Los Angeles Times

State Democrats adjust to #MeToo

Convention ‘more sedate’ than years past

- By Melanie Mason

SAN DIEGO — Standing in a darkened room, California’s most powerful politician­s were peppered with catcalls. “Hey beautiful! Why aren’t you smiling?” “You’re too fine to be walking out here alone!” Those were the mild ones. Many more were sexually explicit or profane.

Welcome to a political convention, #MeToo-style, where the sexual harassment reckoning that continues to rattle the California political world permeated the weekend’s festivitie­s — sometimes overtly, sometimes subtly.

The catcalling came from a traveling art installati­on sponsored by Planned Parenthood, set up in an exhibition hall of the San Diego Convention Center, part of the California Democrats’ annual confab that attracts thousands of delegates, politician­s, lobbyists and activists. Nearly 1,000 men — including the top candidates for governor — walked through the interactiv­e auditory exhibit meant to flip the script on the harassment women endure.

“We need to let government officials know this is happening,” said the artist, Terra Lopez. “It happens every single day. It even happens in, especially in, the realm of government.”

This was the first time Democrats gathered for a convention since an open letter signed by more than 140 women in California politics was published last fall pushing the issue of sexual harassment into the foreground and upending the

careers of multiple legislator­s.

The annual convention is the political party scene on steroids, a weekend with every flavor of fete — themed hospitalit­y suites and glitzy bashes with high-profile performers, exclusive private dinners and collegedor­m-style hotel room hangouts.

That can uncomforta­bly mesh with the current climate, particular­ly since a recent investigat­ion found a legislator “likely” had engaged in unwanted flirtatiou­s behavior and had supplied alcohol to a 19-yearold intern at the party’s 2008 convention. Among the tense moments over the weekend was hand-wringing over the endorsemen­t of an assemblywo­man who has been accused of harassment, forcing an awkward discussion on the convention floor.

The men — and one woman — running for governor each paid homage to the movement during speeches seeking support from the state party. From the official podium to speeches before smaller caucus groups, the issue of harassment was a near-universal talking point.

“I will stand with you in the fight against all who engage in sexual assault and sexual harassment,” Insurance Commission­er Dave Jones, candidate for attorney general, told female delegates.

Rob Bonta, an assemblyma­n from Oakland, said his backing of the #MeToo movement included “the need for men to be true male allies, to stand in solidarity with men, to believe women.”

Convention­s are just as much about that official business on the floor as they are about the after-hours revelry. But this year, there seemed to be less debauchery.

“It was definitely more sedate as a convention than in the past,” said Charu Khopkar, a Democratic consultant. “Most of the elected officials in tough seats that I spoke with … said a variation of the same thing: ‘I know I haven’t done anything wrong, and I intend to keep it that way.’ ”

‘The elephant in the room’

In just the last few months, three lawmakers have resigned as a result of sexual misconduct allegation­s, which they all deny. Several others have faced investigat­ions into their behavior, and one is on an unpaid leave of absence. The revelation­s have inspired legislatio­n, increased disclosure about incidents to the public and prompted soulsearch­ing about the state’s political culture, particular­ly the alcohol-heavy fundraiser­s and social events, where some of the harassment incidents were alleged to have occurred.

The man accused of giving alcohol to an intern, Tony Mendoza of Artesia, abruptly stepped down from his state Senate seat last week, but stunned convention-goers by arriving in San Diego days later, affirming his intention to seek election for the seat in 2018. Mendoza, still wearing his Senate lapel pin, appeared at a meeting Saturday where constituen­ts debated whether to give him a party endorsemen­t. He did not address the controvers­y in brief comments to delegates. In a 35-10 vote, party activists opted against backing him.

Party support for Assemblywo­man Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), who is on leave amid a harassment inquiry, sparked tension on the floor.

Garcia, who has denied any wrongdoing, was not at the convention. Democrats in her district voted at January caucuses to endorse her before accusation­s surfaced that she made unwanted advances on two men. The official party blessing couldn’t be undone at the convention because of party rules governing the caucus votes, despite a behind-thescenes effort to persuade Garcia to withdraw herself from endorsemen­t considerat­ion.

Acknowledg­ing “the elephant in the room” in a speech Sunday morning, Eric Bauman, the state party chairman, explained the process. The rules “cause some dyspepsia,” Bauman said with a grimace. The audience responded with a mix of scattered applause and jeers. He vowed to “fix this going forward.”

It is still up to the discretion of the party and legislativ­e leaders whether they will spend money to help Garcia’s candidacy.

Party scene ‘more muted’ than usual

The harassment issue was not contained to the endorsemen­t kerfuffles. It was tightly woven into the weekend’s official program and, less conspicuou­sly, its social scene.

Attendees were given fliers proclaimin­g, “We value your safety,” explaining this year’s convention had increased security and a 24hour hotline to report sexual assault and harassment.

At the women’s caucus meeting Saturday morning, the authors of the open letter against harassment were given a standing ovation.

A Friday evening fundraiser for a women’s political group advertised “An Update from CA’s Leading Reformer on Sexual Harassment.” People packed into the offices of a local law firm to hear Assemblywo­man Laura Friedman (DGlendale), who has been leading the Legislatur­e’s examinatio­n of its own harassment policy, give a progress report on her committee’s work.

A second art installati­on, next to the catcall booth, featured a makeshift “convenienc­e store” selling tongue-in-cheek wares such as “Don’t Tell Me to Smile” mouthwash and “Back Off Harasser Repellent” aerosol spray.

Artist Dorian Lynde said female attendees joked they’d need the repellent in their offices. She noted that when all four prospectiv­e candidates for governor came by, “[We] put this in their faces and say hey, what are you going to do about harassment in the government?”

The effect of the heightened harassment awareness on the weekend’s socializin­g was ambiguous.

There were fewer bashes with marquee names this time around. At the convention in 2017, dueling shindigs featured rapper Common and Cypress Hill. One party boasted a performanc­e by celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson.

Still, there were plenty of party options in San Diego for delegates — a glow-stick-laden “silent disco” in a hotel ballroom; a dance music DJ, Kaskade, performing at a club in the Gaslamp Quarter; a gantlet of hospitalit­y-suite receptions in the convention center.

Kim Bernice Nguyen, a state party delegate and councilwom­an from Garden Grove, observed on Friday that she didn’t see a dampened mood at a reception hosted by state Sen. Ed Hernandez of Azusa, a candidate for lieutenant governor.

But others said the carousing seemed tempered. Mingling on a rooftop deck Saturday evening as part of a VIP reception, Sarah Kerber said she’s noticed a change from convention­s she’s attended in the last five years.

“The parties have been more muted than they have been in past, which isn’t necessaril­y a bad thing,” said Kerber, 30.

Other subdued events — such as a brightly lighted ice cream social hosted by Insurance Commission­er Jones — also proved popular with delegates.

Shawnee Badger, 24, said she loved that the Friday event was not centered on alcohol, and hoped to see more parties like it. Her experience was different later that night, when she was hopping between receptions.

While she was walking from party to party, she said, several men who were not part of the convention harassed her with unwanted advances.

The contrast with the sensitivit­y about harassment at the convention was jarring, and she wished the state party had considered ways for delegates to move safely between events outside the convention hall.

“We have all these powerful stances against sexual harassment and physical and emotional abuse, but then they’re not even implemente­d at [the] convention,” said Badger, a delegate from Santa Clarita. “This is a perfect place where we can put those values into action.”

Her friend Melissa Garcia, a 25-year-old delegate from Chatsworth, said she saw “a mixed bag” in people’s party behavior.

“Even though we’re having this conversati­on on a national level, the problem still exists,” she said. “We can’t just assume that because everybody’s hashtaggin­g it up, that this problem doesn’t exist anymore.”

‘The parties have been more muted than they have been in past, which isn’t necessaril­y a bad thing.’ — Sarah Kerber, convention attendee

 ?? Photograph­s by Kent Nishimura Los Angeles Times ?? CRAIG ROBERTS tallies votes on Tony Mendoza, who resigned as state senator amid a sexual misconduct inquiry but came to the Democratic convention saying he’ll seek reelection. Delegates opted not to back him.
Photograph­s by Kent Nishimura Los Angeles Times CRAIG ROBERTS tallies votes on Tony Mendoza, who resigned as state senator amid a sexual misconduct inquiry but came to the Democratic convention saying he’ll seek reelection. Delegates opted not to back him.
 ??  ?? TREASURER John Chiang, who’s running for governor, takes part in an auditory catcall booth meant to simulate the verbal harassment women endure.
TREASURER John Chiang, who’s running for governor, takes part in an auditory catcall booth meant to simulate the verbal harassment women endure.

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