From the California power crisis to the rising state budget,
those supporting the effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis insist that a
change in the state’s leadership is essential to correct the
state’s stagnant economy and societal ills.
The recall effort is a post-election attempt to hold another
election, asking California voters whether Davis should be recalled
and, in the event of recall, who the replacement governor should
be.
The Davis recall petition drive, begun in February by a
collection of conservative grass-roots groups and radio talk-show
hosts, was nowhere near being on track to collect the required
900,000 signatures by Sept. 2.
Then it suddenly became much less of a long shot when wealthy
House Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) of Vista promised to raise and
spend whatever it takes to get the job done.
Recently, Issa pledged $100,000 and later launched a bid for the
governorship. In 1998, Issa spent $10 million of his own money in
an unsuccessful U.S. Senate primary. Two years later, he won his
congressional seat with a war chest that included $1.5 million of
his own funds.
Andrew Jones, a fourth-year political science student and past
chairman for the Bruin Republicans, said Davis has been a
“spectacular failure” as a governor and has
“lowballed” the budget situation.
Jones, who said he is not expecting money from Issa to collect
signatures, said he supports the effort but worries another
Democrat will take Davis’ place.
“If it is just going to save the Democratic Party, then
I’d rather see them twist in the wind,” Jones said.
Steve Maviglio, press secretary for Davis, said California
voters “made their choice” by democratically electing
Davis in the past gubernatorial election, when he defeated, among
others, Republican contender Bill Simon.
Davis has faced wide criticism for his handling of a budget
deficit that has grown to $35 billion. Maviglio stressed that the
recall effort is ill-timed during a period when budget cuts to
education are being considered.
“The recall effort is going to cost somewhere around $40
million, and that money is going to have to come from
somewhere,” Maviglio said.
But proponents of the measure say the costs are necessary.
RecallGrayDavis.com, a pro-recall Web site, says the noted cost of
the election “will be a minute fraction of the amount Gray
Davis has cost Californians.”
Davis seems to have largely ignored the recall effort, waiting
to see if the movement poses a viable threat. Press aides say the
recall effort is “way behind pace” for the Sept. 2
deadline.
“If the (recall effort) gets serious, then we’ll get
serious,” said Maviglio.
History also seems to be against the recall effort: No recall
effort against a California governor has ever succeeded in
collecting the necessary signatures for the ballot.
With reports from Daily Bruin wire services.