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Candidate
Q&A
#
 Question Answer My comment on answer
Art Brown 0 Do you want to be governor?   As well as being a legend in his own mind, Art has always thought he was Governor!
B. E. Smith 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Bill Vaughn 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes. This is a one issue candidate for Earthquake safety.
Bob McClain 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Brian Quinn 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Brooke Adams 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Bruce Margolin 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
C. T. Weber 0 Do you want to be governor? I would work hard if I were  
Calvin Y. Louie 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? Yes.  
Carl A. Mehr 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Cheryl bly-Chester 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I want to be governor.  
Christopher Ranken 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Christopher Sproul 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? I do not want to be Governor. I want to see Gray Davis retain his office.  
Chuck Walker 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Daniel Watts 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I would like to be governor.  However, I know that actually winning this election is impossible.  Therefore, getting elected isn't my ultimate goal.  I'm just trying to force the major candidates, who actually have a chance of winning, to pay attention to students’ rights and to lower college tuition.  
Darin Price 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I would like to win this election so I could make REAL changes that can make a difference in helping California and the people who live here.  We must start with the economy, education, and health care and go from there.  
Darrin Scheidle. 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I am a serious candidate for Governor. I feel that it's time for a change in Sacramento. No more beating around the bush, and playing favorites. It's time for someone like me to shoot from the hip, take the tiger by the tail and do what no one has the guts to do. There are MILLIONS of dollars being wasted in Sacramento, and I know how to find them and put them to use in the best manner.  
Darryl L. Mobley 0 Do you want to be governor?   Yes.
David Ronald Sams 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I want to be governor. I have the experience, and the vision. I want to restore the California dream.  
Diana Foss 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? No. Gray Davis.  
Diane Beall Templin 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? Favor! I fully support not only the Bill of Rights and in particular the First Amendment rights to petition for the redress of grievances, but also our right to recall elected officials. The people of California have an opportunity to recall the Governor and, if the majority chooses to do so through this special recall election, they will remove him! This is their right under the Constitution of the State of California!  
Dick Lane 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Dorene Musilli 0 Do you want to be governor? I am eager and qualified to be governor.  
Douglas Anderson 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Eric Korevaar 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? No. Gray Davis.  
Frank Macaluso 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Gary Leonard 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? Not really. It is too overwhelming a responsibility, though the fantasy is inviting--I'm sure we all think we can do a better job just because we are regular folks who mostly solve our own problems in a realistic fashion--we don't tend to spend money we don't have (although I did put my filing fee on a credit card). We solve problems in a creative way, without the many levels of bureaucracy with all the egos and the pensions involved--it is easy to see the big picture when there isn't all that stuff obscuring it. Though I may not completely support Gray Davis, I also think that the recall is not fair to him since he was, after all, elected. I support voting no on the recall and letting Gray stay. I believe that if he does retain the office, he will be more responsive, grateful, and perhaps transform himself. Gray Davis.  
Gene Forte 0 Do you want to be governor? [Yes.] Answer is a guess.
George B. Schwartzman 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Gerold Lee Gorman 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Gino Martorana 0 Do you want to be governor? Absolutly [sic], Yes, if I can not be [sic] then it would have to be some one who is interested in some of the issues the [sic] concern me. If everybody who couldn't spell wanted to be Governor, perhaps they would be motivated to get an education before foisting themselves off on us! 'Sic' is a proofreader's way of saying, "That's what he said! Don't blame ME!"
Heather Peters 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Iris Adam 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Jeff Rainforth 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes. But only for the remainder of the term.  I would not run for re-election.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I want to be Governor of California  
Jerry Kunzman 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I would very much like to be the governor for the people of California.  
Jim Weir 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? Yes, but realistically it won't happen. No on the recall, yes on Bustamante.   
Joe Guzzardi 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
John (Jack) Mortensen 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes. I believe we need a people's Candidate and as a Democrat I would be best suited "for the people."  
John Christopher Burton 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, if the recall is not defeated. I realize, however, that I will not receive the plurality of votes cast for replacement candidates.  
John W. Beard 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I do want to be governor.  
Jon W. Zellhoefer 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Kelly P. Kimball 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? If you truly love this State, and are looking for the kind of leadership that it will take to pull us out of this political and economic quagmire, the for the love of God, don't vote for us! I'm voting for Abner Zurd. "Abner Zurd" can be abbreviated as 'AbZurd!' See the candidate "Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes." Watch your extremities though!
Kevin Richter 0 Do you want to be governor? I would like to be governor; there are a lot of perks. First of all, you can drive as fast as you want, and then you can just waive the magic cell phone and watch the CHP back off. Then there is the cool house. Not too shabby at all! It would make for a great barbeque location. But alas….the goal is not realistic. If you don't have money or fame, or at least a substantial history in politics, it is very difficult to successfully run for such a high profile office. I guess I’ll have to just get a radar detector.  
Lawrence Steven Strauss 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Leo Gallagher 0 Do you want to be governor? Bogus Answer: Are you kidding? I’ve always been the Governor! I have always been suspicious of those who said that the ambition of every young person should be to be President. I think that those who say this are simply saying that everyone should try to be 'King of the Hill!' Just like the equation of the 'American Dream' with mere materialism, this form of ambition is unworthy of a virtuous man, who would wish to serve, not be served as President or Governor.
Leonard Padilla 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I would be honored to be Governor.  
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? Bogus Answer: Of course, Insanity runs in the family! If it can’t be me, your only guv’ner is The ButtMonkeys. When a false report reached me that I had won an election, my reaction was not elation. It was a somber contemplation of the responsibility involved. It was sobering. Another time while I was still harboring some hopes of prevailing, I saw a gaggle of US Congressmen being honored. I didn't lick my lips and say, "Soon I too will be a powerful legislator!" Instead a wave of nausea at the seduction of power swept over me. How often have I scoffed at the prospect of an honor humbling someone, since pride is the likeliest result. I still scoff at it.
Marc Valdez 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Michael J. Wozniak 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I would like to be governor.  
Mike Schmier 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? Yes, I want to be the Governor of California. This is the one and only straightforward answer I got. If this person was a Native American, his totem animal would definitely be the weasel!
Mohammad Arif 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Ned Roscoe 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Paul Nave 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I want to be Governor.  
Paul W. Vann 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Ralph A. Hernandez 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I do want to be Governor!  
Randall D. Sprague 0 0 Do you want to be governor? I seriously want to be Governor.
Rich Gosse 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I want to be Governor.  
Richard J. Simmons 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor?    
Robert (Butch) Dole 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Robert Cullenbine 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? No. Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante.  
Ronald J. Friedman 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes.  
Ronald Jason Palmieri 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? No. Governor Davis should remain in office. If not, Lt. Governor Bustamante appears the best choice at this time.  
Scott A. Mednick 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? If you truly love this State, and are looking for the kind of leadership that it will take to pull us out of this political and economic quagmire, the for the love of God, don't vote for us! I'm voting for Abner Zurd.  
Sharon Rushford 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes I want to be Governor. I was born in California and have lived here 51 of my 52 years. There is no better State in the Union. I would be honored to be elected and would show politicians how the job should be done. If she can do the job so well, she should be able to understand and answer questions! See remarks on questions 5 and 6.
Todd Richard Lewis 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I want to be governor.  
Tom McClintock 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes. Most candidates want to be Governor out of personal ambition and an arrogant assumption that they would actually do us some good. But, Tom deserves this office. Of all the candidates, he deserves it most. The next best is not even a close second.
Trek Thunder Kelly 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes. But I’m a realist, and know the possibility is remote. In fact, I think I would prefer Aristotle to be Governor--he has a much better chance than I do.  
Warren Farrell 0 Do you want to be governor?  And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? Yes. Davis if the recall fails of course, but if it succeeds, I don't know  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 0 Do you want to be governor? Yes, I want to be California's next Governor.  
William Tsangares 0 Do you want to be governor? And if not, who would you prefer to be Governor? No. Davis. What this fellow really wants is to sell campaign trinkets at www.yque.com/ekay
Art Brown 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? What Recall? Which Governor? A mind is a terrible thing to lose, except in Art’s case of course.
B. E. Smith 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? Oppose. This fellow is not typical of those who are opposed to the recall who are an egregious collection of collectivists generally!
Bill Vaughn 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor, at this time. I had to virtually goad this candidate into expressing himself! He wasn't going to unless he was regarded as a serious candidate! Like that would happen!
Bob McClain 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Ambivalent before qualification of recall, but favor it now that the people have spoken.  
Brian Quinn 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I am and always have been a big supporter of the recall effort.  
Brooke Adams 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor! My Official Candidate Statement for Governor begins with "Lead, follow, or get out of the way!" Since Davis has shown that he can't lead or follow, voters have told me they want him out of the way. I intend to oblige.  
Bruce Margolin 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
C. T. Weber 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose.  
Calvin Y. Louie 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I oppose the recall because it is a waste of taxpayers’ money and harms the governmental process by threatening instability.  
Carl A. Mehr 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I am in favor of the recall.  
Cheryl bly-Chester 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Christopher Ranken 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose.  
Christopher Sproul 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? I am opposed to the recall.  
Chuck Walker 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Daniel Watts 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor his recall, since he is the one ultimately responsible for the budget crisis which brought on the increase in student fees.  
Darin Price 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose.  
Darrin Scheidle 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I support the Recall. Gray Davis’ leadership and management skills are insufficient for his position as Governor.  
Darryl L. Mobley 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) “We must hold our politicians accountable for the results of their time in office.” Not a direct answer, but the candidate makes plenty of arguments which would serve to justify an answer favoring the Recall.”
David Ronald Sams 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Diana Foss 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I totally oppose it.  
Diane Beall Templin 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I have the full support of The American Independent Party, which is the third largest and fastest growing party in California. Most candidates don't have the support of any organized group. I also have the full endorsement of the 100% Pro-Life Pac.  
Dick Lane 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? I oppose the recall because it opens a can of worms. Petitions are being circulated in Nevada. There are already plans afoot to begin circulating new recall petitions in California, on October 8, if a Republican is elected. Having said that, I want to add, if Gov. Davis had been doing his job for the last 5 years, the recall would never have gotten off the ground. It’s that old ‘can of worms’ problem again! Sir, a pejorative expression is not a reason! He opposes the recall, but if the Governor is recalled, it will certainly be his own fault! Nicely nuanced!
Dorene Musilli 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Douglas Anderson 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Eric Korevaar 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I oppose the recall.  
Frank Macaluso 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I was not a supporter of the recall drive but it appears that the people have spoken when it comes to whether Gray Davis will be recalled.  Although he is not the main reason for the budget deficit, public confidence in him seems shattered.  
Gary Leonard 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose.  
Gene Forte 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) [Favor.] "This election is the single most important event since the American Revolution because it is again putting the government back in the hands of the people." Answer is a guess.
George B. Schwartzman 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Gerold Lee Gorman 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall of Davis.  
Gino Martorana 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? favor  
Heather Peters 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Iris Adam 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I will abstain on this question.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I oppose the way the recall came about. On the other hand, Gray Davis has failed his test of leadership and we need to pay attention to what the people want.  
Jeff Rainforth 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor. Being able to recall public officials is a way for the public to keep those who they have hired to do a job on their toes.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall.  
Jerry Kunzman 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall.  
Jim Weir 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? Oppose.  
Joe Guzzardi 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
John (Jack) Mortensen 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall, not for how it came about as I believe this was a staged scripted event and the Republican party was laying in wait for the fiscal year end. Their movement has more to do with California's electoral vote for the 2004 Presidential Election than it does with the economic crisis in California.  
John Christopher Burton 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? I oppose the recall. I'm calling on working people in California to utilize the October 7 recall election to deal a blow to the Bush administration and the policies of war and social reaction of both the Republican and Democratic parties. I urge a “no” vote on the recall of Governor Gray Davis, in order to defeat this latest attempt by the Republican Party, acting in the interests of the corporate elite, to subvert democratic processes. At the same time, I offer no political support to Davis, Lt. Governor Bustamante or any other representative of the Democratic Party. I am on the ballot to provide a socialist alternative, should the recall succeed, to the candidates associated with the two big business parties.

A small far-right group began collecting signatures for the recall within weeks of Davis’s reelection in November 2002. These efforts were making little progress until Republican Congressman Darrell Issa began financing the recall out of his $100 million-plus personal fortune. Presenting himself as Davis’s potential successor, Issa hired thousands of full-time petitioners to collect signatures at $1 apiece, in a campaign that ultimately cost nearly $3 million. In forcing a recall vote, these millions of dollars, not millions of voters, were the decisive factor.

The recall developed, not as an exercise in direct democracy, but rather as a perversion of the original intent of the recall procedure, which was established nearly a century ago to deal with corruption of politicians by wealthy individuals and corporate interests. The 2003 recall became the vehicle for a campaign, financed by an ultra-right multi-millionaire, to nullify an election whose results he did not accept. The purpose of this quasi-constitutional coup d’état was to institute drastic changes in public policy only months after California voters rejected the program of the far right in the 2002 election.

The California recall represents a continuation of efforts by far-right elements to force through their political agenda against widespread public opposition, using methods of backroom conspiracy and employing huge financial resources. These include the impeachment conspiracy against Clinton, the theft of the 2000 presidential election, and the ongoing efforts to pack the Congress through repeated re-drawings of legislative boundaries in Texas. As in these other cases, the aim of the recall is to create the conditions for removing all restrictions on the accumulation of personal wealth and corporate profit—an agenda that has little popular support and could not be imposed except through antidemocratic and illicit means.



I oppose the recall, but not out of any sympathy for Davis, who is justifiably despised by working people throughout California. He has, in his own defense, been compelled to denounce the recall as a “right-wing power grab.” But neither he nor any other Democrat is capable of drawing the necessary conclusions: that the Bush administration is an illegitimate government, and that the Republican Party has come to be dominated by fascist-minded extremists and constitutes a standing conspiracy against democratic rights. The Democratic Party is incapable of seriously opposing this conspiracy because, in the final analysis, it is a rival faction of the same ruling elite.

Both parties rest on narrow social bases and none of their candidates have substantial popular support. The sclerotic and unrepresentative character of the two-party system has been exposed by the eruption of political activity and the proliferation of candidates in the recall election. This political jolt to the old political structure must have profound social causes.
  
John W. Beard 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? As a business man I do favor the recall, we should be able to hold "leaders" accountable.  
Jon W. Zellhoefer 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I will be voting to recall the governor. I support the provision in the California Constitution that allows the voters the opportunity to do so as a final method of keeping our politician honest. Well perhaps mostly honest. I did not sign the recall but would have if asked.  
Kelly P. Kimball 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I oppose the recall. What a horrible abuse that one man can buy this recall and send our state into such a tailspin. The candidates (collectively called the 'Primate Pals' made this handsome offer "Please, if you ever see or hear of me getting serious about the issues in this campaign again, call me on it! If you catch me, I send you a free campaign T-Shirt!" This answer sounded pretty serious to me! Time for everybody to collect their T-shirts!
Kevin Richter 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) In policy, I believe that the recall is an important tool, but we should not have a recall election. In the case of a governor recall, the office should go to the next-in-line. In this specific case, I wouldn't like the outcome, but it is probably a better process than we currently have in place. As for Davis in particular – he needs to start packing his desk. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Some of us 'recall' the energy crisis and thus will 'recall' the Governor! If we shouldn't have a recall election as the candidate says, what should we have, a recall riot?!
Lawrence Steven Strauss 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor. As to the issue of recalling Davis, I am abstaining from voting.  I think that the recall amendment has to be re-examined and amended to have a "cause" provision such as crimes of moral turpitude, etc.  The statute could create political chaos in the future and severely hamper the ability of government in California.  Dan Issa was a former candidate for governor who spent millions of dollars on the effort.  The political parties could play "tug of war" after each election utilizing the recall amendment.  
Leo Gallagher 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Bogus Answer: I’m not leaving! A legend in his own mind no doubt!
Leonard Padilla 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Yes, I do favor the recall now more than ever.  
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose) Bogus Answer: I just think it’s not fair to criticize someone because of Alzheimers! The trouble is I can't recall the Governor! His looks are almost as bland as Governor Wilson's were. They both should have considered a career in the CIA, so utterly forgettable they both are!
Marc Valdez 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Michael J. Wozniak 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I did not participate in the recall of Governor Gray Davis.  I did not sign the recall petition. I believe that Gray Davis is not singularly at fault for the fiscal condition of California.  I will vote to recall Gray Davis in the election on October 7th however to facilitate the election of an alternative candidate, whoever that may be.  
Mike Schmier 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) The recall is a fact and I believe I have a lot to offer the people of our State. This answer could be considered evasive, since it doesn’t come down to Favor or Oppose. But, if you are advising abstaining, or you are undecided on how people ought to vote and how you are going to vote on the retention question, then please say so. This last phrase is more like a justification for running, than an answer to this question!
Mohammad Arif 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Ned Roscoe 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Davis should be recalled.  
Paul Nave 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall of the current Governor.  
Paul W. Vann 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Ralph A. Hernandez 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor it. It's about time!  
Randall D. Sprague 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall of Davis, the lame governor.  
Rich Gosse 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall.  
Richard J. Simmons 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? Yes.  
Robert (Butch) Dole 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Robert Cullenbine 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose. The recall was arranged by one wealthy malcontent radical right wing zealot millionaire. Any one with a million bucks to burn could hire signature gatherers and collect enough from at least a million voters to force a recall ballot on any governor. This is crazy. Davis, like him or hate him has not done anything remotely calling for a recall. He was elected in a fair, regular election. The time to vote on another administration is in 2006.  
Ronald J. Friedman 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor.  
Ronald Jason Palmieri 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose.  
Scott A. Mednick 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I oppose the recall. What a horrible abuse that one man can buy this recall and send our state into such a tailspin.  
Sharon Rushford 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I am in favor of the recall.   
Todd Richard Lewis 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I favor the recall.  
Tom McClintock 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? Favor. It would be ill grace in most politicians to favor recall, complicit as most are in the crimes of the political class—but not in Tom’s case. Arnold’s appeal is opposition to that class. Tom has been doing this for two decades in the hardest place of all—the Legislature!
Trek Thunder Kelly 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Favor. The public should be able to recall an elected official if they feel he is not doing his job. In fact, I’m doing a preemptive recall campaign against both Bustamante and Schwarzenegger. Maybe we can have another elective circus in the spring.  
Warren Farrell 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose.  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) I'm in favor of the recall, but I'm not thrilled with the manner in which it was done. Money seems to be running politics from both major parties. I’ve heard this criticism of the recall. However, funding from some special interest group seems to be necessary in order for people to have the opportunity to quality any initiative.

The process in the case of the Recall may have had more attention paid to it, but it is in fact essentially typical. The self-interest of Representative Issa is usually replaced with the self-interest of some organization or with the strongly held conviction or self-interest of a rich man, which impels him to spend his own money for signature collection.

In this case all the unpaid volunteers reported that getting signatures was like shooting fish in a barrel! That could account for the number of experienced signature gatherers who established pro forma residence in order to get paid a whole lot per hour!

The real problem is not the threshold of signatures or paying people to collect them. After all, people decide to sign based on their opinions. More fundamentally, the problem is the weakness of grassroots organizations. How do you increase that?

However, we could increase the time that is allowed to collect signatures as a partial remedy readily available thru legislation. Decreasing the number of required signatures would just make them cheaper for special interests. Sometimes it is quite burdensome to sift the wheat form the chaff on all the propositions on the ballot.

Whatever we do, I don’t think we want more ballot propositions! Ironically, the weakness of grassroots politics here in California may be partially due to Hiram Johnson’s reforms themselves, which weakened traditional parties, who might serve to organize the grassroots. The only ‘grassroots’ of any strength is unions, especially ones for government workers. Talk about a special interest! And, if it’s government unions, it is a special interest generally opposed to the interests of ordinary citizens. As for Issa, I think that post 9/11 we can do without an apologist for Palestinian terrorism as Governor!
William Tsangares 1 Do you favor or oppose the recall of the Governor? (Favor/Oppose?) Oppose.  
Art Brown 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Yes. The White Panthers, Alcoholics Arenotamess, The Church of the Subgenius , Satanists for Sanity, The Penis Enlargers Manufacturers Association (PEMA), Americans Against the Last Call (AALC) and George W. Bush's long lost brotha. He forgot Degenerates Anonymous.
B. E. Smith 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No. Well it’s not impossible to get the endorsement of those who would legalize marijuana. Bruce Margolin, another candidate, has the endorsement of NORML after all!
Bill Vaughn 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so, which ones? No. Here's the answer I proposed to the candidate: "Only those who really want to survive the next big quake."
Bob McClain 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None yet.  
Brian Quinn 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None at the moment, but am working on some.  
Brooke Adams 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? As an Independent candidate for Governor, I am taking my case directly to the voters in this time-shortened campaign. Since both the Democrats and Republicans have done a poor job, I have not sought the endorsement of any politician or political group. My generation wants me beholden to no one.  
Bruce Margolin 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? NORML-The Organization that promotes Marijuana Legalization.  
C. T. Weber 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I have been endorsed by the Peace and Freedom Party of California.  
Calvin Y. Louie 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I am endorsed by California Assemblymember Leland Y. Yee and the Chinese American Democratic Club as well as many other individuals and organizations.  
Carl A. Mehr 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None have endorsed me. I represent myself as a republican.  
Cheryl bly-Chester 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I do not have the endorsement of the Republican Party and am not beholden to them or any special interest.  Also, my professional organizations are precluded from endorsing political candidates.  
Christopher Ranken 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No.  
Christopher Sproul 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones. I have no endorsements.  
Chuck Walker 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None yet.  
Daniel Watts 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I am endorsed by the Student Leadership Council, which is a student leadership organization at UC San Diego.  
Darin Price 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Yes, I am endorsed by my party (Natural Law) and there are 2 local newspapers who have said they will most likely endorse me although they are waiting a few weeks for the official statement.  
Darrin Scheidle 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No, but, I am currently working on endorsements from a large range of supporters; including organizations I am either a member of (CA State Sheriff’s Association, National Rifle Association, East County Chamber of Commerce, Cajon Valley School District, PTA) or some that I have had a past relationship with (CALSAGA, American Red Cross, and the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce).  
Darryl L. Mobley 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones?   Doesn’t claim any.
David Ronald Sams 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I'm working on various endorsements.  
Diana Foss 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Nope. It's just me.  
Diane Beall Templin 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I have the full support of The American Independent Party, which is the third largest and fastest growing party in California. Most candidates don’t have the support of any organized group. I also have the full endorsement of the 100% Pro-Life Pac.  
Dick Lane 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? In my runs for US Congress in 1996 and 1998, I had the endorsements of the California Federation of Labor as well as many individual unions. I also had the endorsement of many Democratic clubs, law enforcement and the Green Party. While they were nice and I am grateful, they did not put me over the top. Many organizations are afraid and hunkered down this time out. The short answer was ‘No.’
Dorene Musilli 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones. None at this time.  
Douglas Anderson 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None.  
Eric Korevaar 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I do not currently have any endorsements.  
Frank Macaluso 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I am endorsed by many individual physicians in California and am seeking endorsement from state and local professional societies as well as business and labor organizations.  
Gary Leonard 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Studio City Sun newspaper has endorsed me, as well as friends of the Triforium.  
Gene Forte 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? [None.] Answer is a guess.
George B. Schwartzman 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Not yet.  
Gerold Lee Gorman 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None that I am yet able to disclose.  
Gino Martorana 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones. no  
Heather Peters 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None yet.  
Iris Adam 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None, but 88,415 California voters ‘endorsed’ me for Governor in 2002 by voting for me in the Gubernatorial Election!  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No endorsements as of yet....just my grassroots base of people, but we are working on it.  
Jeff Rainforth 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I have the endorsement of Ross Perot's Reform Party.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I have not [yet] sought any “official” endorsements.  
Jerry Kunzman 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Those organizations that endorse me will make it known.  I am not claiming to be endorsed by any organization.  
Jim Weir 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No.  
Joe Guzzardi 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No.  
John (Jack) Mortensen 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I am solely looking for the vote of the Californian and have no real interest in Corporate or large organized support.  
John Christopher Burton 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I am endorsed by the Socialist Equality Party, which publishes the most widely read socialist web site on the internet, the World Socialist Web Site(WSWS.ORG).  
John W. Beard 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Only local business groups and associations. No large special interest groups of unions.  
Jon W. Zellhoefer 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None, in fact I am getting the cold shoulder from both my party and the main stream press. Evidently "citizen democracy" is not a popular matter with these folks. Wonder Why?  
Kelly P. Kimball 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? The ButtMonkey Beer Party has endorsed only Scott Mednick and Kelly Kimball. Of course, we own the company, but that is purely coincidental. One organization and two endorsements for the very same office! Unprecedented!
Kevin Richter 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Only the "Breathers of California." Are they breathing smoke? What sort?
Lawrence Steven Strauss 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones. Unknown at this time.  
Leo Gallagher 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Bogus Answer: Many, but they all made me sign nondisclosure agreements. Yep! No one should be too proud of such an endorsement.
Leonard Padilla 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None and I have sought none.  
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Bogus Answer: The ButtMonkey Beer Cartel. Birds of a feather flock together.
Marc Valdez 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Not yet.  
Michael J. Wozniak 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No, I have no endorsements.  
Mike Schmier 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I received 17% of the vote in the last primary election running against Lockyer for Attorney General. This answer is not responsive either. Votes are not endorsements. Even if they were, individual voters are not organizations. Also this ‘endorsement’ was in the past. I was asking about this election! This ‘answer’ wins the prize for evasion!
Mohammad Arif 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None.  
Ned Roscoe 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I was endorsed by the Libertarian Party of California.  
Paul Nave 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No endorsements just yet.  
Paul W. Vann 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No.  
Ralph A. Hernandez 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Citizens For Democracy. Others pending, but not really being sought.  
Randall D. Sprague 2   Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No one has endorsed me. My ideas are too radical and nearly everyone dislikes at least some of them.
Rich Gosse 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No endorsements.  
Richard J. Simmons 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties. If so, which ones? They are developing.  
Robert (Butch) Dole 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None at this time.  
Robert Cullenbine 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No.  
Ronald J. Friedman 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None.  
Ronald Jason Palmieri 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? My ideas are supported by a wide array of the gay community.  
Scott A. Mednick 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? The ButtMonkey Beer Party has endorsed only Scott Mednick and Kelly Kimball. Of course, we own the company, but that is purely coincidental.  
Sharon Rushford 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Kaiser Permanente Reform Committee, Managed Care Reform Council, Committee for the Healthplan Arbitration Act of 2004   
Todd Richard Lewis 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I have the endorsement of Extreme Entertainment Group.  
Tom McClintock 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? CRA (California Republican Assembly). John Stoos, Campaign Consultant to the Senator, “Our support is GRASSROOTS:  We have thousands of donors and volunteers, too many to list!” Well, volunteer organizations and small, ideologically oriented parties are grassroots too, unlike the major parties who don’t want to hear from us. *** From my viewpoint, one of the best recommendations Tom McClintock could have is that John Stoos is working for him!
Trek Thunder Kelly 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? I have been summarily endorsed by many powerful organizations that prefer to remain clandestine because of their entire lack of existence.  
Warren Farrell 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? No.  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? Not yet.  
William Tsangares 2 Do you have the endorsement of any organizations or parties and if so which ones? None.  
Art Brown 3 Why are you running? To Get F*d Up! I think that the candidate may have thought I meant drug running!
B. E. Smith 3 Why are you running? To return a republican form of government to the people. The Republicans probably won’t do that, unless they elect McClintock.
Bill Vaughn 3 Why are you running? I am running for governor to protest both the July 29, 2003 decision by the California Building Standards Commission to adopt a new and untested building code for California, and the unethical exclusion of voting rights of Structural Engineers and Building Officials in regard to this important decision. There are also implications for applying the new code that should concern us all.

Imposing a new unaccepted building code on engineers, architects, building officials, and fire officials will only result in conflict, errors and uncertainty. Earthquake risks will increase. Businesses and the construction industry will suffer increased costs and delays. And, California will suffer economically. Worst of all, what will be lost are the energies of these professionals to make the building code the best it can be for the benefit of Californians and the rest of the country.

For a new building code to succeed, enormous effort is always required by the very professionals who have, in this case, been disenfranchised and ignored. The written words of the building codes must be translated into safe and efficient buildings through expert interpretation and skillful administration. At best they are an evolutionary product of careful revision through reasoning, testing, and contributions from those who practice it daily. The new building code that was just adopted is full of holes and problems. It has more holes and problems than new building codes of the past, so the corrections and revisions that will be needed will be extensive. Worst of all, engineers, building officials, architects, and fire officials will have no legitimate standing to interpret the code or make the needed changes.

They will have to rely on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to provide these answers. If the NFPA 5000 building code is to remain a so-called “Consensus Document” any change or interpretation will take years. The practicality of using a building code that does not belong to the professionals it regulates and the professionals, who must administer it, can only be considered a recipe for disaster for both safety and the economy.

While California struggles with deficits at the state and local levels, the California Building Standards Commission has adopted the recently completed NFPA 5000 building code that will be the most costly new building code in the history of California. Building departments will be required to retrain and re-certify their entire staffs. Uncertainty will rain, efficiency will drop, and errors in design and construction will occur at an exponentially greater rate. This and deficiencies within this code will put Californians at greater risk from earthquakes. We have earthquakes every day. Occasionally, they are large enough to be damaging and we should make every reasonable effort to be prepared.

If we are to solve California’s problems, we need to work together making decisions based on technical merit, economic impact, and public safety; not on who makes the largest campaign contribution.
 Here's the answer I proposed to the candidate: "I'm running, because the big one is coming; haven’t you heard?"
Bob McClain 3 Why are you running? I am weary of the partisan bickering that deadlocks our State year after year.  I am weary of the politicians who pander to the special interests.  As a non-partisan non-politician, I can work with all interests in Sacramento to set California right again.  
Brian Quinn 3 Why are you running? Because I feel my plan to solve California's budget problem is the only one that will work.  
Brooke Adams 3 Why are you running? I'm 25, an Independent, and a business executive with the courage to fix what's wrong with California.  My administration will champion individual freedom, personal responsibility and smaller government. It's time to let a new generation of leaders control our destiny. I will work hard to make California great again.  
Bruce Margolin 3 Why are you running? To give people control of their bodies in all health matters including drug usage, abortion, and the use of holistic health services which should qualify for government and private plan payments such as insurance or HMO’s. Legalize and tax hemp production. Legalize and tax marijuana production. This will raise money for the state, and increase employment while saving unnecessary enforcement, judicial and prison costs.

I would pardon all victimless crime prisoners. I would legalize all so-called crimes that are victimless. Reestablish fiscal responsibility and solve the deficit problem by taxing a 10 billion dollar a year farming industry for the first time (marijuana production), and by cutting back on unnecessary expenditures. I would only raise taxes if these measures did not produce enough additional revenue to balance the budget and pay off the debt accumulated so far.
  
C. T. Weber 3 Why are you running? I was asked to run by the Peace and Freedom Party because of my involvement  in organizing for CSEA, Local 1000, SEIU.  
Calvin Y. Louie 3 Why are you running? I am running for Governor of California because our state is in crisis. My father was a Navy veteran of World War II, and my mother, a seamstress. Together they operated a laundry to provide for my three brothers and me. I worked my way through community college and the University of California to get my degree and CPA license. For 25 years I have been a successful business owner and community leader. California is my home state. When I was growing up here we had the best public education system in the world. Today, California is nearly last in supporting education. Let’s turn it around. Today, California is on a downward spiral. With your help, I can turn it around.  
Carl A. Mehr 3 Why are you running? I am very mad about the way the current administration, headed by Governor Gary Davis lied to us in the last campaign less than 12 months ago. The budget problems were known to them, but they tried to "sweep them under the rug" until after the election!

I want to be governor to improve the governance of the State. I also represent the ordinary man who is disenfranchised by the ideologues of both parties that are supported by interest groups of the right and left wing and that are interested primarily in protecting their incumbency.
  
Cheryl bly-Chester 3 Why are you running? I have the ability and background to think through the problems facing the State, listening to experts, legislators, stakeholders, etc., on issues, but making independent decisions.  The State needs a break from politics to take care of business and I am the person to do that.  
Christopher Ranken 3 Why are you running? To bring visibility to the subversion of democracy that is California's Recall process.  
Christopher Sproul 3 Why are you running? I am running because I think the recall is a charade and because I think a flood of candidates helps to underscore this.  I joined the race to do my part to create the flood.  
Chuck Walker 3 Why are you running? I was not satisfied with any of the candidates being offered, and I feel I have a solid platform.  
Daniel Watts 3 Why are you running? To force the major candidates to take a stance against student fee increases.  The candidates will not address this issue unless they see it as a threat to their voting base.  To that end, I've been courting the free media as much as possible to get my message out and show the politicians that students and their families are NOT a constituency they can take advantage of.  
Darin Price 3 Why are you running? Several reasons.  First, I think I would be a great Governor and I am willing to move to Sacramento to undertake the huge responsibility of returning the California economy back to the healthy state that it was in just a few short years ago. I also believe we need a Governor and Government that will keep the promises that are made.  I think as a person all we really have is our word and elected officials that represent us need to keep the promises made.  I think the many of the people, committees, and commissions in Sacramento now, often do not keep their word as is evidence in the discussions to repeal prop 13, the environment degradation that is occurring which is in violation of current laws, the promises that are broken when recourses like water and timber are taken.  
Darrin Scheidle 3 Why are you running? Since 1986, I have created 4 companies from NOTHING (which I still own and manage), and have provided hundreds of jobs over the years. This is what I feel most Californians need in a Governor, not another "career politician". Politicians have a habit of saying what is going to give them the most votes, to keep their job. I, on the other hand, have a job that I am willing to put on hold, just to apply my brand of management and "bootstrap" financing to the Governor's Office. I see it as the temporary job it is, and will the job with all the dedication and tenacity, that I possess.  
Darryl L. Mobley 3 Why are you running? “Because my leadership and plans will improve California and the lives of Californians.”  
David Ronald Sams 3 Why are you running? To protect and defend the rights of small business owners.  
Diana Foss 3 Why are you running? As a protest against the whole recall farce.  
Diane Beall Templin 3 Why are you running? To give the voters a real choice and a chance to redress their grievances effectively.  
Dick Lane 3 Why are you running? I'm running because it is the only way to become governor. I took out my papers on July 29, before Schwarzenegger, Bustamante, et al. In June and July, polls showed Gov. Davis in trouble and the Democratic Party, under Art Torres, was following what I felt was a disastrous policy of not fielding a first-class candidate on the second part of the ballot. Senator Boxer was among those critical of that policy. The Democrats were on the verge of losing the governorship by default. Having been in politics for many years, and having won two contested political elections, I decided to offer my candidacy. Please don’t insult the public by stating the obvious! Another way to become Governor is to wait three years for a regular election!
Dorene Musilli 3 Why are you running? The people of California deserve better and I have the requisite qualifications and experience.  
Douglas Anderson 3 Why are you running? To make a difference and get this State back to being a better place to live and work. I was born April 11, 1948 in Texas and currently reside in Simi Valley.  I have been a life long Republican.  I attended El Camino College and majored in Criminal Law and minor in Computers.  For the past 22 years I have been a Mortgage Loan Officer/Broker specializing in Multi-Family, Commercial and Single Family Real Estate Financing.  Although this is my first election for any public office, I have been passionate about politics for all of my adult life.  I was bestowed the honor of “2003 Businessman of the Year” by the NRCC.  In my campaign for Governor, I am not only working hard to get elected, I also want ! to force the other candidates to address the major problems that face California such as Illegal Immigration.  Situations cannot be changed until people are willing to address the issues head on.  
Eric Korevaar 3 Why are you running? I am running to encourage people to vote no on the recall.  
Frank Macaluso 3 Why are you running? I am running because I know California Democrats want a financially responsible Governor who will control spending and not bow down to special interest groups.  As a physician, I understand the problems faced by our state's health care system and I know I can provide workable solutions.  My experience in the oil and gas industry and educational background including a degree in Chemical Engineering provide me with a firm comprehension of energy policy.  I am a small business owner I know the importance of creating a business friendly environment in our state.  Our states worker's compensation program needs an immediate overhaul and we must reduce regulatory burdens upon businesses.  
Gary Leonard 3 Why are you running? To experience the process. As a photojournalist, I have covered local and state politics for decades. This gives me a unique perspective. I am the only embedded journalist AND candidate. I have not been disappointed--it has been fun, frustrating, and truly an education in politics.  
Gene Forte 3 Why are you running? [Because] “I want to lower the California budget, create jobs, and help small businesses flourish. [Because I] am the AttorneyBuster, president/founder of www.AttorneyBusters.com

Because I am uniquely qualified to be Governor based upon my personal experience at dealing with the issues of judicial and political corruption including my investigative reporting of other citizens’ problems via radio for the last 18 months, the corruption from where all other problems for Californians arise. My successful 12 year career as a high level executive recruiter exhibits my professional ability to assess a person’s capability and to select the right talent for solving the most complex problems. Precisely what a Governor should be doing to correct Californians’ many problems.

Judicial corruption knows no party line. I have no doubt the immediate actions I would take would have a positive effect on every Californian that has been suffering under the tyranny of a judicial system gone crazy by non accountability, and the hidden legal costs that are like a cancer upon our economy and entrepreneurial spirit that once made our country great.

Raised on a small farm in Los Banos, California, where I learned common sense, I then involved myself in several entrepreneurial ventures after high school ranging from musical concert production, sports events promotion, salvaging a World War II airplane to being a New York Stock Exchange Broker in Fresno and Beverly Hills. I am married with four children to the love of my life, Eileen, of 14 years.

I have a clear track record of exposing and fighting the lack of accountability by a judicial system to citizens of California.”
 Answers are quotes from web site.
George B. Schwartzman 3 Why are you running? “I moved to California in 1970, and during the past thirty-three years, California has afforded me wonderful opportunities from which I have prospered.  There comes a time in one’s life when it is time to give something back in return.  California is now in a serious crisis.  I believe I can lead California back to prosperity, and that is the “something” I desire to give California by being the best Governor that California will have had in many years”.  
Gerold Lee Gorman 3 Why are you running? This is a rare and unique event in California History. I have from time to time had political aspirations, and more often have felt concern that things have been done in government in a way that is wrong, and that which will have a long reaching impact on the quality of life in this State, in this nation, and on this Earth.  When I see solutions that are not being perceived or pursued, and I have to ask myself that it surely cannot be that I alone am aware of certain things - then the call to action is upon me, just as surely as it is upon others who also feel such a calling.  
Gino Martorana 3 Why are you running? so that all of the people of california [sic] will have some one who will truely [sic] represent them, regardless of where they stand on the economic ladder Representation should not be construed to be statistical sampling should it? If so, this candidate is below average!
Heather Peters 3 Why are you running? Because the dynamics of this unique election present an extraordinary opportunity for centrist candidates such as myself to get their messages out to the voters without having to go through a party primary, without having to raise tens of millions of dollars and without having to put their business on hold for a year.  Also, because I think Sacramento needs a mediator, not a terminator.   
Iris Adam 3 Why are you running? I care about sustainable economy, true health care, California's organic agriculture, renewable energy, and innovative education. The lives of over 34 million Californians are directly at stake in this special election.  By now, every intelligent voter realizes that no politician is offering viable solutions to California’s severe financial and social problems. A candidate’s personal fame or fortune—or “experience” as a career politician—are irrelevant when it comes to successful administration.  The ONLY qualifications that matter are the candidate’s profound knowledge and actual expertise in offering proven solutions to the problems confronting our state. I am an expert in scientifically proven, prevention-oriented solutions.  I have worked for decades with many of America’s top educators, physicians, renewable energy experts, organic farmers, etc. to compile a platform of solutions for a healthy, prosperous California. My platform includes: *  Proven, prevention-oriented natural and complementary medicine to prevent disease, promote health, and save billions of dollars by keeping people healthy; *  Educational innovations shown to develop total brain functioning for maximum success, health and happiness in life; * Renewable energy sources to protect our environment and save our economy from energy dependence on foreign oil; * Organic agriculture to revitalize California’s agricultural economy and for abundant, nourishing, healthy food. It is time to break the two-party stranglehold.  Career politicians’ main expertise is raising special-interest money from their favorite corporate sponsors.  This is NOT the expertise we need at this critical time.  We need proven solutions.  I am the candidate with a clear vision of California’s unbounded potential to bring health, happiness and prosperity to all its citizens.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 3 Why are you running? I am running because the Politicians from Sacramento to Washington have failed the People of California and the entire country. They have relegated us to at least 3rd on their list ...behind their own selfish financial and Political agendas and it has to come to an end.  
Jeff Rainforth 3 Why are you running? Because there is a better way to run the state. Corruption due to lax campaign finance laws is rampant. Government waste and fraud is out of hand costing taxpayer billions of dollars every year. Illegal immigration has not been halted. The state has made it purposefully difficult for third parties to be on the ballot thus voters are not allowed more choices in elections. Honesty is not an evident trait among today's politicians.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 3 Why are you running? I am running for Governor of California so that I can help to restore California to the business-friendly state that it once was. All state funds ultimately depend on taxes from revenues generated by businesses- particularly manufacturing and agriculture- that actually produce a product to sell.  
Jerry Kunzman 3 Why are you running? After the recall became a reality I looked at the other possible candidates, and knew that I could do a better job than any of them.  I am still the only candidate that has introduced new ideas on how to solve some of California’s most major problems.  
Jim Weir 3 Why are you running? The number one reason is to highlight the unfair budget cuts to community colleges while at the same time K-12, UC and State get increases.  
Joe Guzzardi 3 Why are you running? To discuss the impact of illegal immigration on California  
John (Jack) Mortensen 3 Why are you running? I am running for the purposes of replacing California Government back into the hands where it belongs and where our Forefathers intended it. In order for change to occur, something different has to happen. I am attempting to be part of that difference.  
John Christopher Burton 3 Why are you running? To provide a socialist alternative as a solution to the current economic and social crisis in California, the United States and internationally.  
John W. Beard 3 Why are you running? I am running for the great people of California. I am business man and know why companies are leaving. I want to protect their jobs.  
Jon W. Zellhoefer 3 Why are you running? I have an excellent background, I can do the job, and my close friends and family were behind me 100%. I am running to give a small group of voters with strong opinions a candidate they can support. I the group is big enough I will win. However, winning is not the objective. I am running to give the citizens of California a choice.  
Kelly P. Kimball 3 Why are you running? Well, we're not, really. We are simply on the ballot. We figured the 65 signature threshold was too much of an attractive nuisance. And what better way to have a voice in a process that is so clearly flawed. AND, what an inexpensive way to market our soon to be released beer brand. Your tax dollars at work!
Kevin Richter 3 Why are you running? It started as a satirical website poking fun at California politics. I started getting a lot of traffic and interest on the site, so I decided to run as part of the satire. In addition, I have some good ideas for solving our deficit. First of all, let's have the legislators do a better job of balancing the budget. It's not rocket science. Money in - Money out should equal a positive number (or at the very least, zero). We should have a law that if they end up with a negative number, it starts coming out of their salaries. I bet they would do a better job of balancing the budget then! Next, let's look at corporatization of the state. For a billion dollars and 10 years, we'll call our state 3COMifornia. Now our deficit is down to 37 billion. After following a similar path with our state buildings and 16,000 miles of highways, we'll be on our way to a fiscally healthy state! Finally, we've all been thinking about it, so let's just do it. It's time to sell LA to Japan. If we want to sell something, how about selling the 19% of California owned by the State? That should actually come to serious money. Maybe we could negotiate lower energy prices in return for supporting more offshore drilling.
Lawrence Steven Strauss 3 Why are you running? I believe that I am the best candidate for the job.  My friends encouraged me to run based on my experience as an attorney, businessperson, student, and parent.  
Leo Gallagher 3 Why are you running? Bogus Answer: It’s the best way not to get caught. Just don't commit the crime of costing us $60,000,000/135 for the price of $3500 and you wouldn't have to be on the lam.
Leonard Padilla 3 Why are you running? I am running for the position of Governor because the position requires a strong individual with a major ability to think, come up with solutions, and then implement the solutions on behalf of 38 million Californians.  
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 3 Why are you running? Bogus Answer: Someone’s chasing me! And I hope they catch up! Oh you kid!
Marc Valdez 3 Why are you running? To stabilize the tax system in California by shifting back from income taxes to property taxes (and repealing Proposition 13 along the way).  
Michael J. Wozniak 3 Why are you running? To promote my views. To create a forum for my views and comments to be heard and possibly implemented.  
Mike Schmier 3 Why are you running? I had been thinking about it when the recall effort began, but decided to run when it appeared that we are becoming a Celebritocracy, not a Democracy, when Arnold announced his candidacy, not at a press conference, but on the Jay Leno show. I don't believe mere fame qualifies one for such an important position.  So you are running to frustrate the political ambitions of an unworthy opponent. You are a self-admitted spoiler! Do you have a more positive reason for running, something good about yourself or what you want to do, or the problems you would fix? *** The candidate did not answer my critique of his question.
Mohammad Arif 3 Why are you running? To solve the problems facing California.  
Ned Roscoe 3 Why are you running? So that smokers-including the customers at our Cigarettes Cheaper! stores--will have political power. They've been treated the worst of any group in California. Plus, there's an opportunity to be the most sensible person in the race.  
Paul Nave 3 Why are you running? I am running because I believe I can lead the state in a positive direction and turn the state budget deficit around.  
Paul W. Vann 3 Why are you running? Have you seen the job they are doing in Sacramento?  
Ralph A. Hernandez 3 Why are you running? Because our State needs someone like me! I am very qualified and experienced. I have 47 years of Political involvements and I would turn things around for the better, for everyone. Our Governor, Lt. governor, and some of the others have failed us.  
Randall D. Sprague 3 Why are you running? I’m running because I think I can fix the State’s economic and budget problems without hurting the middle class citizen too much. I’ll try not to raise taxes their taxes, but I won’t try regarding the wealthy. I will raise their taxes before I raise the middle and lower class taxes. If you have an open mind, which I do, you can find many ways to increase income without raising the middle class taxes.  
Rich Gosse 3 Why are you running? I am running on a Fairness for Singles Platform.  
Richard J. Simmons 3 Why are you running? It is a matter of personal principle. As explained on the website, California has a great opportunity to change its direction. My platform is business growth and expansion, job creation, and improve education.  
Robert (Butch) Dole 3 Why are you running? I am running not only to call attention to the fact that California needs a change from business as usual, but because I truly believe I CAN do the job and Will make a difference if elected.  
Robert Cullenbine 3 Why are you running? To oppose the recall.  
Ronald J. Friedman 3 Why are you running? Through my candidacy, I hope to invigorate and re-enfranchise an apathetic electorate and make the interests of California citizens the priorities for elected officials.   
Ronald Jason Palmieri 3 Why are you running? To educate people that this is a dangerous process and an attempt by the Republican party to steal the governorship of the State of California.  
Scott A. Mednick 3 Why are you running? Well, we're not, really. We are simply on the ballot. We figured the 65 signature threshold was too much of an attractive nuisance. And what better way to have a voice in a process that is so clearly flawed. AND, what an inexpensive way to market our soon to be released beer brand.  
Sharon Rushford 3 Why are you running? The people of California, by way of the recall, are saying they have had enough. This country was built on ideals of good people. We need to keep those ideals alive.    
Todd Richard Lewis 3 Why are you running? I am running because I can get CA. out of this deficit, I want to   draw attention to the homeless population in CA. I also want to encourage the younger to get envolved with this election.  
Tom McClintock 3 Why are you running? “restore our state's public works, bring its bureaucracies back under control, and roll back the regulations and taxes that are choking our economy.” “my parents moved our family to California in 1965.” Here is my summary of part of “The Speech” which Tom is giving everywhere: He wants to bring back a day when we had the best schools, uncrowded highways, low taxes, and affordable housing like when his parents moved his family to California in 1965. Happy days indeed!
Trek Thunder Kelly 3 Why are you running? This is a RealArt piece, where reality and art converge. I want to insert performance art directly into people’s daily lives, so that they are no longer an audience, but actively part of the piece. Basically, my goal is to cause a glitch in the matrix.  
Warren Farrell 3 Why are you running? To take 30 years of research that is too politically incorrect for mainstream candidates to discuss and have it discussed; to use my Ph.D. in political science to point to social programs that can help society even as they reduce the budget.  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 3 Why are you running? I'm running because I'm tired of the same politicians / same type of politicians running for every major office. I think that the PEOPLE deserve a choice of having one of their peers (social and economic) run for Governor.  
William Tsangares 3 Why are you running? To expose the recall as a sham and a power grab.  
Art Brown 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, but he's not running. This candidate is gonzo enough without the steamed doctor running!
B. E. Smith 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Undecided. This is mere vanity. This fellow doesn't have a chance. By giving us his second choice we could at least have a clue to where he is really coming from!
Bill Vaughn 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Someone that will reverse this error. Here's the answer I proposed to the candidate: "Superman, who could actually stop earthquakes!"
Bob McClain 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? At this point I am endorsing only myself.  
Brian Quinn 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? If I am not, I hope that some other Republican candidate receives the most votes.  
Brooke Adams 4 If you aren't elected, who would you like to be Governor? I intend to be Governor.  
Bruce Margolin 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Arianna Huffington probably.  
C. T. Weber 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Peter Camejo or Arianna Huffington?  
Calvin Y. Louie 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Since we do not have preferential voting or instant-vote-run-off systems in this special recall election this question is irrelevant. I’m asking the voters to vote no on the recall, but if they do recall Governor Davis, then I would want them to vote for Calvin Y. Louie. Among the listed replacements, I’m the best.  
Carl A. Mehr 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? If I don't get elected, I want Arnold to get my vote.  
Cheryl bly-Chester 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I would want somebody else (preferably another capable and creative woman with a passion for solving problems) who could soundly thwart any presidential aspirations of Hillary Clinton in the 2008.  
Christopher Ranken 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Davis.  
Christopher Sproul 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Governor Gray Davis.  If the recall wins a majority of the vote, my second choice would probably be Cruz Bustamante, but I am undecided about that at this point.  I intend to confer with other candidates and propose we unite around the most viable progressive hedge candidate.  
Chuck Walker 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? A conservative.  
Darrin Scheidle 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Someone who will put the PEOPLE FIRST, and don’t make decisions that will profit from political or financial gain. It needs to someone who is NOT a career politician, nor has been a part of the fiscal crisis we are in. Any member of the Davis Administration or legislature while Davis was Governor or Lt. Governor cannot be trusted to bring the change that the taxpayer need or demand.  
Daniel Watts 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Lingel H. Winters, another recall candidate who's made it his foremost priority to lower student fees.  
Darin Price 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Davis, since I oppose the recall.  
Darryl L. Mobley 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor?   Doesn’t state any choice.
David Ronald Sams 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I am currently evaluating each candidate.  
Diana Foss 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Gray Davis if the recall fails and Bustamante otherwise.  
Diane Beall Templin 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Anyone who will really try to do what I am doing. I am running with the AIP, the California affiliate of the Constitution Party, because I fully believe in their platform. I am not aware of any other candidate that stands for the same Constitutional, economic, ethical and moral principles that the American Independent Party stands for. I believe in principle over personality.  
Dick Lane 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I will abide by the will of the people. Gad Sir! You’d better!
Dorene Musilli 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Any moderate Republican.  
Douglas Anderson 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Not sure yet!  
Eric Korevaar 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Bustamante.  
Frank Macaluso 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Cruz Bustamante.  
Gary Leonard 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Larry Flynt or Peter Ueberroth. Or me. Just please not Gallagher.  
Gene Forte 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor?    
George B. Schwartzman 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Peter Ueberroth.  
Gerold Lee Gorman 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? No comment.  
Gino Martorana 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? you already asked that. [sic] Being able to read carefully is fairly rare.
Heather Peters 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Too soon to tell.  
Iris Adam 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Another Natural Law Party candidate.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? In that case, I’d like for Diane Feinstein to win as a write in.  
Jeff Rainforth 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Another Reform Party member, but, there are no others running.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? If I were not elected, I would prefer Arnold Schwarzenegger to be the Governor of California.  
Jerry Kunzman 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Tom McClintock.  
Jim Weir 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Cruz Bustamante.  
Joe Guzzardi 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? No preference.  
John (Jack) Mortensen 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I believe Peter Ueberroth would be the only Republican I would consider at this time.  
John Christopher Burton 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Whoever prevails in the recall, whether Davis retains office or one of the frontrunners replaces him, the result for the masses of California working families, small businesses, professionals and students will be the same. Social programs will be gutted and the crisis will deepen.  
John W. Beard 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I will wait until after the debates to make a final choice.  
Jon W. Zellhoefer 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I have no doubt the recall will succeed and I will be the next governor. Any serious candidate will say the same. I am not running to be second and have not even spent a micro-second on this question. None-the-less, if the recall fails, Mr. Davis is the Governor and should do his job. However, California will never be the same. He should expect many of the 135 to run for office all over this state.  
Kelly P. Kimball 4 If you aren't elected, who would you like to be Governor? Abner Zurd. At least her positions are unknown. That means we could still hope for some sense!
Kevin Richter 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? It would probably be one of the lesser known candidates, but I haven't had a chance to sift through all of them yet. I'm certainly not impressed with any of the front runners.  
Lawrence Steven Strauss 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I believe that I am going to be elected otherwise I would not have entered this campaign.  I do not endorse any other candidates.  
Leo Gallagher 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Bogus Answer: Anyone who would let me stay on in the Mansion. If Art Brown, Abner Zurd, Kevin Richter, or the Primate Pals prevail, I'm sure something can be worked out!
Leonard Padilla 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I would like for the second most intelligent person in the world to be elected. (Stacey is the most intelligent.) That is Julie Padilla, executive dean of the Lorenzo Patino Law School.  
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Bogus Answer: Any number of fine institutions house people who would be an improvement over me! Except for most members of the Legislature!
Marc Valdez 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Arianna Huffington.  
Michael J. Wozniak 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? If I am not elected Governor, I believe the most qualified of the remaining candidates is Tom McClintock.  
Mike Schmier 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I wanted Garamendi, but he dropped out. Just like your ‘endorsements’ of question 2, this situation is in the past. He didn’t run. Do you have any preferences now or not; and if you do, whom?
Mohammad Arif 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Gray Davis or Arnold Schwarzenegger.  
Ned Roscoe 4 If you aren't elected, who would you like to be Governor? I want to support a candidate who pledges no new taxes, no stupid new laws, and to get the work done to make California competitive. I'd like a candidate we can trust-not one with the political baggage of the Wilson or Davis administrations.  
Paul Nave 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? If I'm not elected I would like Arnold Schwarzenegger to be Governor.  
Paul W. Vann 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I will be elected.  
Ralph A. Hernandez 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Someone who really cares about the people, our dogs, our cats, our other animals, and our quality of life in general. It includes someone who will do the job properly and not be working solely for the special interests and their campaign contributors. The individual should also have common sense enough to figure out that spending more than you get can but create disaster, and you cannot tax yourself out of it!  
Randall D. Sprague 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I’m undecided since Schwarzenegger pulled a Davis maneuver and misled voters regarding his not taking money from special interests.  
Rich Gosse 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? No opinion.  
Richard J. Simmons 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor?    
Robert (Butch) Dole 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? This is actually a difficult question. I would prefer someone who would not be business as usual. So, if it wasn't me then I would probably got with McClintock as he has at least indicated he would change Workmen's Compensation, thereby helping the State’s businesses.  
Robert Cullenbine 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Gray Davis if the recall fails or Cruz Bustamante if it succeeds.  
Ronald J. Friedman 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Undecided.  I have not yet received enough information about the various candidates’ positions about the issues.  
Ronald Jason Palmieri 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? I wan’t no-votes. If the recall is successful, I lean towards Lt. Governor Bustamante to succeed.  
Scott A. Mednick 4 If you aren't elected, who would you like to be Governor? Abner Zurd.  
Sharon Rushford 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? There is no one other than myself that I would trust to do the job right and make all the necessary changes.  I am sure more heartfelt words were never spoken!
Todd Richard Lewis 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? A businessman, maybe McClintock.  
Tom McClintock 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? [The candidate, very prudently, has not said anything that would answer this question.] If I answered this question for Tom, I would say “If it was someone else with the experience, the principles, and the practical plans that will solve the severe problems we face, that wouldn’t be bad at all. Unfortunately no one else in the race fits that description. Some of the other candidates share some of these principles, and one other shares most of them, but no one else has the experience or detailed, practical plans of action that we truly need.”
Trek Thunder Kelly 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Please see answer to question number 0. But since I have another shot at it, how about the next lottery winner.  
Warren Farrell 4 If you aren't elected, who would you like to be Governor? Uncertain.  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Since I am running, I haven't had the chance to check out all of the candidates yet. I do know that there are at least three that I would not want. (Bustamante, Schwarzenegger, & Huffington)  
William Tsangares 4 If you aren’t elected, who would you like to be Governor? Bustamante to maintain consistency with policies. [But if the recall fails] Schwarzenegger, so that the right-wing has to shift their positions to the left.  
Art Brown 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To serve the people beer, pretzels and kind bud. ‘kind bud’ means marijuana.
B. E. Smith 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people. Yeah, the People try to ‘benefit’ themselves by electing politicians who will loot their neighbors on their behalf. It’s those ‘benefits’ that corrupted the electorate and gave us the ‘welfare’ state.
Bill Vaughn 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? What are the legitimate functions of people?[Finally in response to a series of exchanges, the candidate said, “The legitimate function of government is a complex and difficult philosophical question that is beyond the scope of this survey.”] Here's the answer I initially proposed to the candidate: "Public safety, especially responsible building codes for earthquake resistance." I said in response to the candidate's flip response, "Some candidates have responded to this question by saying that the legitimate function of government was to express the will of the people. Of course it might not in fact be the will of the people that the government do all of the things that they can legitimately do for themselves!

Thus, your implied answer, that “Government can legitimately do anything that people can do” seems rather broad. An unlimited government (which we used to call totalitarian) would, as we have seen from history, be in great conflict with the will of the people in a myriad of instances.

Please let me know if I have understood your implied answer correctly.

If you, perchance, modify your answer to say “The proper function of the government is to express the will of the people,” let me ask the question that naturally comes up, just to save time. Do you recognize any proper limits to the will of the people? [See the record of the entire exchange.]
Bob McClain 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To carry out the will of the people while upholding the rights of the individual.  
Brian Quinn 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To serve the people. Please expand on question 5. “What functions should government have?” ‘Service’ is very general, covering everything from a Republic to a Democratic Socialist State! If you in fact advocate pure democracy, then this only changes the question to whether there are any appropriate limits on the will of the people and whether these should be institutionalized.
Brooke Adams 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide for the basic needs of our citizens that are appropriate for government and that which they can do better than private enterprise. This would include, for example, our police protection, our fire protection, our state's security against terrorism, our judicial services, our educational, instructional and college systems. My administration will eliminate any unnecessary program or bloated agencies that are not legitimate functions of government.  
Bruce Margolin 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The function of government is to protect and serve but not control the people. Preserving character by ‘profamily’ laws like fault divorce, parental control and notification is ridiculous. Also government should not legislate or enforce sexual or substance morality. All victimless so-called crimes should be legalized. This will save a whole lot of money and a lot of unnecessary suffering.

Of course I am against theft, murder and rape. If you want to call them immoral, then I will continue to support legislation against such things.

The government has a duty to protect us against foreign invasion and insurrection. That is why the second amendment advocates a well-regulated militia like the National Guard.

In my political positions I am closer to the Libertarian than Democratic Party. Being a Democrat is a practical choice and a family tradition. The government should provide a civil justice system to enforce contracts. I am against fraud, and punishment for victimless crimes. I am for control of own bodies.

Provide the results of scientific investigations to the people especially in the area of health so they can make their own decisions. I would protect state rights in the health and social policy area. There is no Constitutional basis for the Federal Government to regulate these areas. As the tenth amendment says, anything that’s not on the Constitution’s explicit list of powers belongs to the states and to the people unless even the states don’t have the power. I say even the states shouldn’t have the power to dictate people’s personal health decisions, but should serve them by giving them objective health information. The limited government rights established by the 10th amendment is not there just to protect the states, but also to protect the people from an intrusive and overbearing Federal Government! Here is one point where libertarian democrats and conservatives agree!

I would repeal the 3 strikes and you are out law and release the non-violent prisoners unjustly imprisoned under it. I would establish restitution and rehabilitation as the primary goals of the prison system. If we have to imprison people for some offenses, why not have them do productive labor? Not only would this save us a lot of money (even if it wouldn’t exactly turn prisons into profit centers!), but it would tend to rehabilitate prisoners by the good effects of work and putting a human face on the people they were working to pay back.
to pay back.		  
C. T. Weber 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide for the safety and welfare of its citizens and residents. Is your answer to question 5 as broad as it seems? Are there limits of any sort? No response from candidate.
Calvin Y. Louie 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide for the public good, health and well-being without bankrupting the people, violating the Constitution, or plunging our great state into financial ruin with unbearable budget deficits and not everyone paying their fair share.  
Carl A. Mehr 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To run the affairs of state to the benefit of the residents of California, and not just for themselves. Would you like to expand your answer to question 5? Honest government is a manner of government not a function per se. Moreover, please answer in terms of function, not type of government. The candidate did nor respond to this request for clarification.
Cheryl bly-Chester 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The legitimate functions of the Executive Branch, Governor's Office are the following: providing Homeland Security including law enforcement and emergency response; ensuring education is available; ensuring a healthy infrastructure (whether provided by the State or Private Sector) for energy service, transportation, water delivery, communications, affordable housing, etc.; environmental protection, public health and welfare. It is the responsibility of Government to ensure that all law-abiding citizens are treated equally. Your answer to question 5 is a laundry list, not a philosophy or a set of principles. Your approach looks quintessentially moderate and eclectic. Wonkish. This mindset does not usually organize its knowledge and activities from the top down.

My training is in mathematics and logic. I must agree with Francis Bacon when he asserted that, if you cannot express your philosophy in aphorisms (axioms in my terminology), then you do not truly understand it.

In the past I have come up with a lot of specific proposals, as you have, including a 32 point health care reform proposal. Yet, I wasn’t really applying the lessons of my education. Only when I chanced to be given a copy of Bastiat’s, The Law (La Loi), did I realize the possibilities of an axiomatic approach to political theory. Like Kant I woke from a dogmatic and very partial understanding of such matters.
Christopher Ranken 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To remove the Recall provision from the state constitution.  
Christopher Sproul 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To promote the common welfare, by providing for universal, quality education for the young, protecting our vital and precious environmental resources, securing our common civil rights, providing security through an appropriately administered criminal justice system, system of military defense, and by reasonably regulating the possession and use of firearms, and providing care and support for those unable to care for and support themselves.   
Chuck Walker 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide critical services that the individual can’t provide for themselves. Response to request for clarification, “Well Markham, let me go on the record as being a conservative Republican. I guess the answer to number 5 is always up for debate, it just depends on how it is applied as to whether you are a liberal, moderate or conservative. One example of the government providing for the people, is building roads. Most people would be hard pressed to do that individually. Another would be the safety and welfare of the citizens. I think police forces, in general, are a good thing. Would you not agree?” I’ve heard an answer like yours to question 5, often falsely attributed to Lincoln, to the effect that the “Government should do for the people what it can do best and the people should do for themselves what they can do best.” The trouble is that liberals don’t think that the people are able to care for themselves. Therefore this answer is not able to distinguish a liberal from a conservative.

Conservatives tend to answer in terms that are less variable, more in terms of what is just, not just temporarily expedient. Your answer is the principle of a moderate. If the Constitution took this stance in the area of liberties, it would say that the people have just as many rights as they deserve rather than giving them an objective description in general terms.

The question remains, what principle would a Conservative use to judge whether people can do a ‘service’ for themselves and whether it is ‘critical?’ Without principles of judgment, agreement is just an accident.

If voluntary commercial organizations do something, I am inclined to say that the ‘people’ do it, although clearly a single individual does not. Your example of roads is an example of an activity that would require the efforts of many people in an organized fashion. Could you give the principle that makes you assign this activity to government rather than to a private organization. (Toll roads and private roads do in fact exist.)

I would stipulate that freedom of movement should be regarded as ‘critical.’ If all roads were made toll roads, then suddenly the question would be who would we be paying, how much, and whether there was any choice. The example of electrical transmission lines without financial incentive to maintain them is instructive. This whole area could be called “infra structure.” Electricity is critical too, yet it is much more in private hands. Why private in the case of one sort of infrastructure and not in the other?
Daniel Watts 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Provide for police forces, education and upkeep of roads. Pass laws that prevent us from killing each other or infringing on each other's constitutional rights.

Answer to my request for clarification: It's hard to make a blanket statement proscribing what kind of actions government should or should not take in arenas other than regulation of citizen conduct or self-defense. I'd rather the government be the limited one described in the literal interpretation of the Constitution rather than the bloated bureaucracy we have now.
 Request for clarification: On question 5, I have a fundamental question. Are there any proper limits to government activity in the non-protective areas? If there are some, then how do you determine which ones are legitimate (and hence allowed) and which not? In other words what are your criteria for judging the legitimacy of a governmental function? The US Constitution, as written, prescribes a very limited government much different from the actual regime. Do you favor the Republic described by the Constitution or the representative democracy we have? What are your principles?

In a related question, what justifies the use of force? As George Washington said “Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is force.” It is a solemn thing to conclude that force is required. What is not sufficiently realized is that that is exactly what we are doing when we decide to use the involuntary means of Government. Anarchists say there is never such a justification. Libertarians find few. Conservatives find more. Moderates find a medium (but cannot tell you why). Liberals find many. Socialists find many more and Totalitarians see only practical, not principled limits to government power. Have you found yourself on this spectrum and why?
Darin Price 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? I think the functions that government are doing now are mostly appropriate; however, I do think one problem is that there are over 120 people is the assembly and senate who have the full time job of making new laws.  We don't need 120 people who feel they must come up with new laws everyday.  I think there are a few new ideas each year that are important enough to became a law, but the current leadership is adding far too many laws & regulations everyday that are not needed.  
Darrin Scheidle 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To manage or administer the resources of the state for the betterment of the people of California and see to the common defense. In response to my request for clarification the candidate said, “The people expect certain services, actions, and responsibilities, from their "government", such as security, a viable transportation system, health care, and education (to name a few), and they pay taxes and fees for those services and actions. They expect the government to also regulate certain industries through the Department of Consumer Affairs, to insure licensees are properly trained and legislated to protect the welfare of the people of California. This is where the management and administration of the taxpayers' resources for the betterment of the people of California is required and should be accounted for. Our legislators sometimes fail at their tasks by passing laws which are unenforceable, or take up time in our courts, due to the fact they are trying to legislate morality.”
 I believe that your answer to question 5 deserves some expansion or modification. I wonder what resources the State can call its own? Perhaps some of those resources which it is hoarding would do better in the hands of the People, such as the 20% of our land which it owns, not to speak of the 50% of the State which the Central Government owns, leaving us a measly 30% to crowd our 30 plus millions into! Or, perhaps the State thinks my resources are its resources! That would be the view, I believe, of the Governor who wanted to illegally seize the power plants and transmission lines!

You focused on ‘consent,’ ‘safety’ and ‘happiness’ in the Declaration. I have a suspicion that you agree with its statement of political philosophy. It gives a reason why “Governments are instituted among men” to quote its own phraseology. Does this perhaps have any relation to the legitimate functions of government and hence to the answer you might prefer to question 5?
Darryl L. Mobley 5 What are the legitimate functions of government?   Candidate believes in education, incentives, responsibility, honesty, productive enterprise. Is evidently not theoretically inclined.
David Ronald Sams 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To be of service to its taxpayers.  
Diana Foss 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To keep people safe, to educate children, to ensure opportunities for everyone, to enforce contracts, to make sure that all people are healthy and cared for.  
Diane Beall Templin 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To protect life and liberty, property, and the right to contract. The legitimate role of government is spelled out clearly in Bastiat's "The Law."  
Dick Lane 5   What are the legitimate functions of government? As a political science professor, I could spend hours on this question. Please check the issues page on my web site. As a candidate please spend a few minutes on it. Francis Bacon’s opinion was that if anyone could not reduce his philosophy to aphorisms, he did not understand it. As a mathematician acquainted with the axiomatic foundations of that field, and as a student of politics and philosophy, I am inclined to agree. What profit have you had of all your studies? Favor us with it! No reply to this invitation from the Prof.
Dorene Musilli 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide services which protect, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  
Douglas Anderson 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? “To provide for the common defense,” to ! protect its citizens from tyranny, and to protect children from exploitation.  
Eric Korevaar 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Those functions which the citizens have authorized directly or through their elected representatives.  
Frank Macaluso 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide necessary services for the infrastructure of our society including police, fire, education, transportation, health and social programs.  These functions are not written in stone but can be modified by legislation in a democratic process.  
Gary Leonard 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To do what individuals cannot--to provide infrastructure, and maintenance. To look forward and plan for the future. To help those who truly cannot take care of themselves. To make the tough decisions in the most human way. To make us citizens feel safe and secure.  
Gene Forte 5 What are the legitimate functions of government?    
George B. Schwartzman 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? It differs whether it is federal, state, or local. Your answer to Question 5 is very uninformative. Would you like to expand on it? No response from candidate.
Gerold Lee Gorman 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To form a more perfect union, establish justice, secure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty. ask only one clarification. I can’t tell whether you are a limited government republican or a socialist from your answer to question 5. It all depends on how you interpret “promote the general welfare” in the Preamble to our Constitution. The body of the Constitution plus the Bill of Rights goes one way, but you might go the other.

What do you mean by “promote the general welfare?” Do you place any limits on such “promotion?” No response to this request for clarification.
Gino Martorana 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To avail itself to the wants and needs of its taxpayers, to give them security, and as [sic] oppertunity [sic] to prosper and grow What?
Heather Peters 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Among other things, public safety, public health, education, sensible and minimal regulation of the conduct of individuals and businesses that may adversely impact the good of the people. I think that question 5 is one of the most important in a practical sense, although it is the most theoretical! How can this be? Well, clearly enunciated principles help us predict political behavior, if we don’t have time to ply through mounds of detailed plans!

Now, I won’t go quite so far as to say that “principled moderate” is an oxymoron! After all, Aristotle, author of the “Golden Mean,” has a good reputation with me. Sometimes the ‘best’ is the “golden mean.” That just means that you have defined a new moral metric (system of valuation) one of whose extremes corresponds to the mean of another moral metric.

That same clever Aristotle of Golden Mean fame said that justice was the only virtue that had no possible excess.
Iris Adam 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The function of government is to prevent problems from occurring. How?  Not through legislation, but through education that brings the life of every citizen into harmony with natural law. Like our founding fathers, I believe that the rights of every American citizen is to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and that these are based on immutable laws of nature.  Through knowledge of natural law, both science and government would promote the goals of freedom and happiness of the people.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare of the People. Furthermore I believe that the Government should make its decisions solely based on the best interest of its People, with total disregard for special interests. Government should faithfully express the will of the people. In a response to a request for clarification “Yes there have to be limits on Government and each scenario warrants a different limit in dollars and time or both. No, there should be no limits on the People directly and the limits through their representatives should be placed by the will of the People.”  
Jeff Rainforth 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To help those who cannot help themselves. To provide for the public as a whole what they cannot provide for themselves individually, i.e. Defense, roads, law enforcement etc.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The legitimate functions of government are to protect and defend our citizens; to enforce the laws of the land; and to insure fair commerce and trade.  
Jerry Kunzman 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To provide a basic system of protection and support for the citizens, and to look after the general well being of business and the economy.  
Jim Weir 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Whoa, I could spend all day.  However, I can say the government has gotten into things it has no business in. Things government should be in: Education; defense, law enforcement; conservation, air and water quality; public infrastructure; ensuring civil rights.  
Joe Guzzardi 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To govern without fear or favor and to make decisions based on the common good of all Californians. Your answer to Question 5 certainly qualifies as a goal of good government, but what are the legitimate functions which can be the means of reaching the common good of which you spoke?
John (Jack) Mortensen 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Legitimate functions of Government: a. Fundamentally: Branches 1. Executive 2. Legislative 3. Judicial b. Functions are and were designed to protect and defend the people in a way that carried to all classes, and today, to all races to ensure equality and non-favoritism. The candidate's answer is unique. It is a good answer as to the functional divisions of government according to the theory advanced by Montesquieu and implemented in our national and state constitutions. The "equal protection under the laws" comment is also a desirable feature of any good government. What I meant though what was the appropriate scope of a government exhibiting equal treatment in appropriate categories and divided however functionally.
John Christopher Burton 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? One of the great fictions of modern American political life is that government exists as some independent arbiter over human affairs. As a Marxist, I believe that in the final analysis the government represents only the interests of the dominant economic class. Accordingly, I believe that the current government, along with both major parties, are instruments of the ruling capitalist class. Thus, governmental decisions are made to protect and promote the interests of large corporations and banks rather than in the interests of working people. I would transform state government, and lead the struggle to transform governments throughout the United States and around the world, into instruments of the working class. Thank you for your answers. I share much of your disgust with the existing order, but do not share your solutions. Isn’t it a pity that more thought is not put into political principles, into ideology. Everyone today calls such considerations, ‘theoretical,’ and meaning thereby to diminish their importance! They could not be more wrong!

My new web site is devoted to political theory. I must say however, that your lengthy analysis will not do for my own political theory. I must axiomatize mine. I agree with Francis Bacon, who asserted that no one could be said to sufficiently understand their own philosophy, if they could not express it entirely in aphorisms. My background in the foundations of Mathematics will stand me in good stead as I attempt to discover the ‘right’ set of axioms and the application thereto of a variety of ‘deontic logic,’ the logic of rights and duties.
John W. Beard 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? There are many legitimate functions of government. The problem with the government is the total lack of accountability. Do you want to add to your answer to question five and give a list of functions that are legitimate or better yet a principle that would help us decide which ones are? No matter what function is legitimate, we need ‘accountability’ in any representative government. You gave no functions or categories of functions or criteria for legitimate functions. Please answer my question in its own terms. No response from candidate.
Jon W. Zellhoefer 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? See the US Constitution and CA Constitution.  I do not have the time to copy them at this time. Your answer to question 5 appears very status quo. The scope of government defined in the US Constitution is that of a Republic with a very limited government. That defined by California’s constitution is that of a semi-socialist regime. Of course the actual government of the US, rather than the one defined in its Constitution, is closer to what we have in California! If you are really serious about this position and you should be elected Governor, you would shortly be in as much or more trouble than the famous Alabama Chief Justice!
Kelly P. Kimball 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To keep the potholes filled, keep the streetlights on, and to make sure we are safe. Serious again!
Kevin Richter 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Government in general exists to serve the people. The government is responsible for creating and supporting an infrastructure, enacting laws that govern the behavior of its citizens and entities, and upholding those laws. In California, government exists to serve our politicians and those with a lot of money to persuade the politicians. Our California government is responsible for wasting money hand-over-fist, and then borrowing money to support an ever deteriorating infrastructure. Our California government is responsible for enacting laws that protect special interest groups and raise lawmakers’ salaries. Oh, and our California government is responsible for upholding those laws. Yeah we are being served up alright. 'Serviced' is another way to put it! Look it up.
Lawrence Steven Strauss 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To protect the rights of its citizens, not special interest. Congratulations! Yours is the only questionnaire so far that was complete and responsive the first time, even if a bit light on some of the answers. Properly defined, ‘protection of rights’ is a virtually complete description of the legitimate functions of government. Government could also legitimately pin a medal on someone like Bill Simon for his good works. That wouldn’t cost much!

The legitimacy to which question 5 refers is, of course, moral. As for the actual legal situation, it is abundantly clear that the laws of this state go far, far beyond the valid protective function of government. Therefore many of these laws are immoral.
Leo Gallagher 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Bogus Answer: Ship Christenings, Bar Mitzvahs, Inaugural Balls. That’s it! Are those the only parties in prospect? What a dull job!
Leonard Padilla 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The legitimate functions of government are to govern as little as possible, that is to say, I firmly believe that the state of California has gotten itself in the current financial predicament by going from a part-time legislature to a full-time legislature. I rest my case. Your answer was, “The legitimate functions of government are to govern as little as possible.” Loosely translated this is like saying, “The legitimate functions of government are to function as little as possible.” This is like saying, “The proper way to live is to live as little as possible!”

My question is about the content of the government’s activities, NOT THE AMOUNT OF IT! I am also not asking for a laundry list. At worst, I am asking for general categories of functions. At best, I am asking for a principle or principles that would allow me to answer the question, “Is this function a proper function of government?”

All I meant by this question was,

“What should government do—in general terms?”

And, it is perfectly alright to say what government should not do as long as you have said at least something that it should do.

I have seen the idea behind your answer, better said, as, “That government is best, which governs least.” This quotation is usually misattributed to Thomas Jefferson.

I have a book of quotations compiled by the librarians of the Library of Congress called “Respectfully Quoted.” Some politicians, it seems, actually want to know who said something and attribute it to them instead of engaging in plagiarism as is their usual dishonest practice. It turns out that the foregoing quote is actually from a person for whom I have much less respect than Jefferson, Henry David Thoreau.

Now, almost everyone agrees with the following statement (except Anarchists and extreme Libertarians), “Anarchy is one of the worst conditions that society can experience.”

What Thoreau’s statement implies (if you agree with the statement above on Anarchy) is that “Government gets better and better, as is becomes less and less, until it becomes absolutely terrible!” This is what I call the “precipice theory of government.”

Let me tell you a little cautionary tale. Once upon a time, there was a little boy standing near the edge of a cliff. He so very much enjoyed the view from where he was standing! Then he found that the view got better and better as he got closer and closer to the edge of the cliff. So he kept on going, until he fell over the cliff and smashed himself on the rocks below. This is not a happily ever after story! But this is what happens to those who follow Thoreau’s Precipice Theory of Government.

Actually, to call Anarchy a government is like calling nothing, something. “Anarchy” just means “no rule.” “Rule” means the same thing as “government.” The paradoxical way of saying this is “The worst government is no government—anarchy.” I like that much better than what Thoreau said.

The fact is, I like a whole lot less government than we have, but not none. What I am fond of saying is that, “Sometimes there ought to be a law—but not nearly as often as there is!” I’ll tell you what I believe one thing is that a government should never do. I said this to another candidate:

“If you want my opinion, the first duty of a public servant is like the first duty stated in the Hippocratic Oath, which is “Physician, do thy patient no harm.” Similarly, the government official’s first duty should be to follow the following principle, “Public servant, do no citizen an injustice—no matter what the majority wants!””
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Bogus Answer: Inaugural balls, state funerals, ship christenings.  
Marc Valdez 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To promote the common welfare. “To promote the common welfare” is the phrase in the Preamble to the Constitution. You say “provide for the common welfare.” There is a big difference between encouragement of and actually providing for the welfare of the people. A socialist government may try to provide for all needs, but a free enterprise society limits its government to at most encouraging enterprise. Do you believe government should try to do all good to the people or do you place some limits on such functions?
Michael J. Wozniak 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Government is a template to insure an orderly society, and to provide services for people within that society that cannot be individually accomplished.  Government should provide opportunity, however it is the obligation of the individual to use that opportunity protected by government.  
Mike Schmier 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Listening and leadership and seeing that the law is fairly and equally administered. This is about a mode of leadership, not a function of government! What this question needs is a criterion that distinguishes a legitimate function (not a manner) of government from an illegitimate one! This answer could be adapted to answer question 3, since it is certainly appealing to have the prospect of a leader who has a high regard for the law and justice for a change! The candidate was unresponsive to these comments.
Mohammad Arif 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? All functions are Legitimate if done by rules and regulations.  
Ned Roscoe 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Libertarians believe that government can't solve our problems but it can earn our respect. In California, there are many activities, such as education, schools, roads, that people accept as legitimate. Some of the activities are really commercial services which ought to be policed but privatized so that companies pay for their own expenses. My personal inclinations is the less government the better.

The Governor can propose legislation, the Governor can wield the powerful line item veto, but no Governor can responsibly be an obstructionist. The People's business is too important. That doesn't mean I won't fight for the ideals of liberty. I will try to lead by raising the consciousness of both major parties to consider the possibilities of giving liberty a chance. It is my passionate belief that if we did so, we would unleash so much positive, constructive energy that our current budget problems would soon be only a fading nightmare!

  
Paul Nave 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Government should serve the people, not special interests. It's the political system that's partly to blame, money is everything in politics and without money you don't win. The media follows the money, with money you become a player in the media's eyes. The unspoken word in politics is the legalized fixing by special interest groups. They don't give politicians money for nothing. In regard to legislative candidates, prior to giving any money, many special interest groups consult with you first through lengthy questionnaires, that by answering, result in what your stance is on questions that pander to their agenda. And then and only then, if you have answered all the questions to their satisfaction you may have the opportunity to receive their money. Many groups will then want to talk to you personally to make sure you are completely supportive of their agenda, and that you will do everything in your power, to pass any and all legislation that will benefit their group. Upon affirming your support for the particular group, substantial campaign contributions are then normally realized. As a candidate, if you receive special interest group money, especially from a deep pocket group, you must know that once you're in office if you don't do everything in your power to pass or block legislation that favors the special interest group, they will use all their power and resources to get you out of office when you come up for re-election. State politicians become reliant on continued campaign contributions from special interest groups, thus they continue to try to satisfy and push the agenda of these groups, by way of legislation, often costing the state millions of dollars. Legislators need to vote their conscience, not bend to the will of special interest groups. Due to the stranglehold that special interest groups have on politicians, the legitimate function of the government is to break this cycle of business as usual. Political reform in the state of California is a necessity.  
Paul W. Vann 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Transportation, education, health & safety. Question 5 is an important list. Is it complete? Are there any limits to the legitimate functions of government? What principle do you use to include or exclude functions?
Ralph A. Hernandez 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Providing adequate Public Safety, public services (which includes transportation), education, employments opportunities, proper representation at all levels, guarding the public's funds/taxes, abiding by the Federal and State Constitutions, upholding the law, holding open and public meetings concerning the carrying out of the affairs of the government on behalf of the people, etc.  
Randall D. Sprague 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To ensure all citizens are treated equally and have equal access to all services and benefits. Question 5 in my mind is one of the most important, especially if you are going to propose a new Constitution. (Last time I checked changing it was not a power of the Governor under the current Constitution!) I sure hope you make it shorter!

Do you recognize any proper limits on the functions of government or upon the will of the people? Do you think that protecting the rights of minorities or of individuals against all comers (government included) is a legitimate function of government?

Here is what I said to another candidate:

“If you want my opinion, the first duty of a public servant is like the first duty stated in the Hippocratic Oath, which is “Physician do thy patient no harm.” Similarly, the government official’s first duty should be to follow the following principle, “Do no citizen any injustice, no matter what the majority wants!”
Rich Gosse 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To enforce contracts and protect us from evil people. I see a possible contradiction between your answer to questions 5 and 8. I couldn’t agree more with your legitimate functions of government—as far as they go.

Protection against evil-doers is indeed the primary function of government. However the question is whether the government can or should do anything to restrict or diminish the supply of evil people.

What Libertarians assume is that every adult deserves freedom. I say that is where we should start out, unless that assumption has been sufficiently disproven by the behavior of a youthful offender. Anyone at any time can justly forfeit life, liberty or property by reason of offenses.

But freedom and liberty must be distinguished. Freedom to murder is a freedom. Freedom to steal is a freedom. Freedom to lie and defraud is a freedom. There are many undesirable sorts of freedom. Restraint of evil-doing means restricting these undesirable (because unjust) sorts of freedom. Liberty is the combination of the freedom to do good things and freedom from the imposition of unjust harm. Freedom is the last thing we want for the truly vicious.

Punishment of evil discourages it. Is that the extent of the responsibility of society’s agent, government, in the maintenance of the necessary conditions of a relatively free society?

Home, school, and church have ever been held to be the nurseries of character, especially the family. I believe that instruction by all of these institutions plays a vital part in the building of a self-controlled character that does not require great quantities of external control. However, all this said, I definitely do not believe that educating our children is either a duty or right of the state.

What might the state do other than terrorize evil-doers to preserve a character in the People deserving of a large measure of freedom?

Well, traditional family relationships may be expressed as contracts. These can be strongly upheld under the legitimate enforcement of contracts function of government.

The obligation of nurture and education on the parent’s side, and honor and obedience on the part of minors should be upheld by law and not undermined as all our social programs tend to do.

The reinstitution of “fault” divorce and narrowing the grounds for divorce are measures that will improve the character of the People. The voluntary institution of mandatory counseling by ministers of God before making a civil union into “holy wedlock” has been shown to greatly decrease the divorce rate wherever it has been tried. The combination of these two measures, one legal and compulsory, and the other social, spiritual, and voluntary will work a great revolution in the American family.

Without a good character a People may all turn out to be evil-doers. Only a repressive, perhaps even brutal government can make it marginally possible for such a society to function. Imagine a company of pirates with a pirate king and you get the idea.

Did you ever watch the movie “Pay it Forward?” If so, you will appreciate my comment that parents have been “paying it forward” for millennia, doing good to their offspring without any firm guarantee of a return except to their grandchildren. When this chain is broken in a sufficiently large proportion of society, society itself is broken.

Marriage is a contract. Parenthood and childhood involve reciprocal obligations. However it is not a contract, which certainly requires the will of both parties.

However, it is possible to incur involuntary obligations of at least a moral nature. If we required children to support their indigent parents, then we would make that moral obligation into a legal one as well. Laws like that still exist in some contexts! If that was the rule, Social Security could and should disappear!

Thus not every proper role of the state in regard to families is covered under a proper understanding of the state in enforcing contracts.

Now if you haven’t seen the contradiction yet, I will state it explicitly. It isn’t a logical contradiction, but it is a practical one. If we omit what it takes to maintain the character of the People at least in stasis, then a Libertarian regime will over time defeat its own goal of extending the maximum possible freedom to all.

In particular, all the offenses you would decriminalize would tend to corrupt the character of the people. Sure, by definition crime would decrease because so much less would be illegal. Sure, organized crime would diminish (at least in profitability) if such activities were legal. Sure, official corruption would diminish since paying bribes would no longer be a cost of doing business for racketeers.

I grant you all that. But although organized crime would diminish, crime by disorganized individuals would increase even more. Is that the way to solve one of the two greatest problems you see, crime? Also knowingly or with reckless abandon giving someone a communicable disease for profit is what legalization of prostitution would cause in much greater measure than now occurs. So disease and crime would greatly increase if your measures were adopted.
Richard J. Simmons 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To advance and protect the interests of its citizens. In my opinion your answer to Question 5 needs some expansion. Some candidates have spoken of representing the will of the People. Others such as yourself have spoken of the interests of the People. Some have spoken of limits on government. Some have spoken of rights. Whether will or interests of the People are in view, this is my question “Do those interests or does that will have any proper limit?” Even so an answer like yours with the addition of ‘legitimate’ as a modifier to ‘interests’ would still leave me wondering on what basis you judge legitimacy. Also, honest government in our ‘interests’ (legitimate I hope) strikes me as a mode of government, but not as a description of the range of actions or functions that are legitimate. Your answer is much like a phrase in the Declaration of Independence. That document actually gave a reason for the institution of governments among men.
Robert (Butch) Dole 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Simply put;

1. Legislative: The power to make general rules of conduct

2. Executive: The power to put into effect in individual cases the general rules made under the legislative power; the power to administer and enforce laws.

3. Judicial: The power to judge, or to resolve disputes; the power to interpret and apply laws.

 In question 5 you answered a different ‘function’ question than I intended. You defined the functions of the three branches of government. The type of ‘function’ I was concerned about were the functions of government that legislation establishes according to the legitimate powers of legislation possessed by government. All those functions that you mentioned are legitimate, but they deal with the institutional structure of government, not the content of its policies. I would like to keep your answer with some framing material as follows:
Robert Cullenbine 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The legitimate functions of the government are to do whatever is necessary to see that the constitution is upheld, and to see that the will of the majority is followed with protection for minority rights. The Bill of Rights defines these rights pretty well.  
Ronald J. Friedman 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Government should be "By the People and For the People” and not in the hands of special interests.  Government should provide essential services to afford its electorate an opportunity to succeed in their fields of endeavor.  
Ronald Jason Palmieri 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To exercise legitimate state regulatory powers, provide protection and welfare of the populace and guarantee equal rights for all. Question 5 is very important. Unlike some opponents of the Recall, you do not question the People’s right to recall. Rather you question the motivations of those who have tried to get the initiative qualified and approved. I have seen a proposal by one of the candidates to use the “Australian Ballot” method of instant runoff. According to the Recall provision in the California Constitution someone with a very small proportion of the vote could potentially win the Governorship if the Governor is recalled.

Perhaps you are familiar with the Australian Ballot? But if not, here it is. Voters indicate 1st, 2nd, 3rd, …, nth choices if their first choices do not succeed. The person with the fewest votes is eliminated, and ballots for that candidate are redistributed to their second choices, and so forth until someone has either a majority, or a much larger plurality at least. If one’s second choice is eliminated, then one’s 3rd choice is consulted until your choices are exhausted or someone is elected. Some voters of course may not fill out all their choices for lack of information on some candidates. Thus they would be counted as “abstaining.” If a candidate gets the most votes this way, but not a majority of all initially cast, then either he is selected or there is a runoff between the top two candidates.

I would actually like to see this method used and party primaries eliminated (but not eliminate either party labels or party endorsements. What do you think?

But back to question 5. Do you believe in any limits on the will of the People? Do you believe in any limits on the powers of their government? Do believe in individual rights? Do rights come from the state, from agreements, from God, or from some other source? How do you tell a legitimate regulation from an illegitimate one?
Scott A. Mednick 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To keep the potholes filled, keep the streetlights on, and to make sure we are safe.  
Sharon Rushford 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The preamble to the constitution [sic] tells us. To establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. The function of government has been spelled out for us, we just need to remember it. I said to the candidate, "Could you clarify your answer to Question 5? Properly understood, our Preamble is an excellent statement of legitimate government goals, but it all depends on what you mean by “promote the general welfare,” whether you are a socialist or a limited government republican! Just what do you think that phrase means? Actually I don’t want a factual answer. Rather I am looking for a moral one, that is of the form “What should the government do to promote the general welfare, and what should it not do in its efforts in that direction?”"

The race is for the Governorship of California, not President! How I dearly wish California’s Constitution prescribed as limited a government as our United States Constitution did; and how I wish that the United States would confine its functions to the ones legitimized by that Constitution!
Todd Richard Lewis 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To represent the people by distributing tax money wisely to improve the life of all citizens. Your answer to question 5 could use expansion I believe. For instance are all the purposes for which tax money is currently ‘distributed’ or expended legitimate? What are legitimate use of tax revenues? In effective terms, if there is no expenditure, then there is no State function. What functions (expenditures) are legitimate? Please answer in terms of a principle rather than a list, if you will, except to illustrate the principle.
Tom McClintock 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? “There are two modern views of government that begin from entirely different premises.

There is the 18th Century American view propounded by our nation’s founders. They believed, and formed a government based upon that belief, that each of us is endowed by our creator with certain rights that cannot be alienated, and that governments are instituted to protect those rights. This view is proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and reflected in the American Bill of Rights.

The second view is 19th Century German in origin and expressed in the philosophies of Marx and Hegel and Nietzsche. In this view, rights come not from God, but from the state. What rights you have are there because government has given them to you, all for the greater good – defined, of course, by government.

This bill is very much in the German mold. It is the first attempt in this legislature to claim that the right of self-defense is not an inalienable natural right, but is rather a right that is licensed from government; a right that no longer belongs to you, but to your betters, who will license you to exercise that right at their discretion.

In the 20 years I have been actively engaged in public policy, I have seen the growing influence of this 19th Century German view. It disdains the view of the American founders. It rejects the notion of inalienable rights endowed equally to every human being by the “laws of nature and of nature’s God.” In this view, it is the state, and not the individual, where rights are vested.

I would warn this measure’s supporters that a government that becomes destructive of these rights renounces its legitimacy and its laws lose their claim to the obedience of a free people.”

 These comments (which were the best I could find to answer my question) came from a speech on a bill that came before the Legislature whose aim was to deprive us of one more right guaranteed by the Second Amendment .

In my opinion, the Second Amendment is not sweeping enough. Its framers thought, no doubt, that by protecting the most violent means of self-defense, that they would succeed in asserting that right in general. Self-defense is certainly an unalienable right, if life is; for what we have a duty to protect, life, we have a right to protect by appropriate means. I employ the government not to do all my defense, but to assist me in it. I have an absolute, unalienable, concurrent right to self-defense which I cannot rightly relinquish to anyone.

Tom states in this speech the theoretical basis of our Government, divinely granted rights, which are the foundation of any powers which we ‘delegate’ to our public servants.

‘Delegate’ has the unfortunate connotation of ‘relinquish.’ But when I say ‘delegate,’ I mean to grant a power to assist me, not to replace me! Unless I have a policeman to guard me 24 hours a day, it is also simply impractical for me to depend upon them for all or even most of my defense.

Lawyers want us to entirely relinquish our right to represent ourselves, which is why when we employ them, we are (according to them) while we continue to employ them, ‘incompetent’ to represent ourselves in the matter for which they were employed. They hate ambiguity, even when it might be to the advantage of their client.

Socialism as manifested in Liberalism threatens the basis of legitimacy that our Declaration of Independence asserts. This recall was provoked in fact by the crisis of socialism in the government of this State.
Trek Thunder Kelly 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? To protect its people, to provide a framework of justice, to organize monies collected from taxes and distribute them among public programs, to provide an unencumbered environment for the expansion of jobs and income through open markets and individual enterprise. Could you clarify the organization and distribution portion of your answer to question 5? Should we be collecting for all these programs? I.e. are they both legitimate and desirable? The deficit which most candidates mention as a big problem and as a reason to recall seems to be related to the scale of these public programs. Also the level of collections, otherwise call taxation seems to figure in arithmetically as well.
Warren Farrell 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? National security, encouraging business, providing a check on those areas in which the corporation makes more money by hurting the public (e.g., it is cheaper to pollute).  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? The function of government is to

1.) Be representatives to the people which voted them into office.

2.) Pass laws that are in the best interest of the majority of the people, not special interest groups, campaign donors, or self-serving politicians.

3.) To spend the revenues collected through taxes in a manner which will benefit the majority of the people.
 It appears that you are a strict majoritarian. In other words, for you, the ‘will of the people’ is the will of the majority, expressed through their representatives or in a plebiscite.

But, do you believe in any limits to the will of the people however defined? Do you recognize any individual or minority rights against the majority? Is the voice of the People the voice of God?

If you want my opinion, the first duty of a public servant is like the first duty stated in the Hippocratic Oath, which is “Physician do thy patient no harm.” Similarly, the government official’s first duty should be to follow the following principle, “Do no citizen any injustice, no matter what the majority wants!”
William Tsangares 5 What are the legitimate functions of government? Distribution of resources.  
Art Brown 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? I think you answered your own question. I question whether deontic issues have a rule analogous to Aristotle’s excluded middle! In fact I know they don’t. There are other possibilities in the realm of duty and right, than should and should not.

Liberals and Libertarians may not believe this, but in fact something I have a right to do, I may not in fact have a duty to do. This is not exactly equivalent to an area of moral indifference, since it may be quite beneficial and praiseworthy to do such things.

Arty Boy thinks these tow cases are mutually exclusive. But, in fact between them lies the whole realm of legitimate freedom.
B. E. Smith 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? A governor only implements the laws the legislature passes.  Recall them. Old B. E. misses the political point. It is impractical to recall all those louts, but recalling the Governor is. He certainly didn’t exercise leadership, but socialists all flunked Econ 1A. Gray’s ‘brightest’ idea was seizing the power plants. His prime failure was not taking on the PUC, who bankrupted some power companies and set us up for price gouging. The only way to evade the gouging was to dampen demand with higher prices. This the socialists on the PUC refused to do.
Bill Vaughn 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? See above. Here's the answer I proposed to the candidate: "Because he doesn’t have enough concern for public safety, especially as expressed in his inaction on adoption of responsible building codes for earthquake resistance and implementation of earthquake resistance retrofits."
Bob McClain 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The Governor should be recalled for lacking leadership and pandering to special interests.  
Brian Quinn 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? He has failed California without a doubt. His mistakes are costing California BILLIONS.  
Brooke Adams 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Davis must be recalled. He has done a dreadful job. He has mortgaged the future of California and, in turn, our generation. No corporation would stand for keeping a president who ran a successful company into the ground. Why should we? Consider this: Would Wall Street tolerate Bill Gates taking Microsoft from a $12 billion cash on hand position to a $38 billion negative cash position, with a credit rating just above junk bond status? Bill Gates would be washing dishes at a Seattle eatery. Hopefully Davis will be doing the same thing soon somewhere in Sacramento.  
Bruce Margolin 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The Governor just appeases his supporters. He doesn’t lead. He doesn’t anticipate, he just reacts. He’s lost our confidence, which means even if he suddenly learned how to lead, he wouldn’t be able to!  
C. T. Weber 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should vote No, because it is undemocratic.  The next governor should be elected by a majority of those voting. To avoid the cost of runoff elections, I advocate the use of Instant Runoff Voting.  That is where the voters may rank several of the candidates in order of preference.  If no candidate has a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is dropped and the votes are distributed to their voters second choice.  The process continues until one candidate gets a majority.  
Calvin Y. Louie 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? I don’t think we should recall the governor at this time because those who pushed for this recall were motivated by politics and a grab for power. An elected official should only be removed from office for incompetence, conviction of a high crime, gross mismanagement or immorality. That is not the case now.  
Carl A. Mehr 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? He has been dishonest and lied to us. We want honesty from government office holders. Gray Davis dishonesty borders on fraudulent behavior.  
Cheryl bly-Chester 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Governor Davis has lost the people's faith in his leadership abilities.  During normal times, waiting for the election cycle to be complete would be more appropriate, but with the State facing bankruptcy, and citizens feeling powerless, we cannot afford another three years of indecision and blatant pandering to special interests.  The California constitution provides for the citizenry to make a change of leadership in extraordinary times.  These are extraordinary times and we need a decisive, creative, and uncorrupted leader to turn things around.  
Christopher Ranken 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Not recall, because the Recall provision itself is fatally flawed.  
Christopher Sproul 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should not recall the Governor because he was duly elected only months ago at the last general election.  Absent criminal malfeasance, a duly elected Governor should be allowed to serve his or her term of office.  This standard is essential for preserving a functioning state government.  
Chuck Walker 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Davis has driven this state to the brink of economic meltdown. We are at a critical juncture and we need to take action now or California will soon collapse.  
Daniel Watts 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The governor writes the budget.  The budget this year cut higher education while giving raises to prison guards. As a result, student fees were raised.  Therefore, the governor is responsible for the outrageous fee hikes and for pricing thousands of Californians out of an education.  
Darin Price 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? I oppose the recall.  Also, realize this is coming from someone who is NOT a democrat, who did NOT vote for Davis in the last election, and thinks Davis is doing a TERRIBLE job.  However, I do NOT think Davis has been criminal nor grossly negligent and recalls should be reserved for extreme behavior.  
Darrin Scheidle 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? It is our RESPONSIBILITY to recall the Governor. The Declaration of Independence says it the best - " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the CONSENT of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the PEOPLE to alter or abolish it and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their SAFETY and HAPPINESS.”

Due to Gray Davis’ actions and lack of leadership and management skills, the people are not happy, nor are they safe with the budget cuts that Davis has made in Education and PUBLIC SAFETY.		  
Darryl L. Mobley 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? “I believe in the California dream. We are all now living the California nightmare. I can no longer sit by and watch the insanity in our political leaders as they do the same things over and over and then tell us to expect different results. I have plans that will solve our problems. And, I will let you judge my leadership experience.”

“If a corporate executive took money from vendors and then gave that vendor special access or business, we would all know that that corporate executive was a crook. They would be fired and sent to jail.

If a military officer provided special favors to those who plied him/her with money, that officer would be court-martialed and relieved of command.

If a radio disc jockey accepted money and gifts in return for playing certain songs, he/she would be arrested and sent to jail.

Why should the good citizens of California have to hold their noses when it comes to the pay-to-play behavior of elected officials?”
 Quotes from web site.
David Ronald Sams 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Gray Davis is the worst CEO on the planet. If he was the CEO of a major corporation, he would have been fired long ago. We need to run this state like a business, not a funny farm.  
Diana Foss 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Gray Davis was legitimately re-elected less than a year ago, and has committed no crime that would justify recalling him. A successful recall will set a terrible precedent and make it even less likely that elected officials will make necessary hard decisions.  
Diane Beall Templin 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Under the Davis Governorship:
A. The budget has the greatest deficit in the history of any State!
B. DMV fees have tripled-illegally!
C. Gas prices and utility prices have risen precipitously because of 42 billion dollars of over-priced utility contracts that were made by the governor's chief negotiator. These contracts must be set aside because of conflict of interest.
D. Workman's compensation premiums and basic liability insurance have soared, driving job providers out of California.
E. Our border is not secure or protected and we continue to pay health, education and welfare benefits to those who are here illegally.
F. Teachers and other essential service personnel are being laid off.
Are those enough reasons?
  
Dick Lane 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Gov. Davis has been so wounded with this recall effort, in addition to his efforts to collect money and sign special interest legislation, that I can not imagine him offering any kind of meaningful leadership over the next three years. Thus, from a very practical, non-ideological standpoint, I am asking citizens, especially Democrats, to vote for me. The problems facing our state are real. If a Republican is elected, the Democratic majorities in the Assembly and Senate will not give him the time of day and so we will be faced with three years of stagnation. I, along with millions of Californians, voted for Cruz Bustamante to be Lt. Gov. I want him to keep his job. One of my first acts, if elected, will be to return the parking spaces that were taken from the Lt. Gov., in an unpardonable fit of pettiness, by Mr. Davis. In contrast to the disrespect he has endured in the current administration, I will keep the Lt. Gov. in the loop and consult with him frequently.  
Dorene Musilli 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? He clearly failed to disclose the REAL fiscal condition of the state last fall.  
Douglas Anderson 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall him because this State has been run zero out of the five years and that needs to be back up to being three out of three years.  
Eric Korevaar 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should not recall the governor because the method by which the recall question got on the ballot involved the paid for gathering of signatures with the money coming primarily from a single person with political purposes beyond the recall.  Recalling the governor under these circumstances, in the absence of wrongdoing by the governor, will set a bad precedent for the way our government operates.  
Frank Macaluso 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Although Gray Davis was not solely responsible for the budget deficit, it remains that over the last four years when monies flowing into the state General Fund have been unchanged, state spending has increased over 30%.  This shows an inability to predict and adjust the budget based upon revenue projections.  This could be the only legitimate argument to recall the Governor but the blame does not lie upon one person.  
Gary Leonard 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The recall is a bad idea. All of this money, both what the state is spending, and what the candidates are spending, could help solve one small problem in the state. And while the entertainment value is high (and as a society we do hold entertainment value in high esteem), sixty million bucks could feed a lot of kids or plant a bunch of trees or buy a bunch of new voting machines.  
Gene Forte 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor?    
George B. Schwartzman 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? When someone does an ineffective job, they need to be fired.  
Gerold Lee Gorman 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? There are such a multitude of issues that it most certainly poses a difficulty to contemplate that one person would be able to draft a complete list. The standing leadership as a whole has failed the people in many ways.  Some of these ways are well known to Californians, such as the failure to develop adequate sources of alternative energy, while at the same time selling off the power plants. Then there is the perception of large scale corruption in general, i.e., with respect to the conduct in corporate realm which therewith casts a shadow upon those in the political arena who are perceived to be under such influences.  
Gino Martorana 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Because he does not serve nor care for all the people of california, [sic]  
Heather Peters 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? He should be recalled because he is unduly influenced by special interests and does not have the interpersonal skills necessary to work with the legislature to get the business of the people done in a just and expeditious way.  
Iris Adam 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? I don't think this recall is simply some right-wing conspiracy and I don't think people are willing to recall Gray Davis just because he fiddled while the state burned during the energy and budget crises. I think the more fundamental issue is that Davis put the office of governor up for sale to the highest bidder.  He has no moral compass and no set of principles to guide his actions.  He is a pathological serial fundraiser.  While he hasn't been caught outright doing anything illegal, I think most people believe that he has traded votes for money and that is unacceptable.  Californians are tired of "politics as usual" and " special interest influence peddling." Therefore, the recall of Governor Davis is inevitable.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The way it went down, it clearly shows the recall was politically motivated. Darrell Issa and the Bush administration played partisan politics at the expense of the People of California.  
Jeff Rainforth 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Dishonesty. Inability to manage in crisis situations. Lack of vision, leadership, and selling out the office of Governor to the highest bidders by way of campaign contributions.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall the governor to demonstrate that citizens are disgusted with “politics as usual” and to demonstrate to the legislature that our elected officials must “roll-up-their-sleeves” and work in cooperative partnership to find solutions to the great challenges facing California.  
Jerry Kunzman 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? I believe that we should recall Governor Davis because he has, in my opinion, not acted quickly and effectively enough to the changing times, such as reducing overhead and trimming programs back to meet with the reduction in the revenue stream.  This is just one example of why California needs someone in office besides Gray Davis.  
Jim Weir 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? “I totally disagree with a recall election that's based on something as trifling as not liking a person's politics or personality," said Weir. "The fact of the matter is that Governor Davis has already withstood one recall election last November, where the voters chose to elect him instead of his opponent. I am absolutely and unequivocally against this recall and urge the voters to reject the recall.”  
Joe Guzzardi 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Lies and favoritism to special interest groups.  
John (Jack) Mortensen 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Gray Davis is a Special interest puppet and never should have been allowed more than one term.  
John Christopher Burton 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? As I explained above, I do not believe the Governor should be recalled. The crisis in California represents more than the failure of the Davis administration in Sacramento. It is impossible to separate Davis’s policies—dictated by Wall Street, the giant energy companies, and the corporate elite as a whole—from the policies of the Bush administration in Washington and the crisis of the capitalist system on a world scale. The crisis in California demonstrates the failure of the profit system at the very center of world capitalism. The needs of working people and the interests of society as a whole—the abolition of poverty, guaranteed employment at decent pay for all those able to work, universal health care, affordable and comfortable housing, new schools and increased funding for education, secure retirement and care for the elderly—have proven to be incompatible with an economic system based on the unrestrained accumulation of personal wealth.

The Recall election has been sponsored by extreme right-wing Republicans to remove Davis and the Democrats mild resistance to the elimination of social programs. It would not be correct to form a block with these reactionary forces.

The recall of Gray Davis and his replacement by Bustamante or Schwarzenegger will only set the stage for new attacks on working people. Nor will Davis himself, if he survives the recall, implement economic policies substantially different from those planned by his extreme right-wing opponents in the Republican Party. No progressive solution—i.e., one that serves the interests of the working class—is possible within the framework of the existing two-party system. Therefore, the recall campaign must become the point of departure for the building of an independent mass political movement of the working class directed against the Republicans and Democrats, and the profit system which they both defend. Such a movement must fight for the redistribution of wealth from the corporate elite to the working class—the overwhelming majority of the people—and the reorganization of economic life on genuinely egalitarian, socialist foundations.		  
John W. Beard 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We need to stop the madness. We can not afford to keep him. We ran 4-5 million dollars over budget an hour last year. That is totally irresponsible. We need to send a message to Sacramento we are watching. We will make them be accountable.  
Jon W. Zellhoefer 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Because our nation and this state is a democracy and must be supported by informed voters. This action is necessary to insure the health of this country.  
Kelly P. Kimball 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall the governor for reasons of malfeasance, NOT for governing issues. In fact, this recall is not about issues, it's about revenge. It's a Pandora’s box that we will wish we never opened. We have criminal and civil codes for ordinary malfeasance. We have the recall for when an official is an official disaster! These fellows and all the opponents of the recall who oppose Your Power to protect yourself from incompetents and worse, are completely unclear on the concept or simply want to prevent the expression of the will of the People in this instance although most of them purport to worship at its shrine at other times!
Kevin Richter 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? In this specific case, we should recall Davis because he misled voters with regard to California's fiscal state leading up to the election. We need politicians who put integrity and honesty first. The candidate contradicts his answer to question 1 here, but it isn't serious.
Lawrence Steven Strauss 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The recall of the governor is a personal issue for every voter to decide for himself/herself.  
Leo Gallagher 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Bogus Answer: Some things and some people are best forgotten! That's because some things are best not remembered.
Leonard Padilla 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall the governor at this stage of the process because it sends a clear message to professional politicians that if they over-step the boundaries of good government, they can be fired.  
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Bogus Answer: I have a terrible memory. I can’t recall anything!  
Marc Valdez 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Davis reacts too slowly in times of crisis (e.g., the 2001 electricity crisis; the 2003 budget stalemate) to provide effective leadership.  
Michael J. Wozniak 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The recall of Governor Davis should be the will of the voters of California.  It's not a matter of should or shouldn't, but it's an obvious referendum important to many.  
Mike Schmier 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? There is nothing wrong with a recall, as long as it is for a legitimate reason and not simply because one group or the other just doesn't like something that is going on.  The recall system in California should be more difficult and based upon provable wrongdoing. What do you want? We got 25% not the minimum 12% of valid signatures! And, as far as proof, this is a political battle, not a legal one, so (guess what!) the proofs will be political, not legal!!!

This answer is all about the legitimacy of the recall. If you oppose all recalls, for instance this answer is OK. But if you favor this recall for whatever reason, you definitely need to say why the Governor should go. If you believe that this is a legitimate recall, but still oppose the recall, then say why the Governor is good enough to retain, not bad enough to kick out, or perhaps why he is better than any of his potential replacements, or better than any plausible replacement or better than the likely replacement! You should know that not just the minimum 12% of the last Gubernatorial vote was collected in signatures, but 25%! That’s 2.1 million signatures! And no matter who presented the petition to them, they signed it of their own free will!
Mohammad Arif 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The biggest reason is the deficit for which the Governor bears the greatest responsibility. He never saw any special interest money he didn’t like or any state worker salary or retirement benefit he wouldn’t fund!  
Ned Roscoe 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? California should be the greatest state in the Union. The balance has shifted to the point that people who want to do something new and valuable look at doing it in another State. In this case, the Governor should be recalled. He rewards his political base at the expense of the rest of the state.  
Paul Nave 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall the Governor because during the energy crisis, Governor Davis failed to recognize the severity of the problem and dragged his feet in dealing with the issue, resulting in overpriced energy contracts costing the tax payers billions of dollars. Governor Davis has been in the envious position of being a Democratic Leader, with a large majority of Democrats in the Senate and Assembly yet has not been able to get the job done. Spending has been out of control and there’s been no fiscal responsibility. I believe he’s mismanaged the state. He turned a 10 billion dollar budget surplus into 36 billion dollar deficit. Under Governor Davis's leadership, California Workers’ Compensation insurance rose 50% in the last year. It’s contributed to the escalating cost of doing business in the state resulting in the exodus of many businesses out of the state. California must lower the cost of doing business and become business friendly to stop the loss of jobs and much needed tax revenue for the state and local governments.  
Paul W. Vann 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Davis was not honest with the people of California when he hid the amount of the deficit.  
Ralph A. Hernandez 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should Recall the present Governor (Gray Davis) because he has overall failed us and has failed to properly protect us against financial disaster, and much more. That is not to say he has committed any illegal acts, but the Recall process does NOT require such. In short, he has been initially evaluated by some of his bosses (the people, who signed the Recall petitions), is being called before all of his designated bosses (the people, via the Voters), and he should be "FIRED" for his poor performance record. It is no different than any business/employer-employee relationship.  
Randall D. Sprague 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall the governor because he lied to get re-elected and misleads the citizens.  
Rich Gosse 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall him because he has been inept.  
Richard J. Simmons 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? He has failed and sold out to special interests. He has driven businesses away, created a staggering budget deficit and followed failed policies.  
Robert (Butch) Dole 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Mr. Davis did not communicate with the people of California before the last election. He knew how large the debt was and chose to tell us that everything was ok at that time. Could it be that he thought he wouldn't get re-elected if he did tell us about the shortfall? If so then he was being dishonest with the people and should be recalled.  
Robert Cullenbine 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should not.  
Ronald J. Friedman 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? I believe recall of the governor is appropriate at this time given California's fiscal position.  The handling of the energy crisis and fiscal matters has been wholly unsatisfactory. Many problems are of long standing, and not the fault of Governor Davis; he is the man at the helm at this time.  Government should be returned to the hands of its citizens.  
Ronald Jason Palmieri 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The governor has done nothing illegal or unconstitutional.  He should remain in office. The process is being manipulated by the Republican party to steal an election legally won. If successful, the next governor, and the next, ad infinitum, could be faced with a recall by a disgruntled minority.  This process cannot be allowed to succeed.  
Scott A. Mednick 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall the governor for reasons of malfeasance, NOT for governing issues. In fact, this recall is not about issues, it's about revenge. It's a Pandora’s box that we will wish we never opened.  
Sharon Rushford 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The people have the right to hold elected officials accountable. Recall is their way of doing that. What I said first to this candidate was, "Please really answer Question 6 in a different sense. The question is not about our right to do the recall, but about the reason for it. It is about the particular occasions of why we should or should not recall this Governor."

As well as such suggestions I also suggested some minor punctuation and capitalization changes, the candidate said the following, “I assume you are changing the answers of all the other candidates too. You just shot the validity of your questionaire [sic] in the foot and it's bleeding profusely.” Well she got one thing right at least, the matter of accountability! I think that it is healthy to have it pointed out when a politician (or in this case a would be politician) is evasive. It is also helpful to see where they just don’t get it. This helps us understand their capacity to serve as their frankness or the lack thereof helps us to decide whether they will serve the truth! And no Sharon, I didn’t change an iota of what you responded! (BTW [Sic] means that what went before is exactly as in the original.]
Todd Richard Lewis 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? The governor is an employee of the people and he is not getting the job done.  So like in any job we need to replace him with someone that can perform the job before more damage is done.  
Tom McClintock 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? John Stoos, Campaign Consultant to the Senator, “For problems use the language from the recall petition that TWO MILLION voters signed!” Good point. I will indeed refer viewers of this site to the contents of that petition and to various essays on that topic. Of course I would have liked to have heard Tom’s top 10 reasons to recall Gray Davis!
Trek Thunder Kelly 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Please see answer to question number 1.  
Warren Farrell 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Creates too much incentive to be popular and not work on long-term solutions. Destabilizing.  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? We should recall Governor Davis.

1.) The process which was established in 1910 has been met, and it's the will of the people.

2.) It appears that Mr. Davis is not acting on behalf of the majority of the people in California. This should be the number one criteria for any Governor, being the representative of the majority of Californian's, even if the Governor's beliefs aren't with the majority.
  
William Tsangares 6 Why should we or should we not recall the governor? Duly elected in 2002.  
Art Brown 7 What are the most important problems facing California? People have gotten too uptight. What happened to groovy, mellow California? I think maybe too many fatcats moved here ^%$&#^$&^. If people here would just chill, legalize drugs, prostitution and gambling, we could put Las Vegas out of business. Come on Art! Even light shows need electricity. Think! Think! What’s this election about? What State are you in? No, no, not the state you’d like to be in. You told us about that before!
B. E. Smith 7 What are the most important problems facing California? TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT! War on Drugs.  Education. Homeless. The War on Drugs will never be won as long as we give the druggies a pass. Demand needs to be addressed. We need to legalize drug testing by employers.

Replacing organized crime funded by drugs with more hoards of disorganized criminals high on drugs is a non-starter. “Idleness is the school of crime.” People who are intent on their next fix, no matter how cheap it is, are idlers. They will not work, so they must steal to live.

The cheaper anything is, the more the natural demand for it manifests itself. It is no accident that the legal and harmful drugs, cigarettes and alcohol do the most harm.

I said legal and harmful, because tea and coffee are drugs, but not established to have a net harmful effect no matter how hard they try to pin something on them! Potheads though, like the esteemed candidate, studiously ignore the evidence about the harmful effects of marijuana.

We definitely have too much government of the wrong kind though!
Bill Vaughn 7 What are the most important problems facing California?  Public safety; The budget and the economy; Energy and power; Public policy based on power (campaign contributions) instead of science, technical merit or economic impact; Failure of people to work together to solve common problems; Irrational viewpoints and irrational self-interest of many groups; Unrealistic expectations of the electorate. Here's the answer I proposed to the candidate: "Public safety, especially responsible building codes to ensure earthquake resistance in new and old buildings."
Bob McClain 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The budget deficit.  
Brian Quinn 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The budget crisis is the one problem that needs to be dealt with first and foremost before anything else.  
Brooke Adams 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Above any other problem or issue we face, California has a fiscal crisis that requires immediate attention. We are spending beyond our income and it must stop. That is why I have called for a special legislative session immediately upon my election as Governor, where I will introduce a flat tax and a complete overhaul of our unfair and antiquated tax structure.  
Bruce Margolin 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The most important problems are overcontrolling what should be matters of private concern, what should be health and private life style choices, and overspending by our government.  
C. T. Weber 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The budget deficit.  
Calvin Y. Louie 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Balancing the budget, unemployment, support for education, and exorbitant costs of energy and insurance.  
Carl A. Mehr 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Budget problems. Companies leaving the state; without companies we will not have jobs. Worker's comp. insurance premiums are outrageous!  
Cheryl bly-Chester 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The State is facing so many problems that is difficult to limit them to a few most important. I would list some of the more important, but acknowledge that there are many more:

The State Budget deficit,

Poor economy and business environment,

A stressed educational system, and

Aging infrastructure

Increased homeland security and emergency response requirements
  
Christopher Ranken 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The Recall provision in the state constitution is dangerous and threatens our prosperity.  
Christopher Sproul 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Environmental degradation, declining quality of public education and increasing cost of higher education, systemic fiscal woes caused by flaws and inequities in Proposition 13, which was intended to preserve homeownership, but has mostly benefited large landowning businesses while making homeownership more difficult for young people.  
Chuck Walker 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The economy, the economy, the economy. Ask any business owner. California is THE most hostile state to operate a business in and this is having a devastating effect on all aspects of the economy. Legislative spending is out of control and special interests are driving our government into a ditch. This must stop.  
Daniel Watts 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The increase in student tuition is, by far, the most pressing problem.  Every problem, from the flailing economy to the supposed threat of terrorism, can be solved by lowering student fees.  For example, if this year's fee hike were reversed, each UC student would have an extra thousand dollars in his pocket.  This money would most likely be spent in California, helping to stimulate the economy.  
Darin Price 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The economy, education, economy, energy, economy, peoples' confidence, & the economy.  
Darrin Scheidle 7 What are the most important problems facing California? California management (the Governor) has made decisions, which are making taxpayers foot the bill for higher costs. There is no reason that utility companies hold us hostage. We have the ability to control our own electricity, oil production, and water supplies. Why should we allow influences OUTSIDE California control our needs and our economy? At my website, www.Save-California.us, I have a plan that will show that under my leadership, California will become self-sufficient.

There is serious mismanagement of funds in Sacramento, where funds are being misspent or overspent. Now is time for accountability for how the taxpayers’ money is being spent.
  
Darryl L. Mobley 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Reasons I extracted from his web site in my words: Poor leadership from our politicians, high taxes, jobs leaving the state, poorly performing schools, hopelessness among the disadvantaged, rising crime, housing costs out of reach, unemployment, underemployment, government out of touch with citizens, and state budget overruns. “Job losses of epidemic proportions, the state budget run amok, companies leaving in droves, increased crime, taxes rising to no end, despair in our inner cities, children leaving our schools without an education, housing costs tauntingly out of sync with the average person’s income, an approach to addressing the state’s energy needs that is more joke than policy, no plan for our long term environmental health, healthcare costs out of reach of the typical Californian, traffic congestion, unemployment, underemployment, brain drain out of the state, a system that eliminates the bootstraps needed by the economic underclass, a state government out of touch with its citizens, and political leadership more energized to hold onto power than to fix the ills that plague us.” I made the summary from reading the Candidate's web site.
David Ronald Sams 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Red Ink. Our current government cannot balance a checkbook, and continues to spend more than it makes.  
Diana Foss 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Reforming California's finances, education.  
Diane Beall Templin 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The budget crisis; exorbitant taxes; the tripling of DMV registration fees; inefficiency, duplication, waste, fraud, and overspending on legitimate programs; any spending on illegitimate government programs, such as that on services for illegal immigrants; and oppressive regulations on businesses and individuals.  
Dick Lane 7   What are the most important problems facing California? Education, particularly higher education, health care and campaign finance reform are at the top of my list.   
Dorene Musilli 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Undisciplined spending on the part of the Governor and Legislature.  
Douglas Anderson 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Illegal immigration and the budget deficit.  
Eric Korevaar 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Balancing the services Californians desire with the taxes they are willing to pay, while creating an environment which allows businesses with high paying jobs to prosper.  
Frank Macaluso 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The biggest problems facing our state right now are the budget crisis and the skyrocketing costs of worker's compensation and health care benefits which severely impacts our chances for a quick economic recovery.  
Gary Leonard 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Energy, environment, education.  
Gene Forte 7 What are the most important problems facing California? 1. “The judicial terrorism of an unaccountable judicial industry against our citizens and our businesses that has stopped the engine of commerce of our great state;

[2. The people’s loss of control of the government;]

3. “Judicial and political corruption;”

4. Hidden legal costs that are like a cancer upon our economy and entrepreneurial spirit;”

[5. Bloated government employee rolls;]

[6. Overcharges owed by public utilities which occurred because of the phony energy crisis;]

[7. The illegal tripling of the car licensing fee;]

8. “Special interest lobbyists;”

9. “Workers Compensation fraud;”

[10. Uncontrolled illegal immigration;]

[11. Uncompensated Federally mandated services expended on illegal aliens.]

 Answers are quotes from web site.
George B. Schwartzman 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Fiscal deficit, overspending, misuse of funds, lack of management, domination by special interests.  
Gerold Lee Gorman 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Quality of life and the environment are really the most important issues.  We have only one earth and all that goes therewith.  The energy situation is really an environmental one in the long term since fossil fuels will not last forever  and since global petroleum production is expected to peak around the year 2020 - it should be clear that the need to more aggressively develop alternative energy is critical, lest the problems of recent times become only a hint of what is worse yet to come. Education and Public safety, believe it or not fit under that same umbrella as "Quality of Life and the Environment."  How can you clean up the environment, develop reliable alternative energy sources, etc., without an education population - literate in math and sciences for example.  Health care likewise depends on education...  
Gino Martorana 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Health and immigration Sickness is a problem, not health!
Heather Peters 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Our economy, budget, workers' compensation system and healthcare system, just to name a few.  
Iris Adam 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Sustainable economy, true health care, California's agriculture, renewable energy, and innovative education.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Amnesty for Aliens, the Budget Deficit, the exodus of Businesses from California, and Gay and Lesbian Legal Unions.  
Jeff Rainforth 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The state debt. Jobs leaving California. Illegal immigration taxing public services, causing sprawl, and pollution. Billions of dollars lost to fraud and waste in mismanaged programs, and gross overspending.  
Jeffrey L. Mock 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The most important challenge for California is to keep businesses in our state and to encourage and retain new businesses. Without businesses, we have no revenues. Without revenue, there are no taxes. Without taxes, there are no funds for state programs. So, if we are not making the issue of business our number one priority, we can’t address any other issues facing the state.  
Jerry Kunzman 7 What are the most important problems facing California? A) An environment that is unfriendly to business; and in particular small business.

B) Transportation Infrastructure and funding.

C) Lack of funding for the educational system.
  
Jim Weir 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Education, balancing the budget, water  
Joe Guzzardi 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Massive illegal immigration.  
John (Jack) Mortensen 7 What are the most important problems facing California? I believe Government is controlled by special interest and Corporate and organized power and that is the primary reason I chose to stand up and speak out. Government should concern it's work to "the common good" as related to the oath that every candidate and every member takes. In that context I would urge all to ask candidate Schwarzennegger what he was doing 1 year ago meeting with (R) leaders and as well, ask candidate Bustamonte [sic] where he was the day SB400 passed unattested and why he has allowed SB888 to lay in the HOUSE for as long at it has been there? These men are puppets and pawns and represent everything we need to CHANGE in our Government.  
John Christopher Burton 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The California recall election has national and international significance. The social crisis in California is of unprecedented dimensions: on the one hand, a colossal state budget deficit, bankrupt schools and hospitals, skyrocketing housing costs, rising unemployment and poverty, deteriorating conditions of life for the vast majority of the population; on the other hand, the richest state in the richest country in the world, with an astonishing concentration of wealth in the hands of the corporate elite of CEOs, bankers and billionaires.
Far from representing a unique event that can be attributed to the mismanagement of an individual, the budget crisis in California is part of a broader crisis of American society. The $38 billion state deficit is dwarfed by the $455 billion deficit of the federal government, the $500 billion-plus balance of trade deficit, and the gargantuan accumulation of debt by corporate America. These huge imbalances are the product of a historical breakdown of the profit system.

Even the most singular aspect of the California crisis—the plundering of the state by big energy monopolies such as Enron—is bound up with broader processes affecting the US and world economy. This was clearly demonstrated in the August 14-15 blackout of the northeastern United States, which revealed an important truth: the greatest threat to the well-being of the American people comes, not from terrorist bands or “rogue states,” but from the anarchic nature of the profit system and the selfish pursuit of personal wealth on the part of those who run the giant corporations.

As governor, I would take as my starting point the needs of working people, not the requirements of the profit system. The crisis of California and the United States as a whole requires a revolutionary change in the political and economic structure of society. The essential needs of approximately 250 million working class Americans must not be subordinated to the interests of a small corporate and financial elite that monopolizes political power to secure its own economic interests and increase its wealth.
 I realize that toy ideologies have toy dimensions. This one, right or wrong, is very well articulated and intricately worked out.
John W. Beard 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Jobs leaving California. Works Comp. and Health Ins. Budget and the total lack of respect for our money  
Jon W. Zellhoefer 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Revenue, illegal residents, inefficient spending, jobs.  
Kelly P. Kimball 7 What are the most important problems facing California? This recall is distracting our leaders from doing what must be done to fix the problems of California. When we need all leaders to come together to lead us out of this mess, we find that one man can fund a recall, driving a wedge so deep into the political fabric of this State that we may never recover. With that in mind, this Recall is the single most important problem for the State. Serious again! As I pointed out to another candidate who had the good sense to modify their response, we are not killing each other, we are voting! Something that might cause violence, because there would be no alternative if legal and electoral actions fail, is the evil granting of drivers licences to illegal aliens who can then register to vote. If election fraud becomes prevalent and makes it impossible to get an honest election, then what is left if ballots can't settle political disputes anymore? Bullets?
Kevin Richter 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The most important problem facing California is a lack of trust. Back when this country was founded, people got into politics because they had a sincere desire to serve their country...to serve their states...to serve the people that elected them. In the past 200+ years, that spirit has been lost. Today we have career politicians whose motivations are bent on career preservation, rather than serving the people. With a few exceptions, we can't trust our politicians to look after our interests and the interests of the state. Certainly there are many other issues facing California, but they are really secondary to the basic issue of trust. I beg to differ. The most serious problem is collective theft. Socialism is its political theory. Democracy fosters it. Republicanism resists it. The two major parties are well named. If this exercise in democracy elects a republican (yes that's a little 'r' republican) McClintock or Schwarzenner who both happen to be a Republicans, then democracy will have advanced republicanism, unlikely as that seems.
Lawrence Steven Strauss 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Right now, the deficit.  We need to resolve this financial crisis.  
Leo Gallagher 7 What are the most important problems facing California? "Jobs Jobs Jobs -- Repeal NAFTA - It's ruining America. Call anyone in Area Code 309....they'll tell you what's happening." Answers quoted from candidate's web site. If all the illegal immigrants can vote because they have driver's licenses, what are our chances of repealing NAFTA even if a majority of us wanted to?
Leonard Padilla 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The most important problems facing California include a $38 billion over-draft, an anticipated $12 billion short-fall this coming year, the absurd stance of denying the legalization of growing and using marijuana. The denial of the ability for the gay community to legally marry and adopt children, the threat of removing prop 13, the raising of vehicle license fees and student fees at colleges.  
Lorraine (Abner Zurd) Fontanes 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Bogus Answer: Humorlessness.  
Marc Valdez 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The budget crisis is tops, followed by excessive intrusions into education by interests outside the education process, and prison reform, including reintroducing use of the pardon and reforming inflexible sentencing guidelines.  
Michael J. Wozniak 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Education and the failure of the California educational system which fails to include the failure of parenting and individual parenting responsibilities in the education of children in California.  Education starts in the home, and is not the sole responsibility of the state.  Education is the responsibility of those who choose to become parents, and the state education system is a supplement to the schooling that parents are obligated to perform.  
Mike Schmier 7 What are the most important problems facing California? It's pretty obvious that the financial situation is bad, but the real problem is the way we have given up on how truly great this State is and the importance of our contributions to the Nation and the world in general. There never was a "new economy," but we have the creativity and know-how to develop and sell new pollution and environmental solutions to the world. We can take a leadership position in establishing healthcare for all that won't break the bank and exclude the poor. A version of “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself, eh? Just say yes to creativity and know-how. Morning in America time, don’cha know? Yada yada yada.
Mohammad Arif 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The deficit and the oppression of undocumented aliens who would pay more taxes and be more able to support their families if they could get drivers’ licenses.  
Ned Roscoe 7 What are the most important problems facing California? We've made Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona look to be better governed. We pay too much in taxes and it's too hard to comply with the regulations. This makes us pay too much for power gasoline, and utilities. California's workers compensation program is the worst in 50 states. The new family leave act is going to be a disaster because it counts as a new tax. We have about 60,000 excess state employees who should go find a different employer.  
Paul Nave 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The most important problems facing the state are the budget deficit, the run-away prison population, the skyrocketing cost to do business in California, necessary education funding, political reform, transportation funding and improvements, and improving life for our seniors.  
Paul W. Vann 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The difficulty of doing business in California.  
Ralph A. Hernandez 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The Budget crises/shortfall, the unrealistic energy costs, poor roads and transportation, education, people/business/industry and corporations being 'forced' to leave the State for better areas, crime problems, water quality problems, political and financial corruption, over taxation, irresponsible and unaccountable elected and appointed officials, much more, and overall a very poor quality of life in California.  
Randall D. Sprague 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Taxes, spending, and the California Constitution.  
Rich Gosse 7 What are the most important problems facing California? 1. Budget Crisis.  2. Crime.  
Richard J. Simmons 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The need to eradicate the budget deficit and create jobs by encouraging business growth and expansion.  
Robert (Butch) Dole 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The budget, Workmen's Compensation, Agriculture and Education.  
Robert Cullenbine 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The state of the economy. Solve this and all other problems can be solved.  
Ronald J. Friedman 7 What are the most important problems facing California? One would be balancing the budget - fiscal responsibility.  Next would be greater access to quality healthcare, optimizing educational opportunity for you youth, development of mass transit, and preservation of our natural resources and environment.  
Ronald Jason Palmieri 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The economy, which cannot be fixed by any one person.  
Scott A. Mednick 7 What are the most important problems facing California? This recall is distracting our leaders from doing what must be done to fix the problems of California. When we need all leaders to come together to lead us out of this mess, we find that one man can fund a recall, driving a wedge so deep into the political fabric of this State that we may never recover. With that in mind, this Recall is the single most important problem for the State.  
Sharon Rushford 7 What are the most important problems facing California? While many see the budget deficit as the most important problem, I feel healthcare reform is the most urgent problem facing the people.  Seeing parents grieve over the senseless loss of a child makes budget problems seem miniscule.  The candidate’s efforts fighting malpractice and the HMO system have been heroic. She should stick to that in my opinion.
Todd Richard Lewis 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The deficit and education #1. Immigration is also a large problem.  
Tom McClintock 7 What are the most important problems facing California? John Stoos, Campaign Consultant to the Senator, “Just go to budget speeches & column.” John, there are indeed a lot of speeches and other writings by the Senator available online, but there is no organized platform! That is why it’s so hard to fill out a questionnaire for Tom McClintock, the man I’m voting for!
Trek Thunder Kelly 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Fiscal, educational, environmental, blah, blah, blah. We need a major over-haul.  
Warren Farrell 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Budget, education, and the costs of lack of father involvement, especially after a divorce.  
William (Bill) S. Chambers 7 What are the most important problems facing California? The most important problem is overspending by our government. If we control the spending, we'll be able to afford the most important programs for our citizens. Education is our number one priority. Beyond education, the ratings of other programs depend on who is being affected by the program in question. If you have medical insurance, then prison reform may be your major issue. If you're working, then welfare reform may be your issue. With the number of people we have in our state, there are too many programs that we either need to eliminate or at least cut back, so that we can afford the necessities. The only way to appease everyone is to increase taxes beyond comprehension. We cannot do this. We can't have our cake and eat it too.  
William Tsangares 7 What are the most important problems facing California? Diet.  
Art Brown 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I think Meatloaf said it best when he said, "Lesbians need love too!"  Yeah, its just a tragedy when anyone confuses love with sex!
B. E. Smith 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Downsize government. End the War on Drugs, release all prisoners incarcerated for victimless crimes, and pardon all people prosecuted for victimless crimes. Education should be given back to the teachers. The homeless problem will be solved when government is taken out of the private sector enabling more jobs than workers. This notion of victimless crimes is absurd. It ignores the effects we all have on our families and friends. They are the real victims of their addicted relatives and friends. Libertarians say they have no duty to love themselves, but then when Jesus tells them to love their neighbors as themselves, what will that mean, when they don’t love themselves? What will “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,”mean if all you want to do is get high, force LSD down their throats? Well not only misery loves company, but degradation does too.
Bill Vaughn 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I would require that all designated seats on commissions, such as the structural engineer's seat on the California Buildings Standards Commission (CBSC) be filled by members of the designated group and the designated group provides the nominee(s). Also, the one to three nominees would be determined by secret ballot by the group and no designated seat could go unfilled. This would remove some of the abuses of the current political system of public policy, and filling of commission seats based on campaign contributions.

The other issues are outside of my current focus.		 Here's the answer I proposed to the candidate: "Enactment of responsible building codes, especially for earthquake resistance. I embrace retrofits to meet these funded by the owners or the government in some proportion."
Bob McClain 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? To achieve financial stability, my decisions may not be popular, but they will be fiscally prudent. I will set up a non-partisan Blue Ribbon panel to come up with a fiscally responsible, non-political solution to resolve our budget crisis. I will then commit to enacting whatever recommendations the panel proposes. There will be no sacred cows. I would also conduct a complete, line-by-line review of all State programs and services. One definition of "eternal life" is "a government program." I believe there are a number of programs hidden in the budget that, while the public may like or appreciate the program, are non-essential and should be eliminated due to the current budget crisis.
  
Brian Quinn 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? By California filing for bankruptcy to allow to courts to break up the long term special interest group contracts Davis has entangled California in. Bankruptcy is declared by millions of people every year, as well as thousands of businesses. It can be declared by any "debtor" seeking refuge from their creditors. California owes billions of dollars to various creditors, so by every definition they are indeed a debtor. What would happen is that the matter would go a federal court because bankruptcy would affect people and businesses outside the state of California. The first phase of bankruptcy is called discovery. Through this process the courts will be able to look into every contract that California has entered itself into. The courts, and only the courts, have the ability to break up the long term special interest contracts that Gray Davis has signed us up for. The federal government would only have to step in with the use of the federal courts. Most Californians would not notice a change in their every day life. Things would carry on as usual until the courts rewrote some of California's contracts.  
Brooke Adams 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Taking bold action, I'll introduce a flat tax; seek repeal of the Davis law giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants; rollback DMV fees; fix worker's compensation laws to make solid proof of workplace injury required (just as Arizona has done); reduce spending; eliminate unnecessary programs and bloated agencies; encourage business investment in California; and set our state on the right course. Taxes The current tax system is unfair. Rich people are soaked while others pay nothing. Some corporations pay a lot while other companies pay nothing. State government is dependent upon volatile revenue sources, like stock options, while it continues to provide services we cannot afford. My administration will call a special session of the legislature to consider a simple, fair, flat tax. Every Californian and every California business must share in the cost of state government by paying a similar percentage in taxes, just like sales and property taxes. I will seek to end social engineering through taxation. DMV I will rollback DMV fees, which the Davis administration raised illegally, making fee cuts permanent. My administration will help the DMV collect billions in unpaid vehicle registration fees and tickets. Failure to pay timely DMV fees will be severely penalized. I oppose DMV giving drivers licenses to illegal aliens, a privilege that should be reserved exclusively for citizens and those legally entitled to be in California. Abortion I believe life is a precious gift. I also believe the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, the law of our nation for 30 years, strikes a balance between the individual rights of women and society's right to protect the life of the unborn. Gun Control Under the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution, the "right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." While I fully embrace the 2nd Amendment, and support an individual's right to keep and bear arms, that does not mean citizens should own guns of mass destruction. I support reasonable legislation restricting individual ownership of inappropriate weapons that can be used as killing machines.

Illegal Immigration

California cannot continue to provide costly services to illegal immigrants. And the state cannot afford to give illegal aliens, most of whom pay no state taxes, the same benefits as law-abiding citizens. I oppose giving reduced college tuition rates to illegal aliens, just as I oppose giving resident tuition rates to citizens of any other state. I oppose DMV giving drivers licenses to illegal aliens, a privilege that should be reserved for legal residents. With the exception of humanitarian aid, our state government can no longer afford to provide free services to anyone in California illegally.
  
Bruce Margolin 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Legalize victimless “crimes,” pardon victimless “crime” “offenders,” commute or partially commute non-violent 3 strikes or you’re out offenders. Tax newly legal marijuana and hemp cash crops. Stop overcontrolling and overspending in general. Make results of health research particularly available to help people make their own health choices. Reform the prison system and the rationale for it.  
C. T. Weber 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? There are structural problems that may be helped by the passage of the Budget Accountability Act slated for the March primary ballot. If the budget is not passed by June 15, the legislators would permanently lose their salaries, per diem, and car allowance until the budget is passed, and it would reduce the number of votes necessary to pass the budget from 2/3 to 55% of the legislature. Immediate steps needed to balance the budget include:

1. Stop contracting out jobs to private firms that state workers could do better for less money.

2. Substitute treatment and education for imprisonment of non violent drug offenders.

3. Restore higher tax rates on the wealthy.

4. Enact a split roll property tax so the big corporations again pay their fair share and residents have low taxes.
  
Calvin Y. Louie 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? This is my four-point plan to kick-start the economy, balance the budget, and save vital programs and services.
1) No New Taxes. Period.
2) I will raise revenues and cash flow by getting those who can afford it to pre-pay their taxes. I will go after corporate tax and insurance fraud.
3) I will promote business, especially small business, because that’s where the new jobs will be. I will increase investments and international trade. I will lower the cost of doing business, such as insurance premiums and the price of energy.
4) I will reduce expenses, such as building new prisons. I will cut wasteful spending.
I will balance the budget, restore our credit rating, improve our schools, and create jobs. I will work hard to provide opportunities for all Californians.
Our state has great resources. Let’s use them right. Our state has great wealth. Let’s not squander it. Our people have great dreams and high expectations. Let’s not dash them in never-ending deficits. Let’s turn the state around. On October 7, Vote no on the recall. And Yes on Calvin Louie. Thank you.
  
Carl A. Mehr 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Slash the budget! Some people are on the payroll in Sacramento illegally. Adopt workmen's comp insurance similar to Arizona and that will result in 2/3 savings.

My “top three priorities as governor” would be the following:

1. Changing the revenue sources for the State to avoid the boom/bust cycle, and imposing (Gann type) spending limits

2. Restoring democracy--removing redistricting from the legislature to an independent commission

3. Improving the business climate --reforming workman’s compensation insurance, reducing regulatory controls and avoiding frivolous lawsuits
  
Cheryl bly-Chester 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I have a four-pronged approach to Closing the Budget Gap: 1) Root Out Waste Fraud and Abuse 2) Implement Austerity Measures 3) Rein in overtaxation and overspending 4) Implement a Unique "California Contributor Program" beneficial to the both upper-end taxpayers and recipients of State funds. 1) Waste, Fraud, and Abuse In order to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, I will institute a three-month amnesty program for the reporting of suspected misuse of state funds, fraud perpetrated upon or under cover of the State of California and abuse of State governmental authority. Persons participating in, or having knowledge of such abuse will be able to report this abuse without repercussion if the practice is stopped and restitution made, where appropriate. Reports will be made to the Governor's office and copied to the agency or department file, with a receipt of delivery and copy kept by the person making the report. The reports will range from improvement-of-operations type suggestions (how to improve efficiency, money saving measures, eliminating or correcting policies that are unfair, wasteful or abusive, etc.) to criminal acts (e.g., welfare, disability, or unemployment fraud). If the criminal acts are reported, corrected and restitution is arranged before the end of the amnesty period, the perpetrators will not be indicted under State laws. After the amnesty period, the Governor's office will begin leveling charges that may be answerable with loss of employment, fines, and/or jail time. The charges will not only be against perpetrators of fraud, waste and abuse, but also against anyone who has knowledge of the act (or should have had knowledge based on the person's position and responsibilities) as aiding and abetting the fraud, waste and abuse. The "Phantom" state employee and pockets of buried funds not being used for the intended purpose will immediately become history. State employees and citizens will no longer feel helpless witnessing the same inefficiencies every day and having no power to make a difference. The State will prosecute waste, fraud, and abuse to the fullest extent of the law. Estimates have been made that there is approximately $4 billion in waste fraud and abuse within the State system. Additionally, attrition of State employees due to firings for waste, fraud, and abuse after the close of the amnesty period will mitigate some possible State employee layoffs. 2) Austerity Measures I would first consolidate and reorganize the Executive Branch, realigning what are now convoluted reporting chains, making fewer appointments and suspending some functions until we can afford their good services again. All Commissions will be required to state the year they were initiated, the original mission, what is the progress on accomplishing the original mission and how and when the mission changed over the years under what authority. They will also report the original budget, what the budget was 10 years ago and what the budget is today. This information will be used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the commissions and committees to see if there is room to consolidate functions, pool support services, or otherwise reduce the burden or increase the service to the people of California. 3) Reining in Overtaxation and overspending I will first require the Legislators to be accountable for their spending priorities by going on record with ranking every item in the budget (in groupings) based on importance and taking into consideration whether the item receives federal funding. All funding from within the State will be considered equally, whether it comes from the General Fund or from special fees, taxes, or fines. Once everything in the Budget is ranked, the lower ranked items will receive particular scrutiny to review whether the budgeting levels are warranted. I will use the Governors Line-item veto to eliminate unnecessary future spending proposals and not allow major taxation increases without the legislators overcoming my vetoes. 4) California Contributors Program My proposal will help balance the budget, is taxpayer friendly and beneficial to all strata of our society. It will resolve the issue of taxpayer money going to controversial programs that are vehemently opposed by many individual taxpayers. It will also curtail the influence of special interest groups and campaign finance corruption. California is a land of abundance. We have wonderful weather, bountiful resources, lively cultures and brilliant people. We also have one of the most generous populations. The economy of California may be suffering and the budget may be in need of repair, but we still have abundance. When people feel the abundance, generosity will ensue. My plan will enable contributors to exercise some control over their contributions. The following plan will help bring the economy around in a way that will feel safe to be generous. Those taxpayers who itemize their charitable deductions will be encouraged to give a portion of those contributions to the State. The incentive will be that for every dollar they volunteer to the State, the contributors will be able to claim $1.50 charitable contribution on their tax returns to the Franchise Tax Board. Therefore, they can get into a lower tax bracket and reduce their overall tax liability to the General Fund. The contributors can allocate their contributions to the specific budget items that they want to support. In this way, they can give directly to their pet State-funding program instead of giving money to political campaigns intending to influence a vote for that project. Examples: o Farmers can give to a line item that promotes water subsidies to growers while lowering their tax liability to the General Fund. o Art patrons can give to the arts with the same effect. o Pro-choice advocates can give to their cause so that Pro-lifers can feel secure that their contributions are not supporting something they oppose. o Contributors can earmark their own County's funding, so that their volunteered extra money comes back to support local causes. To avoid competition between state and other charitable organizations, contributions to the state could not exceed 50% of the total charitable contributions made in a single tax year -- you can still give to your church or other nonprofit organization. To take advantage of the tax benefit, the taxpayer would have to make equal contributions to other causes. Additionally, if a line item in the budget receives the total budgeted amount, then no funding will be needed from the General Fund. If the item receives more than is budgeted, then the remainder can be set aside for the following year and it will flag the Legislators to consider extra funding without drawing from the General Fund. Conversely, if the item does not receive any contributions, the effect would be to reduce that particular budget and draw less money from the General Fund. Aside eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in systems like Workers Compensation, I have other ideas for improving the business environment to keep businesses in California and turn the economy around. Regulatory bodies act outside of the intended check and balance system. They are their own law makers, enforcers and adjudicators by broadly interpreting their jurisdiction and authority, imposing increasingly draconian compliance requirements, receiving much of their funding from the fees and fines that they collect (implying a conflict of interest), and acting as arbiter in disputes to which they are a party. They operate independently from either the Legislative or the Executive Branches of State Government and they are out of control. Many of them appear to be in business to perpetuate their own existence instead of responsibly protecting the resources of the state of California. Working with the Office of Administrative Law, I would immediately remove these State regulatory impediments to addressing environmental concerns. The following is a list of initial steps I would take: o As clearly stated in environmental law, independent, registered professional consultants will develop the scope of services and the schedule for all environmental remediation projects within the state of California. If State regulators challenge a professional's assessment, recommendations, or schedule, they must simultaneously submit a complaint to the State Board of Registration against the professional for incompetence, which will be ruled on by the State Licensing Board. o For environmental cleanup cases where independent licensed professional evaluation concludes there is no imminent threat to human health or the environment, the least expensive feasible alternative will be favored. o Any California State Regulator awarding contracts to entities that are not licensed in the state of California to perform professional services will be prosecuted for Waste, Fraud and Abuse. EXAMPLES: The Uniform Building Code was recently amended without any Licensed Structural Engineer's stamp on the code changes. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board has contracted for several geologic/engineering studies providing professional recommendations with none of the signatories to the report being registered in California to perform the work. o No California State Funds will be authorized to nonprofit organizations that are not incorporated in the State of California. All persons conducting services under a State of California contract will submit a tax return to the Franchise Tax Board for such income, whether they are residents of California or not. EXAMPLE: The California Regional Water Quality Control Board has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Desert Research Institute of the University of Nevada, when that money should have gone to the California university system. EDUCATION On education, California's education used to be the jewel in our crown. K-12 Education The problem is simple, the solution is more difficult. The problem is that not enough of educational funding is going to the intended recipient -- the classroom -- to benefit the students. When the educational system is also required to provide meals, transportation, security, public health programs, social services, language training, physical fitness, ad infinitum, the classroom suffers. The first step is to account for all the spending and root out waste, fraud and abuse. Funds intended for the classroom need to make it down the pipe to the classroom. Other steps would include revising the system so that teachers have a better chance of maintaining discipline. Also, no child should be promoted who is not proficient in the class material. Community Colleges Prop 98 funding was voted in to ensure free education from grades K to 14 (through community colleges). In order to ensure this, there was a statutory split between K-12 and Community colleges ... but, little by little, special interests have been able to divert a higher percentage than provided by law to the K-12 system at the expense of Community Colleges. Tuition at Community Colleges has gone up from FREE to about $500.00. And the Community Colleges have hired more part-time faculty that full-time in order to make ends meet. So, the education is more expensive, and of lower quality. Community College tuition does NOT go to the colleges. The state takes all the fees into the General Fund, unlike at the University system. California University Systems The State of California Government should let no contracts or grants to other University Systems - as is currently being done. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of California State funds are currently being paid to the University of Nevada's Dessert Research Institute to conduct engineering and geology studies in California and make recommendations to the State of California regulators. All campus jobs below the Supervisory level that do not require a bachelor's degree or better should be filled by students, with holding at least one campus job or volunteer position being a requirement of graduation. ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / AFFORDABLE HOUSING The blackouts in California and the recent regional blackout in the Northeast and Canada illustrate the importance of electricity in our lives. We need to site and build sufficient electric power plants to meet the electricity needs of California. We should maintain at least a 20% reserve margin of extra electrical capacity to assure that California will never again be held hostage to unscrupulous out-of-state energy providers. We need to build a mix of power plants so that the state's electricity mix cannot be held hostage to a single type of energy source. The main problem in California with bringing conventional -- or even alternative -- energy plants on line is the very long, very obstructionist entitlement and CEQA processes which is specific to California. The law is not always being followed and the State has aided and abetted elitist obstructions to new power plants. Many plants have been in the process long enough to make their designs almost obsolete -- certainly not state-of-the-art anymore -- when they upgrade a design, they prolong the regulatory compliance process. The other problem is the bottleneck of the main transmission line at the waist of the State. Even if we have the power, we cannot get it distributed around the entire State under certain load conditions (and heaven forbid there is actually trouble on the main trunk lines) That is what made the lights go out before and made the contracts for energy coming from outside of that supply line so attractive. The system is old and not adaptable to new technology. Building the infrastructure with redundancy that can eventually replace the "dumb" system would be a top priority. In the mean time, California bailed out PG&E in part by buying their transmission system. It makes no sense for the State to take on this enormous infrastructure liability, when it has no experience with maintaining it. The State should have a "Best Value" closed-bid auction for the lines where proposals are accepted from companies and consortiums who offer money, good management, and other tradeoffs in a formal proposal process to unload what is a liability to those who can actually take care of it responsibly and transform it into an asset. AIR We can work on cleaning the air through private sector-oriented policies. We need a state emissions trading rule that links to the air quality regulations multi-emissions trading program. Utilities, car manufacturers and car owners will have a stock market type of trading system that will reduce emissions. Utilities could link with auto manufacturers in partnerships to examine the feasibility of placing the manufacture and purchase of vehicles in the rate base. We can clean California's air through use of appropriate technology. We need to lead the nation in the manufacture and use of state-of-the-art hybrid vehicles. Finally, we must encourage and provide incentives for all emission free sources of electricity production to clean the air. WATER Water is a precious resource. Humans and the Earth's surface are about two-thirds water. California should not be dependent upon the weather to guarantee adequate water supplies to our cities, farms and suburbs. We need an immediate program to build desalination plants to provide at least 20% of the states water by 2014. The desalination plants should be powered by emission-free sources of power. We should examine the feasibility of water trading program to achieve additional water quality improvements for the state. Cities, farmers, homeowners and businesses should be allowed to reduce water consumption in a market system that rewards such reductions. Facilities and individuals using more than a pre-established amount of water would buy water allowances to satisfy overuse. Water trading would allow water polluters to purchase "credits" from lesser polluters to bring them into compliance with the water quality laws. Water trading would use economic incentives to enforce water quality regulations. It would allow industrial, agricultural and wastewater treatment plants to meet their regulatory obligations by purchasing offsetting credits from facilities in the same watershed that have exceeded their mandated water quality standards or from non-regulated farms that have helped clean up water. Sediments, nutrients and microorganisms from industrial and agricultural runoff that is not directly regulated overburden about half of the country's water bodies. This trading program could be helpful in addressing these unregulated non-point sources of pollution. WEATHER California cannot depend upon the weather for its water resources. We should not be dependent upon the snow in winter and sufficient rain the rest of the year. We cannot be susceptible to droughts with adequate protections to our industrious agricultural sector. We cannot allow natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, to destroy our ability to function as a modern society. Weather derivatives -- similar to insurance -- could provide the protection we need. Weather derivatives are financial instruments that help to offset financial risks attributable to variables in the weather. California should take the lead in developing the budding weather derivatives market. For instance, weather derivatives could help California utilities to guard against seasons that are hotter or colder than normal by supplementing revenues if one of these conditions occurs. We should have public and private programs to assure adequate protection from unexpected disasters. HOUSING We need to make homeownership available to all Californians at reasonable prices. Housing starts are an indicator of the health of our economy. We should develop more innovative programs to assist citizens to become homeowners. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should launch an immediate program to assist homeowners in California. The past electricity crisis brought on by a botched deregulation program is burdensome to homeowners. Fannie Mae and Freddie should create a secondary energy market by purchasing energy efficiency savings, use these savings as collateral, and offer these savings, like mortgage backed securities (MBS) to investment markets in the form of energy backed securities (EBS) A more productive scenario might include offers to lenders to purchase homeowners' energy bills as part of the mortgage, bundle the energy bills as futures and either include them in the mortgage backed securities, or offer the option of separating them into energy backed securities. Just as it is reasonably assured that the vast majority of homeowners will pay their mortgages, they will pay their utility bills. The energy savings component could be leveraged as the equivalent of a monthly interest rate in a separate EBS. If consumption is treated as energy future and folded into the mortgage, it provides a reduction of the monthly mortgage payment for the homeowner and an investment opportunity as an EBS. Fannie Mae and Freddie will be helping to reduce monthly mortgage payments by homeowners, purchase larger loans from lenders, and achieve a return on investment through the issuance of EBS. IMMIGRATION California has almost no control over illegal immigrants in the State. This is the responsibility of the Federal Government, but it is a financial burden and security risk to the State. The only idea I have to date is not fully developed, but runs along the idea of the California issuing a California "blue card" in addition to the green card that legal immigrants hold to work. The blue card would effectively be a debit card. All salaries and wages paid to an immigrant would be direct deposited into the "Blue Card" account -- which could be held in financial institutions. The card would be used as a debit card to make purchases and withdraw limited amounts of cash. In this way, at any given time the financial institution could report the physical address of the most recent transaction -- allowing some tracking of the immigrant’s whereabouts and it would limit duplication and forging of green cards for use as identification. The "Blue Card" could be swiped for State identification records. Additionally, all of the earnings attached to one green card would go into a single account, making it even more difficult for green card fraud to perpetuate.
  
Christopher Ranken 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I would push to repeal the Recall provision.  
Christopher Sproul 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I would gradually phase out most or all of the property tax break provided to commercial real estate by Proposition 13.  I would impose a temporary income tax increase on the wealthiest earners in California, who can afford same due to their recent huge cuts in federal tax liability provided them by the Bush administration.  I would devote more resources to acquiring and preserving environmentally important lands.   
Chuck Walker 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? First we must stop the tax and spend addiction that is bankrupting this great state of ours. I will veto any new spending measures and any increase of funding from the backs of the citizens and businesses.

Second we need to encourage businesses to not only stay in California but to locate here in the first place. Tax incentives, subsidies for new businesses, reform of the Workman’s Compensation system, and canceling of the current illegal energy contracts is just a start. We must also implement an analysis of the processes of California government, and prioritize the critical services. Any services and programs falling outside the circle of critical needs will likely be cut.

Third, we need to setup a reserve account that will weather us through these economic downturns. The reserve account will be a percentage of the overall budget. When the amount of the revenue falls from year to year, then a percentage of the difference can be made up from the reserve. For example, if year one’s revenue is $80 billion and year two is $60 billion, then given a 10% cut in spending (bringing the budget down to $72 billion), then the deficit of $12 billion will be drawn from the reserve.
  
Daniel Watts 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I would sign legislation to lower student fees.  
Darin Price 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I believe we can have all the programs and services we need without new taxes through efficiency, conservation, prevention, education & pro-growth fiscal policies.  If we got the most value out of every dollar we spent, if we have more businesses adding revenue to the state, if we had a better educated population, we would have more money without raising taxes, and we would need less money to keep the same level of programs and services we currently enjoy.  
Darrin Scheidle 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? The state government has numerous avenues of overspending. After putting on a hiring freeze, state government has continued to hire people. This number ranges from 7,000 - 40,000 people over the past two years. I will cut state spending and make the state ACCOUNTABLE to the PEOPLE on how it uses their tax dollars. I have always been a Solutions Manager, a visionary and innovator. I have never met a problem that I couldn’t find a solution. It is with this level of dedication and tenacity that I will endeavor to SERVE THE PEOPLE. I accept the fact that I am being hired for a temporary job, for the people, to represent the PEOPLE and manage the state government resources for the people who pay taxes usually before they even get their paychecks. I will also make changes that will entice companies to want to do business in California. We need to make California more "business-friendly" and that takes time. We need to look at ways to make it more profitable for business to be here in California. We need to get a handle on the power issue, and such items that affect businesses such as healthcare costs and workers compensation.

I am the ONLY candidate that has on my website (www.Save-California.us) a link to message boards and an online chat area where I can speak with those I want to call my bosses and serve. I answer my own e-mail from the public and only route e-mail to others when it interferes with my communication with the public (such as scheduling arrangements or fundraising and event planning). I want to work for YOU, so I need to make myself available to YOU.
  
Darryl L. Mobley 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I have specific plans to solve each problem. “The California I see in my mind is a bright beacon of opportunity for all of its citizens, has an effective & efficient government, less crime, more jobs, sharply decreased traffic congestion, demonstrably better educated children… Isn’t this the California you want? I tell you that we can have this.”

“As Governor, I would:

1. Conduct an audit of our State's spending so as to get a true view of where we can trim spending. Anyone who believes that there is not waste in our government is wrong.

2. Trim spending as possible based on the audit.

3. Reject spending increases above a predetermined budget that I will make known to all citizens.

4. Commit to NOT raise taxes except in the event of a major natural catastrophe or act of terrorism. And even then, the taxes, if raised, would have a legally binding period of time when they would end.

5. Cut back my pay as Governor until the State budget is back in balance. Everyone I bring into the government to serve with me will also voluntarily take a pay cut until we get the State's budget problems fixed. If the people we serve have to tighten their belts, so should we.”

As Governor, I would take the following steps to dramatically increase the number of jobs in California:

1. I will communicate around the world that California is now “Pro-Jobs” for its citizens. In sum, we need the creators of jobs to know that California will begin to compete to attract & retain good jobs.

2. Establish three “Pro-Jobs” teams that report to me. Those 3 teams are: a. the California Jobs Growth Best Practices Team; b. the California State/City/County Pro-Jobs Team; and c. the California/Corporate SWAT Team.

3. I will task each team as follows:

a. Within 30 days of my first day in office the California Jobs Growth Best Practices Team will have swarmed every city, state and county in the U.S. that is doing a great job of attracting and retaining jobs & businesses. This team will report to me with those Pro-Jobs Best Practices/actions/incentives (employed by other states) that are most effective at attracting & retaining good jobs & major corporations.

b. Within 60 days of my first day in office the California State/City/County Pro-Jobs Team will do three things.

i. This team will work with any and all local city & county governments in California that wish to attract jobs to their area and assist them in developing incentive “packages” that will be compelling to major job-providers. Each city & county would undoubtedly provide a uniquely compelling incentive “package” based on their area’s unique attributes.

ii. This team will also develop state-government-provided incentive “packages” that would attract jobs to the state.

iii. This team will take the local packages and the state packages and bundle them creatively into a Jobs Growth Menu of Incentives that showcases individual cities/counties in a manner that will be attractive to our target list of major job providers.

c. Within 90 days of my first day in office the California/Corporate SWAT Team will do two things.

i. This team – essentially a group of sales & marketing experts for the State of California - will identify a target list of 500 major job-providing corporations we wish to bring to California.

ii. This team will use the Jobs Growth Menu of Incentives as a basis for meeting with the presidents of each of the targeted 500 corporations during which a compelling case will be made regarding why these job-providers should locate, relocate and/or expand in California. Where needed, I will meet directly with these corporate leaders and make the case for California’s new Pro-Jobs environment.

The Follow-Up - - California’s Pro-Jobs efforts would occur 24/7/365 days a year. We will be relentless in bringing good jobs to California so we can control our destiny. Our citizens deserve no less.

As Governor, I would take the following steps to provide avenues to prosperity for the current economic underclass. Please note that when people have a stake in their day-to-day lives, they care more. Crime decreases. Productivity increases. Their children’s school performance improves. Gang involvement decreases. These folks become producers of income (yes – providing tax revenue) for the State instead of consumers of the State’s tax revenue: This benefits the entire State -- every citizen, and every taxpayer.

Step 1: As Governor, I will provide incentives to all companies that expand & locate their warehouses and plants in areas where the economically disadvantaged live. Then, those that are economically challenged don’t have to puzzle over how they might be able to get to a job. The jobs are right there in the neighborhood, ready and available. We will immediately see folks develop a greater stake in their neighborhoods. Crime will decrease. Pride and hope will increase. A job, a paycheck and a future are far more attractive than handouts from the government. For those companies where expanding makes sense, a ready & motivated pool of workers capable of packing boxes, shipping freight, etc. will be seen as a huge benefit.

Step 2: I will establish State/Corporate Partnerships that provide skills training and GED teaching on site at the companies after normal working hours. Most corporations are merely big, empty buildings after normal hours. My taskforce would work with the CEOs of corporations to turn their buildings into huge learning centers within the neighborhoods that they serve. Imagine the folks in a neighborhood being able to walk just a few blocks and transform their future with knowledge and skills. Imagine the increase in hope among those who now feel all is hopeless. For perspective, most major companies already provide skills training to their employees, from entry level to senior executive.

As Governor, I would take the following steps to provide avenues to prosperity for the current economic underclass. Please note that when people have a stake in their day-to-day lives, they care more. Crime decreases. Productivity increases. Their children’s school performance improves. Gang involvement decreases. These folks become producers of income (yes – providing tax revenue) for the State instead of consumers of the State’s tax revenue: This benefits the entire State -- every citizen, and every taxpayer.

Step 1: As Governor, I will provide incentives to all companies that expand & locate their warehouses and plants in areas where the economically disadvantaged live. Then, those that are economically challenged don’t have to puzzle over how they might be able to get to a job. The jobs are right there in the neighborhood, ready and available. We will immediately see folks develop a greater stake in their neighborhoods. Crime will decrease. Pride and hope will increase. A job, a paycheck and a future are far more attractive than handouts from the government. For those companies where expanding makes sense, a ready & motivated pool of workers capable of packing boxes, shipping freight, etc. will be seen as a huge benefit.

Step 2: I will establish State/Corporate Partnerships that provide skills training and GED teaching on site at the companies after normal working hours. Most corporations are merely big, empty buildings after normal hours. My taskforce would work with the CEOs of corporations to turn their buildings into huge learning centers within the neighborhoods that they serve. Imagine the folks in a neighborhood being able to walk just a few blocks and transform their future with knowledge and skills. Imagine the increase in hope among those who now feel all is hopeless. For perspective, most major companies already provide skills training to their employees, from entry level to senior executive.

Step 3: I will work with our State’s fine colleges and universities to establish satellite colleges at these corporate locations where associate & bachelor degrees can be earned by employees. I tell you that crime cannot flourish in such a productive environment. I tell you that crime cannot flourish in such a productive environment.
 Quoted from web site.
David Ronald Sams 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? For one thing, we need a governor that "thinks outside of the box"; I have that experience. I have generated over $100,000,000 as a businessman, paid my employees on time, and made adjustments when things got tough. My record is simply better than Gray Davis' record.  
Diana Foss 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I won't become governor, but I hope that the Legislature will take the recall as a chance to become more responsible and less partisan.  
Diane Beall Templin 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Implement the 12 step program to heal California which is as follows:
1. Pray for the Wisdom of Solomon to select the best and the brightest as counselors and advisors.
2. Seek adoption of the Liberty Amendment which would preclude the federal government from engaging “in any business, professional, commercial, financial, or industrial enterprise, except as specified in the Constitution” and repeal the 16th amendment (income tax).
3. Repeal the proposed increase in the Car DMV registration fees.
4. Prosecute the individuals in the government and energy companies who colluded to defraud Californians of $42+ Billion dollars and seek to set aside these conflict of interest contracts.
5. Eliminate all wasteful spending programs and bureaucratic red tape.
6. Work to reduce the sales tax and State income tax.
7. Revisit Proposition 13 and lower property taxes.
8. Redo Prop. 187 making it “constitutional”.-We can’t afford to provide benefits and service to illegals.
9. Make our borders more secure with National Guard, and patrol the California coastline.
10. Workman's comp reform with reduction of premiums to stop driving the job providers out of California.
11. Restitution and Jail (Judicial Accountability In Law) for governmental officials who violate the law.
12. Workfare not welfare.
  
Dick Lane 8  How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Chancellor of the CSU system is directly responsible for the mess in the state university system and must be removed from office. The $443 million cut from higher education in last month's compromise budget must be restored.  Californians  should have a basic level of health care covering the 100 most frequent reasons people seek medical help,  similar to the systems in Oregon and Hawaii. People with other problems should be encouraged to buy private health insurance, just as they do now. Such a basic system would relieve business of a great burden and cover the 8 million presently without any coverage. I propose a $15 co-pay. Non-smokers would pay only $10. Patients within their weight category would get a $10 discount. While we have talked about campaign finance reform for years, Arizona and Maine have done it. California needs to follow suit with public financing as an alternative in all state elections. Remember, he opposes the Recall, but wants to be Governor. Heh, heh.
Dorene Musilli 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I would only approve a state budget truly balanced with real expenses equal to real income. No gimmicks, such as, borrowing or deferring expenses. I would be inconsistent to demand a "no gimmick" budget while promising no new taxes. I would support a temporary increase up to 1% of sales tax until the state is solvent. A strict policy of controlled spending would accompany the temporary tax. I would implement multi-year budgets. My first day in office I would cut the Governor's and the Legislature’s personal budgets by 15%.

I would establish sound fiscal policy thereby regaining our state's former good bond credit rating.
  
Douglas Anderson 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Here are a few of many that I have planned for the State of California. State Budget- I believe the way to balance the State Budget is through cutting spending eliminating waste not raising taxes.  The belt needs to be tightened in all State Departments/Agencies rather that digging deeper into the tax payer’s pocket. Gun Control- I believe in the 2nd Amendment.  Taking away the rights of those who own guns legally does not stop those that have and will continue to have them illegally.  There are enough laws on the books regarding the use of guns.  The laws need to be enforced. Pro-Choice/Pro-Life- I am Pro-Life with the exception of rape, incest and endangerment to the mother.  I believe that in all cases (except the 3 listed above) a choice has already been made.  Abortion is not a form of birth control and should not be viewed as such. Healthcare for the Elderly- Healthcare for the elderly is one of several important issues facing our society as the “baby boomers” go into retirement.  I believe that the Americans are the most generous people in the world.  Social Security benefits and Medicare are Federal not State issues.  The role of the state should be to help protect the interests and freedoms of our Senior Citizens. Cost of the Recall Election- Freedom is expensive.  The costs that Californians could experience from staying on our existing path could be substantially more than the total expense for the recall election. Driver’s licenses for Illegal Immigrants- In no way should Illegal immigrants receive licenses due to the Driver-Voter Act. If Illegal Immigrants check the box to vote we will never know at that point if they are legal in this State or not. The comments on the insurance and hit runs will be lower are false. License or not if illegal they would be deported or their still going to hit and run. You can get insurance just for a month or so for the license then let it expire, then their back to driving illegally but with a license.  
Eric Korevaar 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I would create my own spreadsheet with actual revenues from different sources and actual costs of different programs, explain to the citizens of the state the different trade-offs which could be made, and mediate necessary compromise between the different parties in the legislature. I would spearhead fiscally sound programs to encourage business investment in high technology businesses to maintain a base of high paying, environmentally clean technology jobs for the long term prosperity of the state.  
Frank Macaluso 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I propose directly linking our state's spending to the amount of revenue received in taxes and fees by limiting the budget to an amount not more than 20% above the prior years revenues.  Once federal contributions are factored in, the budget constraints I outline would maintain solvency our state's institutions and produce a surplus in most tax years which could then be used to improve infrastructure or be given back to taxpayers as a rebate.  The state's workers compensation program needs an immediate and complete overhaul ASAP.  I will strive to reduce the regulatory burdens placed on small businesses and work to prevent migration of jobs out of our state.  As a Democrat I am proud to support the socially progressive and responsible platform of our party.  
Gary Leonard 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Hire good businesspeople, especially accountants.  
Gene Forte 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? 1. “Contact President Bush and inform him of the need of a Federal Investigation of the California judicial system which is helping to protect corrupt politicians and government officials from being held accountable. Inform him of an abuse of the USA Patriot Act by Governor James Doyle and Wisconsin public officials and provide information on the Steven Magritz Case. Explain that I anticipate resistance from the corrupt politicians and special interest groups that have our state under siege and driving a judicial industry gone wild and that request him to stand ready with Federal investigators and prosecutors. 2. Freeze the hiring of any more government employees except those related directly to emergency services for citizens, i.e., police, fire, medical. 3. Demand that public utilities issue refunds in the next billing for all money overcharged to citizens since the time of the phony energy crisis and lower rates to those of the time period prior to the raise. Inform them that the State of California will not burden the cost and that they will need to seek floating bonds at their expense not of the citizens. 4. Repeal the tripling of the car licensing fee. 5. Have secretary contact all registered special interest lobbyists and tell them to be in my office tomorrow afternoon to let them know that I will be enacting procedures to either monitor them closely or shut them down. 6. Initiate investigation of Workers Compensation fraud by attorneys. Investigate the pros and cons of Arizona's Worker Compensation system. 7. Order all government agencies to provide to me by the end of business the following day, October 9th, 2003, a summary of all legal costs buried within their budgets. (To Do Reminder: October 10th, 2003, freeze all payments for legal services between agencies and outside vendors) 8. Get press room working on national PR Campaign that "California is Open for Business" and have secretary set conference to be held within 30 days for business leaders outside of California to attend. Notes For Theme: I will help your business grow provided you created jobs for Californians, do not hurt our small businesses or pollute our state.

9. Tell the attorney general that his department is being put under investigation and begin investigation of the District Attorneys offices throughout California.

10. Tell secretary to arrange meeting with heads of State Bar and the Committee on Judicial Performance and let them know that every action they take will be reviewed by a civilian oversight committee and for them to provide me suggestions on a pricing structure for attorneys to pay licensing fee based upon a percentage of their legal fees billed.

11. Ask secretary to schedule meeting with Department of Justice to discuss viability of the filing of a Federal RICO (racketeering & corruption) lawsuit against California government officials and agencies, the State Bar of California, and the American Bar Association, that are found to be complicit of victimizing the citizens of California.

12. Direct media department to start running public announcements soliciting complaints and grievances from the citizens against public officials.

13. Have staff arrange special presentation banquet dinner for all gubernatorial candidates.

14. Start an investigation of the State Compensation Insurance Fund based upon information contained in the Larry Nign incident and begin a media campaign informing the public of the corruption by politicians, public officials and unaccountable attorneys.

15. Schedule meeting with the head of the educational department to be briefed upon what is needed to improve our educational system.

16. Have scheduled meetings over the next 90 days with all of the 135 gubernatorial candidates so that each may present the basis for their platforms, and entertain hiring many of them to head oversight groups throughout the state in their specific area of expertise.

17. Tell media department to arrange a bi-weekly radio program so that I may personally inform the citizens of my progress of the recovery of the state, and the names of any and all politicians, or special interest groups that are trying to put up obstacles.

18. Have secretary set meeting with President of Mexico within the next 10 days to discuss illegal aliens, the financial responsibility of Mexico to be pay back California for services expended on illegal aliens, and the viability of paid seasonal work permits.”

 Answers are quotes from web site.
George B. Schwartzman 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor?   Candidate referred to his web site as his response to this question. He was advised that this was not considered a good response, but did not submit anything else. I suggested that he just address the problems he had identified in his answers to the previous question.
Gerold Lee Gorman 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? First of all I would promote greater fiscal responsibility through better accountability.  A great deal of information with respect to the budget already exists on the Internet; anyone can download the 1000's of pages and read them.  However this information is not truly presented in a form that allows for ready analysis and interpretation such as via relational databases and data mining. This begs the question as to whether or not the Legislature and Executive functions have even entered the information age.  The signing of paper legislation certainly has an important certain symbolic value, among other qualities.  That is not something I would change. However, a fiscal crisis usually presents the necessity of either cutting services or raising taxes.  This may in fact not need to be the case, because now for perhaps the first time we have the ability to aggregate, analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions from vast quantities of information in such a manner as has never been seen before. This means that it should be possible first of all to do such obvious things as eliminate duplication of government services among agencies, or better yet – to make sure that the delivery of services is better coordinated.  The cost cutting comes when you are able to eliminate much of the administrative overhead, i.e., bureaucracy which otherwise left unchecked multiplies unto itself, and which does not incrementally contribute to the effective delivery of services to the public.  
Gino Martorana 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? see my web site and click on issues I do not consider this a response. I notified the candidate of this, but he said he wouldn’t give me any more and please do not send him any more emails!
Heather Peters 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Generally, I would use my skills as a professional mediator to break the partisan deadlock in the legislature and I would hold legislators who refuse to negotiate in good faith accountable to the public.  As a former insurance attorney I would pursue many changes to our workers' compensation system including the use in independent medical examiners, fee schedules and rewards for people who report fraud.  I would propose a series of economic incentives to individuals and business who help reduce state spending.  For example, employers who provide health insurance should be rewarded for taking people out of the publicly funded healthcare system.  People who use van pools, public transportation or low emissions vehicles should be rewarded for protecting our environment.  Etc.  
Iris Adam 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? In the first days as Governor, I would promote a two-year budget cycle.  I would promote programs that save Californians billions of dollars.  I would promote: *  Proven, prevention-oriented natural and complementary medicine to prevent disease, promote health, and save billions of dollars by keeping people healthy; *  Educational innovations shown to develop total brain functioning for maximum success, health and happiness in life; *  Renewable energy sources to protect our environment and save our economy from energy dependence on foreign oil; * Organic agriculture to revitalize California’s agricultural economy and for abundant, nourishing, healthy food.  
James M. Vandeventer Jr. 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? I would immediately start communication with other leaders to address Amnesty for Aliens, I would immediately appoint a Economic Crisis Team for the Budget woes, along with creating a commission of California Business Leaders to address the exodus of businesses and to find several options as solutions. And, finally, I would immediately gather support and pass Legal Unions for Gays and Lesbians. We will find solutions for our future. They are right in front of us; all it takes is a sincere effort to place the People as # 1 and to put partisan politics and selfish financial and political desires, aside.  
Jeff Rainforth 8 How would you solve or encourage the solution of these problems if you should become Governor? Begin by using current audit information on the most wasteful of programs such as Medi-Cal which lost $2.5 billion to fraud in 2002, and force those program's managers to drastically reduce monetary losses. If they fail, they will be held accountable. The same would be done for welfare and unemployment programs, which, due to fraud, cost the state almost $1 billion per year. The state can save approximately $8 billion per year by cracking down on programs which consistently lose money. After four years, and possibly sooner depending on which areas spending was cut in, the debt could be reduced to zero. Audits would be done statewide, unnecessary programs, or programs that duplicate federal or local functions would be eliminated. Crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants thus creating the demand. Put the National Guard on the border, or, call for a citizen's border guard to be created as has been done in Arizona. Once the budget is in order, begin spending the bil