Daily Journal state and federal ballot recommendations

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had a rough first few years. He first promised he would "blow the boxes up” instead of playing the Sacramento political game. He then went to the people to make drastic changes after opposition formed against him. When he failed miserably at the ballot box last year in the special election, he did something more politicans should do — he admitted he made a mistake. In the last year, he worked across the aisle in Sacramento to place five critical infrastructure bonds on this ballot and was able to gain true bipartisan support. He signed legislation that would protect the environment from greenhouse gases, raise the minimum wage and was able to restore money to public safety and education.

His opponent, Democrat Phil Angelides, has offered only half-baked arguments to Schwarzenegger’s ideas and has a campaign strategy based on connecting the governor to President George W. Bush. But anyone who knows anything about national politics knows Schwarzenegger only campaigned for Bush out of party loyalty. Connecting Schwarzenegger to Bush is absurd. And Angelides’ campaign ads make it look like he is running against Richard Nixon. With the past year’s success, Schwarzenegger is in a groove and deserves another four years in Sacramento.

Lieutenant governor – John Garamendi (D)

State Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, may be in the same party as Schwarzenegger but he is far from him ideologically. McClintock is the darling of the right wing with firm stances against taxes, the minimum wage, money for public transportation, same-sex marriage and a woman’s right to choose. His fiscal conservacy might make him an appealing choice for the lieutenant governor position so he can use it as a bully pulpit in the Legislature. However, he would be a heartbeat away from the big office and he is too much of a hard-liner to take a chance on such a possibility.

John Garamendi has comparable experience in government from the Legislature to a position in the Clinton administration. Throughout his career, Garamendi has shown an interest in a wide scope of interests and has been an effective advocate for consumer rights as insurance commissioner. Garamendi is a better choice and deserves your vote.

Secretary of state – Bruce McPherson (R)

Former state legislator Bruce McPherson was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to right the troubled ship of the Secretary of State’s Office after the embarassing and scandal-ridden tenure of former secretary of state Kevin Shelley. He is taking on state Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, who is termed out. Bowen was an effective legislator with a history of being in favor of consumer rights. She is the only woman running for a statewide position and would do a good job in the office. However, McPherson has done a lot in his short time in office and deserves another four years to do the job. He wants to remove the redistricting process from the Legislature and let an independent commission make the choices, make the office nonpartisan, continue the use of technology to allow 24/7 reporting of campaign contributions and streamline the process businesses use when dealing with his office. It’s hard to say if he can do it, but he deserves the chance to try.

Controller – John Chiang (D)

Usually a ho-hum race that pits pencil-pushers against each other, the race to replace Controller Steve Westly is turning into a purely partisan contest. Democrat John Chiang has experience in the number-crunching business and as a member of the State Franchise Tax Board and as chair of the Board of Equalization. In those offices, he fought against corporate loopholes, pursued more equitable tax laws for domestic partners and helped seniors and nonprofits with free tax help. While on the Board of Equalization, his goals were to better educate the public on the often complicated tax code and streamline tax filing. His opponent, former assemblyman Tony Strickland, is president and founding member of Club for Growth, a conservative blog and political action committee. Strickland is in favor of limited government spending, the repeal of the estate tax, privatizing Social Security and overhauling the tax code. Chiang’s philosophy and experience is better suited for the office.

Treasurer – Bill Lockyer (D)

Bill Lockyer is a smart man. Currently the attorney general, the next state office he was supposed to throw his hat in the ring for was governor. For whatever reason, Lockyer stepped aside and decided to run for the sleepy but important job as treasurer currently held by Phil Angelides. Now it’s Angelides who is heading for the Schwarzenegger buzz saw and Lockyer can bide his time until the governator is gone and he can give the big office a go.

Lockyer has always been resourceful. He received his law degree while still in the Legislature to get him ready to run for the attorney general job. There, he established a state-of-the-art DNA database, created the Megan’s Law Web site and forced overcharging energy companies to pay up.

As treasurer, Lockyer will be a responsible investor of the state’s money and oversee public employee pensions. He also wants to establish more public/private investment partnerships.

Lockyer’s opponent, Board of Equalization member Claude Parrish, won’t even debate him though he’s an underdog. He doesn’t stand a chance and doesn’t deserve your vote.

Attorney general – Jerry Brown (D)

At one time, it may have seemed that a run for attorney general would be beneath former governor Jerry Brown, who served from 1975-83. But the former "Governor Moonbeam” has turned into "Downtown Mayor Brown” and has exchanged his former life of dating rock stars with his head in the clouds to the nitty gritty life of leading urban Oakland and marrying an attorney. In a sense, it can be said that Brown is now grounded.

And away he goes aiming for the state’s top cop position who will not only oversee and assist law enforcement but help the state battle over myriad issues like medicinal marijuana and the recently signed greenhouse gas law. Brown’s opponent, state Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, is opposed to both and may not have the heart to beat back challenges. Poochigian also opposes gun control and a woman’s right to choose. Poochigian is a respected lawmaker who fought to bring down workers’ compensation costs while supporting public safety issues from identity theft to sexual predator controls.

However, Poochigian is mismatched when it comes to Brown’s 40-plus years of political experience and acumen. Brown deserves your vote.

Insurance commissioner – Steve Poizner (R)

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, he of the failed and embarassing bid for governor in the recall election, is banking his recent weight loss will be enough to wrest the insurance commissioner’s job away from moderate Republican Steve Poizner. No kidding. Bustamante’s Web site www.startwithcruz.com has helpful recipes, health tips, photos of Bustamante walking and (!) running. This might make sense if Bustamante was running for nutrition czar, but he’s not. He is running for insurance commissioner against a serious opponent, Steve Poizner.

Poizner made millions helping to found SnapTrack, which created technology for emergency operators to locate cell phones through GPS. And he nearly beat Ira Ruskin for the 19th District Assembly seat two years ago in a heavily Democratic district. Poizner has a business background and has vowed not to take insurance company money while Bustamante only gave his industry contributions back when people caught on to it. Poizner has made it his priority to take on insurance fraud, which in turn will lower rates. Bustamante only vows to lower his weight. Poizner is a clear choice.

Board of Equalization, District 1 – Betty Yee (D)

Betty Yee has served on the Board of Equalization since 2004. Democrat Yee has a firm grasp on the office and has worked hard to let minority businesses know their tax rights, fought to ensure domestic partners aren’t unfairly penalized and voted against other members of the board who wanted to give tax breaks for large Silicon Valley companies. Her opponent, Republican David Neighbors, is a Silicon Valley accountant who wants to merge the Board of Equalization with the Franchise Tax Board.

State Senate,

District 8 – Leland Yee (D)

Leland Yee won the Democratic primary and is challenged by Republican Michael Skipakevich, 18. The younger candidate has his heart in the right place but is no match for Yee.

State Assembly,

District 21 – Ira Ruskin (D)

Incumbent Ira Ruskin is challenged by Republican Virginia Chang Kiraly. Ruskin is a quiet but effective leader who is interested in retaining school funding and protecting the environment.

State Assembly,

District 19 – Gene Mullin (D)

Incumbent Gene Mullin is receiving token opposition from Republican Elsie Gufler. A former teacher and mayor, Mullin is focused on biotech, education and housing.