-
- image133
-
- image27
-
- image34
As statewide officials not named Jerry Brown took their oaths of office Monday, each was undoubtedly thinking (maybe only daydreaming) about their next step.
Knowing that Brown cannot run for a fifth term, some will cast their eye at the governor’s office. Seeing that Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein are closer to retirement, they will contemplate U.S. Senate runs in two or four years.
Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Alex Padilla and the rest are smart, capable and ambitious. Like all ambitious people, they hope to rise. There is nothing wrong with that. Here’s our advice: Focus on the job you’ve got. While you’re at it, take stands, even if it means rubbing some campaign donors wrong.
As lieutenant governor, Newsom has little authority or staff. But he does sit on the California State University Board of Trustees and University of California Board of Regents. As the public university systems seek additional money, he should use those positions to help lead the debate.
Newsom remains engaged in efforts to further legalize marijuana. If that is to happen – we don’t think it should – there must be strict regulations for driving while under the influence, and ensuring that marketing doesn’t target minors, for starters. And local jurisdictions should have authority to regulate local sales, or even ban them.
Unlike Newsom, who doesn’t often shy from taking stands, Attorney General Harris avoids contentious issues. She has not, for example, made clear her view on marijuana legalization. In the coming years, she ought to be less cautious.
In many ways, Padilla, the incoming secretary of state, has the greatest opportunity to make an impact that voters will notice.
Padilla made a campaign promise to increase voter registration by a million people in four years. That’s sounds big, but isn’t. Voter registration grew by 1.9 million from 2006 to 2010. He should aim for 2 million, at least, if not 3 million.
Padilla has an opportunity to enhance California’s campaign finance website. It was groundbreaking when Republican Secretary of State Bill Jones oversaw its creation 15 years ago. Not much has changed since, except that it crashes when it’s most used.
Incoming Treasurer John Chiang is giving up the Controller’s Office to Betty Yee, an outgoing Board of Equalization member. Chiang started, but didn’t quite finish, making public employee salaries transparent on a database available to anyone with Internet access. Yee must make certain the job is completed.
Yee and Chiang will sit on the boards that oversee the massive California Public Employees’ Retirement System and California State Teachers’ Retirement System pension funds. They need to be stewards of the pension funds and of taxpayers’ money, which means not acceding to every wish of public employee unions. If they can’t convince other board members, they should out them to the public as being foolhardy.
In his first term, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones hectored Covered California, this state’s version of Obamacare, and campaigned for Proposition 45, a failed measure that would have given his office greater control over health insurance. In his second term, Jones, a potential candidate for attorney general, ought to find ways to help extend Covered California’s reach while maintaining oversight of insurance companies.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson won re-election with the aid of the California Teachers Association. At 65, Torlakson might be the one statewide officeholder not seeking higher office. Still, he must be a champion for greater emphasis on greater access to the latest in technology – including tablets and portable devices.
All statewide offices are held by Democrats. Hopefully, that will change as California Republicans rebuild their party providing voters real options and not culture warriors who want to turn back the clock three decades.
Party labels aside, the politicians who deserve to become governors and senators are the ones who work hard, show independence and understand they’re beholden to the citizens, not their contributors.
Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/opinion/article5534301.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/opinion/article5534301.html
 |
Chowchilla News Day Chowchilla Patriot |
Please follow us.
Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/ChowchillaPatriot
WordPress: https://chowchillapatriot.wordpress.com
Chowchilla 