Campaign 2014: Final Thoughts
In the classic 1976 movie Network, Peter Finch, in the role of TV anchorman Howard Beal, yells “I’m made as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.” Looking at the paltry 30 percent statewide voter turnout on Tuesday, most California voters must be yelling, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to […]
Questions Post Election
Votes are still being counted in the California election but the results so far raise some thoughts and questions. Labor or Business—and the winner is? Both sides can point to victories—and defeats. Business supported candidate Catharine Baker surprised labor official Tim Sbranti in AD 16. Ben Allen in SD 26 was also a big business […]
Lessons from the Trail
My campaign for Governor of California obviously did not end the way I had hoped. When the polls did not move in our direction as the campaign drew to a close, I began writing down my reflections on this two-year journey. This document is my summary of what I tried to do, how I tried to do it and what […]
Three Lessons About California’s Election Reforms
California got its second taste of two important reforms yesterday: legislative and congressional districts drawn by an independent redistricting commission, and a “top-two” primary system that allowed voters to choose any candidate in the primary, regardless of party, and advanced the top two vote-getters, also regardless of party, to the fall election. Both went into effect […]