Wednesday, October 28, 1998
Experience of Davis key strength
ELECTION: Lt. governor offers real plans to aid education,
businesses
Experience and an impressive track record make Gray Davis the
best candidate for the California governor’s seat.
Education
Davis, currently the lieutenant governor of California, has used
his voice on the UC Board of Regents and the California State
University board to fight for lower student fees.
While serving on the boards, Davis has also voted to preserve
race and ethnic diversity. In a time when affirmative action is
pummeled left and right in state politics, it is key that voters
elect a candidate who recognizes the importance of diversity in
California schools.
Davis actively supports both affirmative action and bilingual
education, as evidenced by his opposition to Propositions 209 and
227. Davis fought to lower student fees and to "freeze" fees until
2001 at UC, CSU and community colleges.
Davis’ commitment to education extends beyond the college level,
however. Davis plans to create a $3 million state fund for school
textbooks. He promises to place a certified accountant with a
master’s degree in business as the chief financial officer in each
school district to ensure that district funds are spent
appropriately and efficiently, which will benefit districts that
have been marred by bad accounting practices in the past.
Dan Lungren and Dan Hamburg are not nearly as dedicated or
knowledgeable about education. While Lungren supports the
restoration of proven teaching methods, localizing school decisions
and increasing state funding to community colleges, he does not
offer concrete plans – only mere opinions. Hamburg, hasn’t
articulated any definitive goals about education in his
platform.
Crime
Both Davis and Lungren take an aggressive stance on crime.
Like Sen. Barbara Boxer, Davis hopes to ban the use of assault
rifles and "Saturday night specials." He supports victims’ rights,
by allowing families to address the court during the sentencing
phase of criminal trials.
Davis’ track record illustrates his concern for the safety of
youth. When serving in the legislature, Davis lead the campaign to
find missing children by placing their photographs on milk cartons
and billboards. Yet Davis’ belief that juveniles should be tried as
adults for capital crimes is alarming.
Lungren is overly-aggressive in his stance on crime. He fails to
address options that would lead to a decrease in crime; instead he
focuses only on tougher sentencing, supporting the "10-20-Life"
legislation and the "Three Strikes, You’re Out" law.
As a member of the Green party, Hamburg is against the death
penalty and believes that the purpose of the prison system is not
to keep criminals off the street, but rather to rehabilitate social
deviants. Where Hamburg is strong in ideology he is weak on actual
planning.
Economy
Like Boxer, Davis intends to support small businesses by
eliminating the start-up tax. He advocates research and
technological development, demonstrated by the tax credits with
which he plans to reward institutions that create and promote
advancements in their field.
Although Lungren says he wants to rebuild schools, highways and
water systems, his non-government intervention attitude towards
business is questionable.
Hamburg supports small businesses but is most concerned with
government restrictions which would limit the amount of waste and
pollutants big businesses emit into the environment. Hamburg is
against corporate welfare and believes that current policies give
too much leeway to big businesses.
Ideologically, Hamburg is a viable candidate for the office,
however, it is Davis’ experience with and support for public
education that make him the best candidate for governor.
Gray Davis is running for state governor.
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]