Publisher's Synopsis
"Richard Alatorre spent more than four decades in social and political activism--almost 30 of them in politics as a California state legislator and a Los Angeles city councilmember. His political career started when he got involved in student government and he learned at an early age that politics is about power. He learned from his father growing up that Mexican Americans are often poorly served by the American political system at both the local and national level. Yet he came to believe in that system, but not blindly or naively. Power accrues to those who know how the system works and who work hard to make it respond to their needs. Essential to achieving power are a clear vision of where you are going, the commitment to work tirelessly for that vision, and the internal fortitude to sustain yourself during the struggle. This story recounts Alatorres' commitment to serving underserved minorities. It is a look behind the scenes, day-to
