Latino Descriptive Representation in Municipal Government: An Analysis of Latino Mayors

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dc.contributor.advisorMarschall, Melissa J.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHamm, Keith E.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberStein, Robert M.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberEmerson, Michael O.en_US
dc.creatorCuellar, Carlosen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-06-05T14:55:19Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-06-05T14:55:22Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-06-05T14:55:19Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-06-05T14:55:22Zen_US
dc.date.created2012-12en_US
dc.date.issued2013-06-05en_US
dc.date.submittedDecember 2012en_US
dc.date.updated2013-06-05T14:55:23Zen_US
dc.description.abstractVarious questions regarding Latinos’ descriptive representation in the mayoralty are examined in this dissertation including: Where and why are Latino mayors elected? Why do Latino mayoral candidates emerge and win? And, is there is a link between Latino ethnicity and electoral outcomes in municipal elections? The empirical results of a cross-sectional analysis of U.S. cities from 1981-2006 suggest that institutions such as term limits and mayor-council governments influence the representation of Latinos in the mayoralty. These effects, however, are conditioned by Latinos’ numerical strength in a city – which suggests that Latino descriptive representation in the mayoralty is largely a function of population size. Despite the prominence of this factor, the results further reveal that Latinos need to swell the ranks of the city council to provide a steady supply of qualified Latino candidates to ultimately win the mayoralty. An analysis of 648 mayoral elections in 113 cities in the Southwest further tests theories of Latino candidate emergence and success based on city-level factors – that supply elections with Latino candidates – as well as strategic factors in elections – that influence Latino candidates’ cost-benefit decision calculus. The results reveal a combined effect of supply and strategy on candidate emergence and success. For example, in cities where Latinos are sizeable (+40 percent) and the electoral context is more competitive (i.e., where turnout is high, more candidates are on the ballot, and when incumbents are not vying for reelection), Latino candidates are more likely to emerge. A similar pattern occurs with regard to the success of Latino candidates except that the individual candidate’s previous political experience is particularly influential in improving their chances of winning. Given the theoretical expectation regarding the impact of ethnicity on electoral outcomes in municipal elections, I also examine whether Latino ethnicity shapes turnout rates and the margin of victory. Latino ethnicity is not statistically associated with these outcomes. However, other factors such as the election timing and the type of election (i.e., runoff election, open seat) seem to be more influential. In sum, the research here examines various aspects of Latino representation in the mayoralty that is the most comprehensive to date.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationCuellar, Carlos. "Latino Descriptive Representation in Municipal Government: An Analysis of Latino Mayors." (2013) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71280">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71280</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.slug123456789/ETD-2012-12-252en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/71280en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectLatino politicsen_US
dc.subjectDescriptive representationen_US
dc.subjectLatino mayoren_US
dc.subjectHispanic mayoren_US
dc.subjectLocal electionsen_US
dc.subjectMunicipal Electionsen_US
dc.subjectAmerican politicsen_US
dc.titleLatino Descriptive Representation in Municipal Government: An Analysis of Latino Mayorsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPolitical Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineSocial Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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