Garamendi Wins Debate for Lieutenant Governor and Endorsement of San Francisco Chronicle

So Garamendi now has the endorsement of the Chronicle, LA Times, Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, and dozens of papers across the state. He has all of the state's papers recommending him with the exception of the conservative San Diego Union.

In the debate, Garamendi stressed his record of working across the aisle in the California Assembly and Senate and getting good public policy bills passed and signed into law. He drew sharp distinctions between this record and that of Tom McClintock whose views are far out of the mainstream. This is the thread throughout the papers that have commented on the race.

But Garamendi did not just rest on his legislative laurels and years of public service which include his appointment by President Clinton as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior. He laid out for the Chronicle Editorial Board and reporters present what he wants to do as Lieutenant Governor.

Both candidates talk about it being a "bully pulpit," or as Garamendi describes it, a "sound system." Garamendi set forth four specific areas he wants to work in as part of the official duties of the office:

• As Chair of the Committee of Economic Development with a committee of 6 Senators and 6 Assemblymembers, he wants to develop the consensus for a reform agenda of bills that can be sent to the Governor. He stressed that this position gives you access to the legislature. Even though the Lieutenant Governor only has a vote to break ties in the State Senate, a rare occurrence, this shows the innovative ways he will use the office and not just get up in the morning and make sure the Governor is still alive.

• On higher education, Garamendi pointed out that the Lt. Governor is a member of the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees. He pledged to work for the best education attainable as that is important to our state's future economy.

Specifics he pointed to when asked a follow up question about what he could do about education, he said you can set the policy agenda of the state where we need to graduate 50,000 to 60,000 new teachers in the next 5 years, and also produce nurses, and engineers.

He demonstrated the expertise he developed as Chair of the Science and Technology Committee in the Senate and his desire to continue that work in bringing research at our universities out of the laboratories so they can be used in entrepreneurial ways.

Later on in the debate, in answering a question about the state's role in national security, he also stressed the importance of education in the security of our economy, and therefore our state.

• As one of three members of the State Lands Commission, he emphasized his strong environmental record both in the legislature and in Washington, D.C. This is a critical position for the protection of rivers, streams, and the coast.

• Finally, he wants to work to create a solution to California's health care crisis. He showed a real appreciation for the uninsured in this state and the high cost of medical insurance. He is acutely aware of this as Insurance Commissioner and spoke eloquently about the tie in of the cost of health insurance to the security of our economy, noting that we now spend 16% of California's gross state profit on these costs which are scheduled to rise to 19% under current trends.

McClintock, who has never voted for a state budget and has repeatedly opposed even proposals from his own party's nominee for Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was the perfect foil for Garamendi to use to his advantage on positive ideas for the future of this state. Garamendi repeatedly referred to McClintock's answers to questions as "non solutions." He showed the Chron Board and the rest of us who can work, not only with the Governor, but also with the Legislature. On the issues, the debate wasn't even close.