By Kyle Kleckner and
Jesse Melgar
Phil Angelides or Steve Westly? This question has dominated the
Democratic climate as registered voters get ready to cast their
votes in tomorrow’s Democratic primary.
Many people are unfamiliar with the two candidates. Both hold
office, but there is a significant divide between them. Westly is a
founder of eBay, who has donated millions of dollars to his own
campaign. Angelides is a Democratic veteran whose experience as
chairman of the Democratic Party from 1991-1993 can be credited
with helping elect Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, as well as
former President Bill Clinton. Each candidate has a unique vision
for California, but for Californians, there is only one clear
choice for governor, and that choice is Angelides.
Angelides has been a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party.
In the 1992 presidential election, while Angelides was serving as
chairman of the California Democratic Party, Clinton won
California, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished by a
Democrat in 28 years. Angelides was elected state treasurer in 1998
and re-elected in 2002. Now he wants to use his experience to
better California as its governor.
Angelides is a man of conviction. He stood up to Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger when he was raising tuition and fees for UCLA
students ““ Westly did not. Angelides has offered plans to
reform education, health care and the environment, as well as to
fix gaps in the state budget.
Westly offers few solutions, preferring rhetoric over substance.
We need more. California is broken and needs realistic solutions,
not politically charged hyperbole. Angelides has offered real
solutions for California’s budget woes ““ restoring
taxes for those individuals who are in the top 10 percent of income
earners to their previous levels. If elected, Angelides would
ensure that in addition to bringing in much-needed revenue for
California, corporate tax cheats would never get a free ride while
average Californians bear the burden.
Westly has continuously lambasted Angelides for offering
genuine, realistic and equitable solutions for California’s
problems. The simple fact is this: Angelides knows what needs to be
done for California and isn’t afraid to say it. Westly is
afraid, and uses Republican talking points to target
Angelides’ revenue package. Angelides is dedicated to making
this state the pride of the nation, to stand up to corporate tax
cheats in the name of ordinary Californians. Westly just
can’t cut it. California needs a governor with vision.
California needs a governor with courage. California needs Phil
Angelides.
Kleckner is the Issues director of the Bruin Democrats.
Melgar is the Media Relations director of the Bruin
Democrats.