http://nctimes.com/articles/2006/05/..._115_17_06.txt

Candidates seek Minutemen clout

By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

The San Diego Minutemen, a group considered radical by some and patriotic by others, drew attention to their organization Wednesday by endorsing Marie Waldron for state office and leading the media through a migrant camp to demonstrate the effects of illegal immigration on the county.

The Minutemen endorsed Waldron for the 74th state Assembly seat, but she is not the only one to receive the group's blessing.

Seeking to bolster their anti-illegal immigrant credentials, several local Republicans have sought, and some have received, the backing of the Minutemen in an election season when immigration reform has become the top issue.


"It means that they like what we are doing, and it's a good feeling," said Jeff Schwilk, the group's founder.

The group is an offshoot of civilian groups formed last year to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. More recently, some of its members have set their sights ---- and cameras ---- on North County day labor sites.

Waldron, a member of the Escondido City Council, held a news conference Wednesday to announce the endorsement near a migrant camp in Rancho Penasquitos.

"The Minutemen are fine Americans and patriots who are working to secure our borders because our government has failed to do so," Waldron said.

A few steps behind the TV cameras, Claudia Smith, an Oceanside migrant rights attorney and director of the California Rural Legal Aid Foundation's Border Project, called the group radical. She said some members of the group visited the area earlier this month and demanded proof of legal residency from workers.

Smith said some members of the San Diego Minutemen and other loosely affiliated groups have also profiled Latino-looking day laborers, photographing and videotaping them in Vista.

"When this happens, everyone of Latino appearance is suspect," she said.

Schwilk defended the San Diego Minutemen, rejecting the accusation. He said the group's activism is legal.

"Our opposition loves to spread propaganda, loves to falsely accuse people of doing things ---- harassing migrants, asking for papers. We don't do that," Schwilk said. "We do, however, inform employers that they are breaking federal law and we try to talk them out of breaking federal law, because if we don't do it, nobody is there to do it."

At the news conference, Schwilk announced that the group also has endorsed Bruce Ruff, a candidate for San Diego County sheriff. Earlier this year, the group endorsed former state Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian in his failed bid to replace Randy "Duke" Cunningham in the 50th Congressional District seat.

After the event, Minutemen volunteers visited a migrant camp near State Route 56. They said their objective was to highlight the migrant workers' deplorable living conditions.

Less than a mile from a new shopping center and town-home development, Nicolas Melchor, a migrant worker from Mexico, was resting in a wooden shanty barely tall enough for him when the Minutemen and cameras roused him from bed. He said he worked in the tomato fields and packing plant nearby.

Melchor, who said has been living in the camp for about a year, said he did not know who the Minutemen were. His concern was that there were no tomatoes to pack Wednesday and there was no work.

Living conditions here are "not better than Mexico, but are about the same," he said in Spanish. "I live here because I came to earn a little money."

All the while, monitors with the San Diego and Imperial Valley Legal Observers Coalition, a migrant rights group, watched and videotaped members of the Minutemen group.

Nervous members of the Minutemen said a driver of a lunch truck who sells food to the workers was intimidating them with stares. The driver, a robust, 28-year-old man who said his name was Alfonso, said he was simply warning workers to stay away from the area to avoid any potential confrontation.

Alfonso, who did not want to give his last name, said his family had owned the lunch business for more than 30 years. He said the workers are largely peaceful, hardworking people.

One of the Minutemen asked Alfonso to open the truck to see what was inside. When the doors opened, they revealed an abundant selection of Mexican food.

Before the Minutemen left her news conference for the migrant camp, Waldron said she was proud to have received their endorsement.

Other candidates said Wednesday that endorsements were important in the campaign, but each said they had other supporters who were as important or more important than the Minutemen.

Duane Dichiara, a political consultant for 74th Assembly seat candidate Martin Garrick, praised the Minutemen group for its efforts to protect the border, but added that Garrick also had endorsements from strong anti-illegal immigrant advocates. They include U.S. Reps. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, and Darrell Issa, R-Vista; and state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks.

"Martin's endorsements on illegal immigration are second to none," Dichiara said.

Another candidate for the 74th Assembly seat, Scott Packard, said he was relying on endorsements from local leaders, including several North County city mayors. Packard said he did not seek the group's endorsement.

"Personally, I think it's wonderful that (Minutemen volunteers) would sacrifice their time to do what they are doing, but the bottom line is, it's the government that should be doing that," he said.
Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes2@nctimes.com.