One was ousted by a Hollywood action hero, another took a break
from politics to study Buddhism in Japan, and the third recently
re-emerged in the public eye to take hold of the embattled UCLA
Willed Body Program.
And on Wednesday night they came together on campus to hash out
the future of the state which each took a turn governing.
Former California governors Gray Davis, George Deukmejian and
Jerry Brown sat side by side in front of the nearly filled
auditorium to reminisce about their time at the helm of the
nation’s most populous state and discuss ways to keep the
Golden State afloat.
With Chancellor Albert Carnesale sitting in the front row, the
men took turns at addressing the economy, education, redistricting
and the bitterness of partisan politics.
Though the talk, held at a venue surrounded by dorms, was free
to the public, virtually no students were in attendance as the
three former governors made a rare appearance together. As a crowd
composed mainly of donors, faculty and others affiliated with the
university received the politicians’ commentary on education
and the importance of future generations of Californians, students
on the other side of the closed De Neve auditorium doors studied
and chatted.
The former governors spent a considerable amount of time
discussing a topic not often placed at the forefront of California
politics: the restructuring of voter districts, a tactic often used
by the party in power to hold on to the coveted majority.
Deukmejian, who currently oversees the UCLA Willed Body Program,
complained about elected officials enjoying unfair job security in
what he labeled “safe districts,” a condition the
former governor believes fails to encourage elected officials to
serve their constituencies.
The three-term Republican governor suggested appointing an
independent commission in charge of redistricting, as opposed to
the current system, which leaves the task to the whim of the party
in power.
“You’ve got to make people feel like they’re
in some jeopardy if they don’t act responsibly when it comes
to the budget,” Davis said, agreeing with Deukmejian.
Brown, known for his unpredictability during his two-term
tenure, often offered conservative viewpoints, standing in stark
contrast to his reputation as a liberal Democrat.
On education, the one-time presidential hopeful emphasized the
importance of student accountability.
“Evidently, in the public school system, students
aren’t held accountable; it’s very odd. Basically, the
kid has the right to sit there and do nothing,” Brown said.
“We’re really undermining accountability.”
Davis, as the second governor in American history to be
recalled, addressed the issue of growing animosity across party
lines.
Davis, whose administration was marred by an energy crisis and a
growing deficit, recalled glowingly his earlier days in state
politics, when he said politicians looked past partisan sentiments
in favor of “the common need.”
“There’s more (politicians) that care not a whit
about the general public,” Davis said.
The former governors agreed on the difficulty in taming the
gigantic state economy, blaming tight restrictions on discretionary
spending, demanding special interests and the limited power
afforded to the governor.
“Don’t expect the state government to solve all
these damn problems. We don’t have enough money to pay for
everything everyone wants,” Brown said. “There are a
lot of people in need.”
Brown, currently serving as mayor of Oakland, added life to the
sometimes drab lecture, taking jabs at Republicans, special
interests and even the night’s wordy moderator.
Brown’s comments frequently bordered on the outrageous,
drawing reactions of hearty laughter and surprise from the
crowd.
“My hopes are that we just don’t have a big
catastrophe. If we can just slide by without big, big things going
on, I think that’s a big deal,” Brown said, when asked
about his hopes for the future of California.