Lt. Governor. This largely ceremonial job has only one real benefit…if Davis leaves the state to run for President, the Lt. Governor takes over. Mike Curb (of Lyle Lovett fame) was the Republican Lt. Governor when Jerry Brown was the Democratic Governor, and it definitely kept Jerry home.
To that end, although Cruz Bustamente was a great Assemblyman, my conviction that Gray “ATM” Davis will win the Governorship – albeit without my vote – and immediately start campaigning for President means that I’ll be supporting Bruce McPherson, a Republican in name only from my old stomping grounds at Santa Cruz, CA. Again, I consider Bustamente to be a good guy (as is McPherson), but the only benefit of the seat is that the national Dems will think twice about allowing Davis to even think of moving up in the event it would leave the state house in the R column.
Secretary of State. This campaign for two mid-level pols on the ladder is fairly dull. Neither one has much specific to say…they will both ‘modernize’ the polling process (as a technology professional, I can’t tell you how nervous that makes me…). Kevin Shelley, the Democratic candidate lists Handgun Control Inc. as his first endorsement, so I’m mildly inclined to vote against him. I’ll make this call in the voting booth.
Controller. Steve Westley was a professor of business who went to work for eBay at the right time and did a credible job. I’ve read some of his speeches, and he seems a cut better than most of the candidates. He has teamed up with Phil Angelides to advocate investment in infrastructure, while his opponent is touting his connections to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, so the Democrat gets my nod.
Treasurer. I actually knew Phil Angelides a long time ago, and absolutely would have written him off as a grasping, unimaginative career politician until his election to the State Treasurer’s office. His conduct during the energy crisis, his emphasis on intelligent investment of the State’s funds, and his belief in investing in infrastructure put him far at the head of this group of statewide electeds. If he was running for Governor, I’d vote for him in a heartbeat, and he deserves a ride in this post until he can.
Attorney General. Bill Lockyer has been (with the exception of gun issues) a good AG for the state, and deserves another term.
Insurance Commissioner. Tough choice. Support the insurance companies, or the trial lawyers? I’ll go with the lawyers and support John Garamendi, the Democrat. He did a credible job in the office once before, and his Republican successor disgraced himself.
Superintendent of Public Education. I’ll go with Jack O’Connell, the Democrat, as he has been both a teacher and a school board member, and those are the two constituencies that this job needs to reach.