What does election say about diversity in Elgin?

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct several editing errors.While both Tish Powell and Rose Martinez said it's important to get all minorities more involved, they specifically mentioned Elgin's small, but long-standing Lao community. Also, David Kaptain is Elgin's mayor.

Elgin voters elected the first Latina council member and cast the most ballots for an incumbent black council member, which some say speaks positively about the city's attitude toward diversity.

"To me that's very hopeful. That's what I take away from it," said council member John Steffen, who was elected to a third term and came in second behind Tish Powell. "I think they are both qualified. It's a sign to me of a community accepting of the diversity that's here."

Elgin, a city of about 110,000, was 43.6 percent Latino and 7.4 percent black in 2010, according to the most recent U.S. Census data.

It's important to have diverse representation at all levels of government, Rose Martinez and Powell say.

"What (the election) says is that the residents of Elgin value having people serve in leadership roles that bring a variety of perspectives to the position and can look at issues from a very wide lens," Powell said.

Martinez agreed. "It's about time that this happened," she said. "How can we have a council that has nine representatives but they don't represent (Latinos)?"

Still, Martinez said, she doesn't think too much about being a trailblazer. "To me what's important is, 'Will I be effective?' 'Will I make changes?'" Martinez said. "That's what's important to me. Not being first."

Powell said she does feel added pressure because of her race and gender, which in turn makes her more thoughtful.

Powell and Martinez said they received invaluable advice from Bob Gilliam, the first black council member in Elgin's history who served for 40 years until 2013. Gilliam died in December.

"He did tell me that probably my harshest critics would be my own people, but I don't think I encountered that in the last year," Martinez said.

But it has happened to Powell, she said.

"There's going to be a certain level of expectation from folks in your own community to achieve things that may or may not be realistic," Powell said.

Both council members said they believe voters chose them not solely based on their race and gender but also because of their characteristics and beliefs, such as Martinez being a veteran and Powell an environmentalist.

"We are very well-rounded individuals," Powell said. "That, I think, is key to who is attracted to us in terms of how we're able to represent the community."

Tuesday's results seemed to validate the city council's appointment of Martinez to a vacant seat in May, said Mayor David Kaptain, who has in the past said he chose Martinez partially because she's Latina.

Seeing people of color in government roles makes minority residents feel more included, which might lead to more minority candidates in two years, Kaptain said.

"I think they feel more empowered and they feel like they've become more part of government," he said.

Council member John Prigge, who has criticized the notion of basing any appointment on race or gender, was among some on the council who wanted the seat to remain vacant until the election.

"I haven't completely digested (Tuesday's election results)," Prigge said. "Is it (a vote) for diversity? Is it for diversity only? Is it because people made a judgment after they saw (Martinez) perform at campaign forums and said, 'Yeah, that's the one I want'? I don't know."

Powell and Martinez said they'd like to help Elgin's small but long-standing Lao community to get more involved. Minorities are often not comfortable doing that, they said.

"You may actually have to convince them that this is something that you can do," Powell said.

"But it's a vicious cycle because a lot of times it's, 'I don't feel I'm qualified because I don't see anyone else doing it or be successful.' So it's a Catch-22."

Martinez said she made it a point to have a diverse campaign group and encouraged Latinos to vote. "There's people that voted (in this election) that have never voted before. I think it was a momentum that started."