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Peter Mathews makes another bid for Congress

J M Shenoy

Peter Mathews, a liberal Democrat, says there is no way he will give up fighting to get a seat in the Congress.

As an Indian American, he feels it is his duty to be elected to the House of Representatives. No Indian has found a seat in the Congress since the election of Dalip Singh Saund, also from California, in the 1960s.

For the past 10 years, Mathews, a professor of American government and international relations at Cypress College in Long Beach, California, has been fighting to fulfill his dream. "Immigrants need a powerful voice in the Congress, American workers need another powerful voice in Washington," he says.

Two years ago, he seemed to have the best opportunity but lost to wealthy Republican Steve Horn, 53 per cent to 44 per cent.

His election district has 51 per cent Democrats to 32 per cent Republicans among the registered voters. The area's state legislators are all Democrats, and the district voted for Bill Clinton both times. And yet Mathews has not been able to beat the well-heeled Horn.

Mathews, who cannot raise much money from his working class supporters, has depended on the Indian American community across the country. During the past bids, he has reportedly raised about $ 400,000 from the community but with every successive bid, he has been finding it difficult to get support from the community.

Horn has derided his fund-raising efforts, saying that Mathews has spent too much of his time outside the election district. Mathews has shot back saying that he cannot ask his blue-collar supporters to help him with money. Horn, a moderate Republic, has the support of many workers.

This time before he could take on Horn, Mathews must defeat three Democrats in the primary which will be held early next month. And unlike for most part of the last decade, party bosses are not behind Mathews.

His opponents are: Ken Graham, a college professor and military officer; Ellen Gruwel, California Teacher of the Year, whose work with urban youngsters brought her national attention; Gerrie Schipske, a nurse-practitioner, health care attorney and part-time college teacher.

Many Democrats think Schipske is a more formidable opponent to Horn than the others but Mathews thinks that perception could change in the next few days.

But some are betting on Gruwel who has the support of party bigwigs in Washington that includes House Minority leader Richard Gephardt and Patrick Kennedy.

Gruwel had raised $ 85,154; Schipske about $ 17,405, and Mathews about $ 10,000. To win the primary he reckons he will need about $ 200,000, and at least thrice that money to dislodge Horn.

Next: The numbers man

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