Man with a mission

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat David Roger Etcetera waves to a student outside of Memorial Student Union while proudly waving his "Civilization Party" flag Monday afternoon. Etcetera is running for governor of California and is campaigning across the country.

But David Roger Etcetera thinks he's right on track.

The self-proclaimed candidate and founder of the "Civilization Party" said elected officials need to serve their citizens, defend the Constitution and help people in trouble. That makes the governor's race a federal issue, he said.

"State or federal elected officials swear to preserve the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic," Etcetera said.

He has campaigned in five different states, including his most recent three months visiting Tucson and the University of Arizona.

Etcetera conceded that he does not expect to win this year's election.

What's more important, he said, is spreading the ideas that started his candidacy in the first place.

Etcetera's attire mirrors the mix of words that endlessly flows from his thin lips - raw thoughts from a rugged and frustrated homeless Army veteran smoothly blended with eloquent words and political sound bites.

He wears desert camouflage pants, a crinkled olive drab bush hat and shiny black combat boots that don't quite match his white, long-sleeved dress shirt and thin brown leather belt.

Even more unusual is his name, which he changed from David Roger Elmore 18 years ago.

"I picked it very carefully," he said. "Etcetera is a good word to end a name with."

While most political groups fight for their own causes, Etcetera said his Civilization Party lobbies for everyone's rights.

"Civilization begins when we claim for everyone the same rights we claim for ourselves," he said. "The National Organization for Women doesn't say, 'We're the national organization for everybody.'

"We claim everyone everywhere is already a member of the Civilization Party," he said. "Many of us just don't know it yet."

Albert Huicochea, a Facilities Management custodian, discovered Monday that he too supports Civilization Party ideals.

Huicochea stopped mopping the Administration building lobby and raised an eyebrow as Etcetera marched through the doors, his bright yellow Civilization Party flag flapping behind him for all to see.

"I never heard of this. What is this?" Huicochea asked.

"It's the flag of the Civilization Party," Etcetera replied in his booming, always upbeat voice before he rattled off a brief explanation of its cause.

"Wow. That's great," said Huicochea, 32. "I support all the groups they have here. - That's what makes us Americans. I think we have to implement and stand up for our rights."

Etcetera grinned, and in a soft voice said, "Let me shake your hand on that one, my friend."

Huicochea appeared to become the newest "member" of the Civilization Party, which has no formal application process or official membership rolls.

The two men then converted the lobby into the stage for an impromptu rally as students ducked by, clutching backpacks and financial aid forms.

"I think what you got to do now is recruit more people so more people can support what we support," Huicochea said. "We're turning a little bit communist. They (the government) are telling us what to do. We're not making the rules, they're making the rules."

He said people in the United States are losing their rights to bilingual education and fair wages, as well as a guarantee against abuse by government and law enforcement.

"The government is ignoring these facts," Huicochea said, his mop dangling, almost forgotten in his right hand.

"We're slowly giving up our rights," he said.

"There are people fighting for it," Etcetera reassured him.

"I'll fight for it," Huicochea replied.

Moments later, Etcetera was capturing double takes on the seventh floor as he asked a receptionist if he could speak with UA President Peter Likins.

Etcetera, who hoped to discuss letters he has written to Likins, was not upset to learn that the president was in a meeting. He assumed Likins has more important things to do.

"I didn't come here to interfere with this school's autonomy or the president," Etcetera said. "I have a certain right to be here, but I don't have the same right as a student or a professor. The president should be rightfully concerned with those with a vested interest."

And Etcetera isn't holding his breath for Likins to reply.

"If he has the time or the courtesy to respond, that's fine," he said.