Other Statewide Offices

I am only allowed ten pages attached to this blog so I have had to compress some of my offices. I will quickly cover my votes for Secretary of State, Treasurer, Controller, Insurance Commissioner, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the State Supreme and Appellate Courts here.

Secretary of State

Like the Lieutenant Governor race, I’m picking this one on the character issue. There are six candidates running. Anyone is probably a better selection than Damon Dunn.

Damon Dunn is an ex-Stanford Cardinal football player. I do not hold this against him. I did get a chance to size Dunn up at fundraising event in which he was one of the main draws. Instead of working the room for votes and discussing the issues, he was more concerned about sizing up the tail and getting more cocktails.

If this was a vote for wingman, Dunn would be my number one choice. Although, if I recall correctly, at the end of the event he had no tail, an empty cocktail glass, and no vote. I can do that by myself. So I retract my wingman offer. Bottom line, for this elected office we need an adult with experience. Although, it looks like Bowen (right) can also party like a Kennedy…

I’m still voting for the incumbent, Debra Bowen.

Treasurer

I’m wondering why in the State seal on the left Lady California is diligently guarding the California bay with her pet bear but in the Office of the Treasurer seal on the right it looks like they’ve busted open the liquor cabinet, spilled out the contents, and are busy getting three sheets into the wind. Makes you wonder…

Anyway, what we have here is one seat being contested by six candidates. The Peace and Freedom and Green Party candidates talk about reallocating money for social responsibility. The American Independent candidate sounds like a John Bircher. Mimi Walters, a state senator from Orange County, appears to offer no real answers.

I’m sticking with Bill Lockyer, the incumbent. He seems to know what he is doing. Lockyer has described past budget deals as "banana republic financing" and has noted that neither Jerry Brown or Meg Whitman has a budget "plan that I've read that makes any sense." Lockyer has also called for thorough reform of retirement pay. Booyah.

I am voting for Bill Lockyer.

Controller

The Controller serves as the state’s accountant and bookkeeper of all public funds. In addition, they administer the state payroll system and unclaimed property laws. Last year, they paid the state’s debt in script.

I wanted to go with the candidate named “Andy” (right). But then I realized he is a Libertarian. In addition, his photo creeps me out.

So again, it comes down to Democrat versus Republican. Incumbent John Chiang verus Tony Strickland. In a recent editorial board meeting, even Tony Strickland admitted that Chiang has done a solid job. However, fiscal conservatives can point to Chiang’s crafty use of IOUs to pay state bills that helped the state house steer around resolving the California budget crisis. On the flip side, it can be argued that this maneuvering help navigate the state away from junk bond status.

Strickland wants to fight about the budget management issue but that is not the job of the Controller. The job is to deal with the “what is” not the “what ifs”. I am going with Chiang as I believe he has done a fair job in this crazy environment.

I’m voting for John Chiang.

Insurance Commissioner

With all due respect to my friends in the industry, this might be a post for the least interesting person in the world. Three simple words can quickly clear out the drink line at any cocktail party –“ Let’s talk insurance.” That said, the person who gets this job oversees and directs all functions of the Department of Insurance; licenses, regulates, and examines insurance companies; answers public questions and complaints regarding the insurance industry; and enforces California insurance laws and adopts regulations to implement the laws.

Again, this is a race between the two parties (Democrat and Republican). In the Dave Jones versus Mike Villines race, Villines is the best choice. Villines was pushed out as the Republican Assembly leader because he agreed to raise taxes in a 2009 deal to close the state’s $42 billion deficit. This averted a fiscal disaster but put him on the Public Enemy Number One list in the state Republican Party.

For doing the right thing, Villines received a Profile in Courage award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The strength to choose the hard right over immense pressure from within his own party to do the political wrong is a darn good credential for insurance commissioner, the office in charge of regulating and approving rates for homeowner and auto insurance.

I’ll take Mike Villines for Insurance Commissioner.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

If only Richard Vernon was running for this office. Alas, it’s Tom Torklakson running against Larry Aceves. This election is a run-off from the June primary.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction provides the education policy and direction to local school districts. Bottom line, this person is on the hook to work with the educational community to improve academic performance.

According to a report released by the California Faculty Association at Cal State Los Angeles in 2009, California ranked next to last in states where the adult population has at least a high school education. That said, California ranks 34th in K-12 spending per student, 34th in educational spending as a percentage of personal income, and 48th in the nation in student-per-teacher ratios. You get what you pay for.

Torlakson is the California Teachers Association's choice and that is enough for me. I am voting for Larry Aceves for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. While he has said he would be "very respectful" of the unions, Aceves has clearly stated that, "The unions are either going to have to step up ... or they're going to find themselves with something they should have been a part of in the first place.”

Larry Aceves is the choice.

Judges – Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
Statewide we are approving judges for the state Supreme Court and our local Court of Appeals. The Governor and the Commission on Judicial Appointments have already submitted, approved, and sworn in these judges. Basically, this is the voters only chance to kick any appointed judges back through the approval process.

On this topic I will be lazy. I did a quick Google on each judge's name to see if there was anything egregious on anyone. I could not find anything. That said I do not know enough to cast an intelligent ballot. I will leave these blank unless I find something in favor or against a particular judge between now and Tuesday.

On a personal note, I think it is rather silly to vote on judges above the local level as most people will have no clue who to approve or why. Maybe the judges should have a bitchin’ volleyball tournament to decide who is in or out...