Davis, Simon race for governor

By Adam Burger

There are two basic qualities that you want in any elected official: the experience necessary to fulfill the duties of their office and a public servant whose views are representative of their constituency. Gray Davis possesses both of these qualities. Bill Simon possesses neither.

Davis has been a public servant for the past 25 years, serving as Chief of Staff to Governor Edmund Brown (1975-1981), a State Assemblyman (1983-1987), State Controller (1987-1995), Lieutenant Governor (1995-1999) and was elected Governor of California in 1998. Due to his service, Davis has been endorsed by numerous teaching, environmental, law enforcement, reproductive rights, healthcare and labor groups.

Simon is a self-titled "successful businessman" whose family business was recently ordered by a Los Angeles jury to pay $78 million for defrauding a business partner. In addition, Simon's tax returns reveal that he profited from a tax-aversion scheme. In the Aug. 1 issue of The Sacramento Bee, it is reported that the IRS has filed lawsuits against "overly aggressive foreign tax shelters for dozens of wealthy investors, including Simon, who then were able to claim lucrative artificial tax losses." This revelation, coming shortly after the administration's crackdown on corporate accounting, prompted President Bush to avoid being seen with Simon in public earlier this summer.

Davis' views represent the majority of Californians. Davis is pro-choice, pro-gun control, has worked hard to improve public education and protect the environment. On the other hand, Simon is anti-choice, has earned an A grade for his aversion to gun control, has vowed to cut funding for education and has indicated that he will attempt to weaken environmental laws.

As governor, Davis has pursued policies that are good for California. He took on the energy crisis, starting construction on 11 power plants, four of which are already online. He has expanded healthcare coverage to 1 million children and signed into law a prescription drug program for seniors.

Simon has no political experience and therefore has not served the voters of California at all. Former Republican governor, George Deukmejian spoke to the weakness of Simon's record. Says the March 3 issue of The Stockton Record; "Bill Simon is a megamillionaire, and he travels in circles with other megamillionaires, and he's been able to write huge checks for his campaign."

On the attack front, Simon's campaign has made empty allegations against Governor Davis - most notably that the governor's vote is for sale. A recent Simon advertisement attempts to link a campaign contribution by Tosco (an oil company) to a decision made by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. The commercial alleges that the contribution caused the "Davis Board" to reverse its decision. The reversal in question occurred as flaws emerged in the environmental report the board consulted. It turns out this so-called "Davis" board is actually chaired by a Republican initially appointed by former Republican Governor Pete Wilson. A sole dissenter to the reversal is a Democrat. This board's decision was not influenced by Tosco's contribution. Davis' vote is not for sale.

Invesigate the candidates, learn the isses and see past the empty allegations. Vote for Gray Davis on Nov. 5.

By Susan Anderson

Guest Writer

California's 2002 gubernatorial race has turned into little more than a giant, mud-slinging fiasco between two seemingly ridiculous young children. The fact remains, however, that there is still a decision to be made. Bill Simon is the better candidate for California governor.

Simon has experience and know how in three facets of life key in the making of a successful governor: his successful career in business, his experience as an attorney with the prominent firm of Davis, Markel, Dwyer and Edwards, his commitment to public service through his service on the Board of Directors for the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a nonprofit public interest law organization dedicated to restoring a balance between the rights of crime victims and the criminally accused and his service as vice-chairman of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles. His prior professional experience, however, only serves as a base for his position as California's best choice for its next governor.

The San Jose Mercury News quoted visitor of the Almaden Senior Center Violet Westphal, 71, as admitting, "I call him [Davis] our extortionist governor. Simon is at least someone I can respect and admire." Westphal's sentiments sum up the essence of why it is crucial that Simon beat out Gray Davis - California needs a governor that will do what is best for California, not what is best for his campaign's pocket book.

While I do not condone any of the mud-slinging that has ensued between the two campaigns, one of the Simon campaigns' more clever attempts to undermine Davis is the website "EGray," a play off of the popular auction site EBay, where legislation goes to the highest bidder. The site provides daunting evidence in support of the popular claim that Davis is interested in nothing but Davis; legislation, ethics and the quality of Californians' lives all come second to Davis' campaign for reelection. If there is any political hope for Californians, that hope lies in Bill Simon, not in Gray Davis.

I wish I could say that Bill Simon's current success in the polls is a result of him proving himself as a worthy candidate. However, I feel that the truth lies more in the fact that Davis has proven himself such an unworthy candidate. Many have professed that they will not make it to the ballot boxes on Nov. 5 because they refuse to vote for either candidate. To engage in this indirect form of protest is one's right, but it is also an excuse to not vote.

If there is to be any light at the end of the tunnel for Californians concerning energy, the economy and education in the next four years, it will be because Bill Simon was elected as governor. If Davis is elected, it can be all but guaranteed that Californians will be waiting at least another four years for any hope.

We must do all that we can to ensure that we are not faced with such an unsavory choice of candidates in the future. In the past several weeks Richard Riordan has reportedly been repeatedly solicited to enter the Nov. 5 elections as a write in candidate. He has, however, declined to do so. Why such a respectable and capable man did not make it past the primaries is anyone's guess. Work to make sure that the best candidate is chosen at the primary level. The primaries do matter and your vote does count.

In the meantime, do California a favor. You know that Davis' vote can be bought. Don't allow yourself to sink to the same level. Give California hope and vote Bill Simon for California governor.