European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 27, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 the stars and stripes sunday april 27,1986 Small in numbers gaining in influence Georgia state sen. Julian Bond is among Blacks who Are campaigning for a seat in Congress. Dpi photo by Jill Lawrence associated press t heir numbers Are Small their problems Are big and their priorities Are far out of Stepwith the White House. But Blacks i Congress Are gaining seniority and influence and they believe they can win several new seats this fall. Blacks constitute 11 percent of the . Population but less than 5 percent of the House of representatives. There Are 19 Blacks All democrats in the 435-member House plus the District of Columbia s non voting Delegate Walter Fauntroy. There Are no Blacks in the Senate. Despite those meager numbers rep. Mickey Leland a Texas chairman of the congressional Black caucus says his group s influence is greater than its size. He notes that the chairmen of seven permanent House committees Are Black including the powerful budget committee and three special committees Are also chaired by Blacks. In addition he said each of us is a Center of Gravity in the Congress we have somewhat of a synergistic  while the caucus pushed for such International causes As sanctions against South Africa and food Aid to starving ethiopians Leland says its primary role is to serve As Shock troopers in the Battle to protect Domestic social programs. Our first priority is the poor and desperate of our society he said adding the caucus tries to prick " congressional consciences with its annual alternative budget. Linda Williams a senior research associate at the joint Center for political studies in Washington agrees that the group has a kind of moderating influence. Through coalition building the Black caucus has been Able to moderate some of the most severe impacts of the Reagan administration on  but she said the size of the caucus is its major limitation. The More numbers the greater our influence Leland acknowledges. Most of us Are committed to doing All we can to elect More Blacks to Congress. We re going to raise Money. We re going to go and physically be present at functions in their  Black caucus membership had reached a record of 20 before former rep. Katie Hall d-lnd., lost a primary in 1984. But after the election this november Leland and others predict Blacks will hold at least 21 House seats and possibly More. The Only Black to serve in the Senate since reconstruction sen. Edward w. Brooke of Massachusetts was Defeated in 1978. This year there Are Blacks running in Senate primaries in Utah Wisconsin and North Carolina none Are expected to succeed. Utah state sen. Terry Williams May win the democratic nomination but has virtually no Chance of rep. Mickey Leland of Texas. A photo winning the general election according to Linda Williams. She said two other Black democrats Theodore Kinney of North Carolina and Wisconsin state sen. Gary George Are not expected to survive their primaries. On the House Side Blacks Are running in both party primaries to succeed retiring rep. Parren Mitchell d md., assuring the seat will remain Black in the 70 percent Black 7th District. New Black members also Are expected from Georgia and new York. In Georgia s 5th District a portion of Atlanta with a majority Black voting population democratic rep. Wyche Fowler is stepping Down to run for the Senate. Black candidates including civil rights activist Julian Bond a state senator Are running in both party primaries. Southern Queens n.y., another District with a Black voting age majority currently is represented by Democrat Joseph Addabbo who is in a coma. Black leaders expect a Black candidate to win the seat. Another possibility is Mississippi s 2nd District a biennial source of initial optimism and then disappointment. Though the Delta District has a Black voting population of 53 percent Black Democrat Robert Clark was Defeated in 1982 and 1984. This year however Linda Williams says White Farmers Are disenchanted with freshman rep. Franklin Webb s votes on farm issues while democratic primary candidate Michael Espy is demonstrating ability to raise Money and unify Black leaders. Among those planning to help Espy a former assistant state attorney general facing two primary rivals Are Leland and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Aides to Jackson have said the 1984 unsuccessful democratic presidential candidate will appear at fund raisers to help raise Money for Black candidates. A Slimmer Chance of Success is Given to Democrat Faye Williams endorsed by the National women s political caucus for the Louisiana seat being vacated by rep. Cathy Long. There also Are two Blacks challenging rep. Peter Rodino chairman of the House judiciary committee in new Jersey s democratic primary. Rodino s Newark District is one of Only four in the country where Black voting majorities elected White congressmen. The others Are in Atlanta and Mississippi where Bond and Espy Are running and rep. Lindy Boggs District in Louisiana