavez, executive director of the foundation, explaining that it is likely the governor’s office has received more.
Organizations that wrote to the governor asking for Huerta’s reappointment include the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Chavez said.
Many individuals, including both Murray and Jodi Anderson, the student regent designate and a UCLA education graduate student, also sent letters.
Anderson said Huerta’s experience working with low-income families could help the UC remain accessible for people from such communities, especially as budget constraints force the university to increase fees and decrease outreach and financial aid.
“She knows how important education is in those communities. If you are from a lower-income family, getting a higher education is something you can do to better yourself and give back to (the) community,” Anderson said.
Representatives of the governor’s office would not disclose the number of letters they had received, saying only that they could not comment on personnel matters.
Huerta will meet with the governor later this week.
“All of the issues that are at the table right now – they are talking about cutting out outreach ... programs – all these issues are really affecting students, especially students of color, and those are issues that I really care about,” Huerta said.