Rogelio Navar '00

 

Knowledge Coupled with Access to the Right People

Tell us about yourself?

I graduated from UCLA with a double major in political science and history. This past May I graduated from USC Law School where I developed a strong interest in real estate and local land use law.

I have an insatiable thirst for life and learning. Regardless of my professional goals and aspirations, I have made it a point to cherish and value my family, friends and health. My parents have played a vital role in my character development and have inspired me to be a person of integrity and honesty. These traits are not defined by a particular political philosophy or ideological inclination, but rather by my desire to be trustworthy, sincere and fair with all who may cross my path.

What made you decide that politics is what you wanted to do?

My life is not defined by politics, but I constantly find myself being drawn to the political arena and important policy debates. My attraction to politics has developed from a predisposition to view things on a macro level and my desire to serve the public. Politics invariably involves policies that have consequences for countless individuals due to factors including race, socioeconomic status and education.

Too often legislators are disconnected from the real impact certain policy decisions have on constituents and communities. Policy issues dealing with the war in Iraq, taxation and energy cannot be considered in a political vacuum. It is policies impacting communities across the United States and the world that have fueled my interest. Those issues may be national and international in scope, but you do not need to look much further than the City of Los Angeles to see how politics impacts you. Issues dealing with public safety, transportation, planning, zoning and public works are quality of life issues that I deal with on a daily basis.

Did you go straight to law school after graduation?

I took a year off after graduating from UCLA, and I worked as a field representative for Congressman Brad Sherman (Calif.-27). I served as his primary liaison to the Latino community, labor unions and nonprofit organizations in the district. I realized that a legal education was essential to a career in politics, since the job of a legislator by definition is to make laws. Public service is similar to the practice of law because the job requires you to make persuasive, articulate and well-reasoned arguments. But beyond politics, I found that a legal education would be indispensable in whatever field I ultimately choose because the law permeates every aspect of our society.

Did you have any memorable experiences from law school?

During law school, I served as a clinical student supervisor in the USC Law School Immigration Clinic, where I represented indigent individuals from around the world who were seeking asylum. I recall a client from Nigeria telling me after winning her asylum case, “Rogelio, I feel like I have been given an opportunity to start over again and rebuild my life.” Hearing those words from a woman persecuted for religious and political practices made me more appreciative of life and our democratic institutions and society. Experiences like these have contributed to my compassion and concern for others, and made me more aware of the plight and suffering of less fortunate individuals.

Now that you are part of the political world, is it what you expected?

I really did not know what to expect. I quickly learned that it was important to get to know all of the players in City Hall to be effective and efficient. It is not always what you know, but who you know. Please do not misinterpret what I am saying. Having a comprehensive understanding of the issues is a necessary condition for success, but knowledge coupled with access to the right people makes all the difference in the world.

What project has given you the most satisfaction?

Monitoring and reviewing the City of Los Angeles' compliance with a Department of Justice consent decree. The federal government imposed a consent decree on the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in response to the Rampart Division findings that members of the LAPD used excessive force, made false arrests and conducted unreasonable searches and seizures. The consent decree was set for a term of five years and is due to expire in the middle of 2006. During my time at city hall, I have been following closely the tremendous progress that the City of Los Angeles and LAPD have made to comply with the consent decree.

The city realizes how important compliance with the consent decree is in restoring the faith and confidence community members have that our police department is capable of policing itself. Fortunately, LAPD has many committed officers determined to restoring the integrity of the department.

I also cherished working to provide poorer communities in Congressman Sherman's district with free Internet accounts for children to use after school as a way of keeping them off the streets. This reinforced my belief that government can and should make a difference in the lives of people.

What skills are needed to be successful in the political world?

I think the valuable tools for success in any political environment are a comprehensive understanding of issues, communication and compromise.

First, in order to advocate effectively for a particular policy or legislative position, it is imperative to develop a thorough grasp of the arguments both in favor and against it. Regardless of what side of the issue you are on, you always need to understand the history, benefits, drawbacks and possible consequences of legislation.

Second, understanding issues does you no good if you cannot communicate it effectively to all interested parties, which is why the ability to articulate creatively and persuasively your understanding is essential to political success.

Third, since we do not live in a totalitarian state, compromise is necessary to pursue and ensure support of your political agenda or initiatives. I think bringing individuals with differing perspectives to the table in an effort to find commonalities is a difficult and precious skill. Obviously there are many situations in which compromise might not be possible, but it is always important to keep in mind that there might be areas of agreement that should always be explored and serve as a basis for negotiations.

Do you ever see yourself moving from the public service into the private sector?

Absolutely! While in law school, I developed a strong interest in land use development. Despite the recent trend of state governments gradually eroding local government control, municipal governments remain the primary authority concerning land use developments in our country. This fact contributed to my decision to work for a council member in the City of Los Angeles. I felt it was necessary to develop a more thorough and practical understanding of the entitlements process before ever considering entering the private sector. My legal background coupled with the practical experience I seek to gain should prepare me to pursue a career in land use consulting or residential land development.

If you had a chance to clear up the biggest misconception people have about politics, what would you say?

I think the biggest misconception is that political decisions have no or very little bearing on individual citizens' everyday lives. Oftentimes I talk to people who tell me they do not care about the decisions our government makes because they do not affect them. I think this is less the case now with certain issues, but that perception has persisted and will probably not fade away any time soon. I could not disagree more with the perception and the steady increase in gas prices is a prime example. If the government took the initiative to focus on substantially decreasing our dependence on foreign oil by rewarding and encouraging massive private investment in alternative clean and renewable sources of energy, our country would not have such a vested interest in the affairs of oil rich nation-states.

Based on your experience, what do you feel is our democracy's biggest asset and its biggest challenge?

I think our biggest asset is that this country has a written constitution with a Bill of Rights. Regardless of whether you think the Constitution is a living, breathing document evolving over time to deal with contemporary political and social realities or simply a document that should be scrutinize solely from the perspective of the founding fathers, it remains the hallmark of our democracy. Protected freedoms and liberties such as speech, assembly and press are the cornerstone of our society, and people around the world seek to emulate them. It is important, however, to always keep a watchful eye on these freedoms because it takes an active and vigilant citizenry to ensure they do not get eroded over time in the name of abstract concepts like national security.

I think our biggest challenge is balancing the disparities created by our political and economic systems. Capitalism is responsible for most of the technological and industrial innovations of the past 100 years, but those innovations came with certain social ills that exacerbated class disparities by exploiting of cheap labor. I think our democratic institutions of government need to do a better job of harnessing the productive potential of capitalism while ensuring that individuals at the lower end of the socioeconomic status do not get left behind.

What was your most memorable experience in politics?

While I was working on the White House Advancement Team in Los Angeles I was responsible for preparing and coordinating all aspects of an event prior to the arrival and after the departure of the President or Vice President. I recall being with Vice President Gore and several Secret Service agents in his holding room and thinking, “Wow, this is really cool.” It is hard not to get excited when you are standing five feet away from the second in command of the most influential country in the world.

You may contact Rogelio via e-mail.
Read about Councilman Greig Smith and the 12th Council District of the City of Los Angeles.

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