Soon after Tuesday’s election, a local expert pinned Roy Morales’ “surprise” good performance on Latinos voting for the name.  The Chron reported some stats today that basically refuted the expert.

Among Latino voters, 31 percent chose Brown, 26 percent Morales, 28 percent voted for Parker and 13 percent Locke.

So, you’re telling me that 72% of Latinos voted for Parker, Brown and Locke?  Morales’ Latino percentage was much less than the percentage of Latinos who voted for McCain locally.  Perhaps that 26% were actual conservatives who easily buy into the “anti-tax” language of Republibaggers (new name for far right Republicans).

Needless to say, these numbers will be important in the run-off.  Obviously, many Latinos had an affinity for Peter Brown.  I will give Brown some credit that he would go beyond just the regular rubbing of elbows with “big name” Latinos.  Given dismal turnout in the districts that some of these Latino electeds represent, it is safe to say that they have not cornered the market on the Latino vote.  There’s a lot to be said about the 13% of the Latino vote that Gene Locke received with the support of all these electeds and Hispanic Chamber folks.

For Parker and Locke, I think the main goal during these five weeks is to remain on message while actually taking their message to actual voters.  A tight message.  Not multiple messages for multiple constituencies.  Parker was much more effective in this regard in the first round, and I have always said that while we may have different constituencies to turn out, each one wants the same things from City leaders:  Better and Efficient Services.  Some neighborhoods need this more than most, and it is more than “OK” to recognize that fact, but let’s not get carried away with promising the world just for votes; especially to the conservatives.

The bigger question is:  What are the Council candidates going to do to make sure Latinos get their message?

Kuff has numbers and comments.