The California Teachers Association has been running radio ads which make it sound as if Betsy DeVos, U.S. secretary of education, and the Kochs are on California’s June primary ballot. They are not. DeVos, Trump’s pick for education secretary, doesn’t know much or seem to care much about public schools but has been a big supporter of private, for profit and unregulated charter schools in her home state of Michigan. The Koch brothers are not really involved in education matters. Their money (sometimes known as dark money) goes to supporting candidates who vigorously oppose environmental regulations, especially of the chemical and other industries where the family has made a fortune. The gist of these commercials is that these evil people and their friends want to support candidates who will harm public education and voters should beware.
It’s hard to figure out what these ads mean but eventually more ads will make it clear. The powerful California Teachers Association, which rules the roost in Sacramento, doesn’t want more charter schools and will not support candidates who do. The irony is that charter schools were originally supported by the union when there were statewide voucher initiatives on the ballot. The public charter school movement in California actually started in San Carlos. In California, most all charters are public, and are part of the public school system. They are allowed more flexibility when it comes to requirements in the state Education Code and collective bargaining agreements.
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In the governor’s race, the battle has narrowed to three candidates — two Democrats and one Republican.
The Republican is John Cox. He lives in Rancho Sante Fe, is a graduate of the University of Illinois and in 2003 ran and lost to Barack Obama for a U.S. Senate seat. The two Democrats are Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom lives in Marin County, graduated from the University of Santa Clara, has served as lieutenant governor since 2011 and was mayor of San Francisco from 2004-2011. Villaraigosa lives in Los Angeles, graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, served as mayor of Los Angeles from 2005-2013 and was speaker of the Assembly from 1998-2000.
Regardless of party, the two top vote getters will run against each other in November. Right now, early polls show that Newsom has the lead for first place, Cox is just slightly ahead of Villaraigosa for second. But that is expected to change as we get closer to June.
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California voters will have to decide who is the best candidate to succeed Jerry Brown. Brown has done an excellent job in leading the state out of a recession, in supporting important infrastructure programs and in keeping a healthy reserve. He has definitely been a moderate force in statewide politics yet with a practical vision for the future. He understands that a state which depends on most of its revenue from elastic income taxes needs to be prudent in its spending. He has been a leader in understanding and dealing with climate change. He has supported funding for education starting with elementary up to the UC system. He has also been supportive of public charter schools. He will be a hard act to follow.
Of the three top candidates, who is closer to the Brown model of governing? Not Cox because of his views on immigration, et al. Between Newsom and Villaraigosa, the latter comes closer because he is seen as more of a moderate. His experience as mayor of the country’s largest city and as speaker of the Assembly who knows his way around Sacramento may also be a plus. Newsom, however, definitely has the edge. He is supported by the major unions in the state, including the CTA. He supports a single health care system and other progressive causes and is not afraid to take an unpopular stand as he did as being the first to champion and host same-sex marriages to the chagrin of elder statesmen in the party.
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It’s ironic that Villaraigosa, a former union organizer who grew up in the barrios of Los Angeles, and was a school dropout is now viewed as the more moderate Democrat in the race. Newsom is the hometown favorite and he is a hard person not to like. In the end, his union support may get him to the top.
Sue Lempert is the former mayor of San Mateo. Her column runs every Monday. She can be reached at sue@smdailyjournal.com.
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(2) comments
https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2018/04/22/republican-governor-hopeful-john-cox-promises-to-slash-californias-income-tax/
I vote for no State income tax. What a shakeup that would start!
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