Rep Louis Gutierrez

       The Fourth District of Chicago is rather new to the Chicago land made up largely of Hispanics and Latinos. This District like many others face major problems of crime, health care and education. Democratic representative Luis V. Gutierrez represents the answer to these and other problems. Who is Luis Gutierrez? Is this man making a difference? What are his issues? Is Luis doing his job? What is his impact on the system? These are question that need answering. These problems need solving is Luis Gutierrez really the answer?

       Gutierrez was born December 10 1954, in Chicago Illinois. He received a Bachelors degree from Northeastern Illinois University, in 1975. His professional experience is as follows: teacher in Puerto Rico from, 1977 to 1978; social worker for Chicago's Department of children and family Services, from 1979 to 1983; An advisor to Chicago mayor Harold Washington, from 1984 to 1987; Chicago city Alderman from 1986 to 1992; President of the Pro. Tem, from 1989 to 1992.

Luis V. Gutierrez was elected to represent Illinois district four in 1992. The congressional committees he serves on include Banking and Financial Services; General Overnight and Investigations; Housing and Community opportunity; Veteran Affairs and Hospital and Health Care. Mr. Gutierrez's addresses in Washington and in Chicago are: 408 Longworth House office Building, Washington Dc 20515; 3181 North Elston Avenue, Chicago 60618; 1715 west 47th street, Chicago 60609; 3659 Halsted Chicago 60609; and 2132 West 21st street Chicago 60608.

Luis Gutierrez start the road to politics by being a strong supporter on our former late mayor Harold Washington. With the backing of Washington, Gutierrez won the race for Alderman in 1986. After the death of Washington, Gutierrez soon supported Richard Daley for mayor and was appointed to chairman of the housing committee. Gutierrez was now able to instate his "New Homes for Chicago plan". This plan called for the city to sell empty spaces of land to housing contractors to construct homes for as little as one dollar.

In 1992, Gutierrez ran for representative of the fourth district election, Gutierrez opponent was Juan Soliz. During the campaign Gutierrez focused more on crime, while Soliz focused on many issues such as: trade and health care. Gutierrez soon showed to be the candidate for his people of all ethnic groups. He became known in the area for the following passage, "If you work hard, sweat and toil and play by the rules, you will be rewarded...with clean street, safer and better schools, the opportunity to send your kids to college." He won sixty percent to forty percent and sixty-four percent to thirty-four percent in the primary. In the district, Gutierrez is well respected, he has been running various programs to better the fourth district such as 

recycling drives (the blue bag), an anti-graffiti plan and citizen enrollment meetings.

A little history of how district four came about; District four is made up primarily of Hispanic Americans. There was once a problem with congressional district. It was meant to have its majority Hispanic but, since the south side Mexican-Americans and the north side Puerto Rican-Americans, were separated by the west side African-American communities, Hispanics were not the majority. In order to fix this problem, the Latin communities became the seventh district. Hispanics in this district are two thirds of the population. Mexicans out number Puerto Ricans two to one. Although Hispanics are the majority only thirty-nine percent are registered to vote while, fifty-eight percent of white are registered.

As of 1990 District four had a population of 571,162 people. Eight percent were African-American; three percent were Asian; sixty-four percent Hispanic; fifty-nine percent were white and forty percent were of other ethnic groups. There were 383,285 people eligible to vote. Fifty-eight Hispanic; six percent African-American; twenty-four percent had college education's; forty-nine percent married and thirty- one percent married with children. The average rent was 393 dollars a month. The cost of housing is relatively low in this area. The average value of a home was 64,300 dollars

Since the people in Gutierrez district lacked college education according the Ross text book, they are less likely to vote. Gutierrez chose a clear cut campaign "Anti-crime". The use of one major topic enabled him to gain the votes of people who do to lack of education, would not have voted. Another reason for the success of Gutierrez's anti-crime campaign was because of the fact that in the center of the district is low income housing (projects) that are highly associated with crime and violence. One of the major concerns of the residents in the fourth district is violence. Therefore, his campaign lead voters to believe that if he were to be elected, crime would lesson in there surrounding.

Gutierrez's 1996 campaign cost approximately 406,609

dollars. Approximately one hundred and ninety thousand dollars  were givens by political action committee. The three major pac contributors to his campaign were labor unions who gave 109,650 dollars; finance, insurance and real estate. Since he was on the banking committee, bankers backed him on his re-election.

Public funding for health services, gun control and abortion are the three most controversial issues in politics, Gutierrez is primarily pro-choice. A bill was brought to congress on July 17, 1996 to allow federal employees health insurance program to cover abortion, Gutierrez voted, yes to this bill but this amendment was rejected. He supports the Brady bill as well as other topic bills preventing semi-automatic weapons. Gutierrez major campaign topic for 1992's election. He is primarily for better health care service throughout America.

According to the performance evaluation by special interest groups, Gutierrez in the area of education was 100 percent for the American Federation of teachers and the U.S. student Association in 1993. In 1994 he was 91 percent for national Education Association. On Gun control Gutierrez shows to be one hundred percent for the handgun control. Zero percent in favor of the National Riffle Association. On the issues of labor he was one hundred percent for; United Food and Commercial workers; AFL-CIO; American Federation of Government Employees: American Federation of state.

Gutierrez, in the house, is excepted with mixed feelings Gutierrez has been known to speak unprofessional about the house as well as it's members. In a sixty minute profile he claimed that the house was "belly of the best" and later called the new democrats "sell outs", because of these comments, Gutierrez has not been successful as a legislature. Both Gutierrez's abortion in veteran's Hospitals and anti-crime bill have been rejected. As a leader Gutierrez has had to pick himself up and rejoin the game many times.

Is Luis Gutierrez the man for the job? I personally feel that he is? By sticking in what he believes and not being persuaded by the common mistake that new reps take, his honesty will one day win out. Crime is a world issue that needs to be addressed Luis Gutierrez is putting forth and effort in the right direction.