GAINING POLITICAL POWER

Fernando J. Guerra, an assistant professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University, has traced the increasing electoral success in Los Angeles County of four groups--Asians, blacks, Jews and Latinos--from 1960 to the present. Guerra studied elections for the U.S. House of Representatives; California State Senate and Assembly; county district attorney, sheriff, assessor and Board of Supervisors; Los Angeles City Council, mayor, city attorney and controller; Los Angeles School Board; and Los Angeles Community College Board.

* Because of reapportionment and other factors, the total number of positions has varied over the years; there were 77 from 1960-61; 80 from 1962-65; 93 from 1966-68; 100 from 1969-81; and 96 from 1982 to the present.