Davis rallies support by going moderate

Thursday, October 22, 1998

Davis rallies support by going moderate

DEMOCRAT: Davis big on education reform, tough on crime and
pro-choice

By Hannah Miller

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Last spring, a talk-show host asked Gray Davis a question he
couldn’t answer.

"So, Lt. Governor Davis," asked the host of Which Way, L.A.?
"How are you a better Democrat?"

Davis began talking about how he would be the one to lead the
state into the 21st Century.

"Excuse me," interrupted the host. "I asked how you are a better
Democrat."

And Davis didn’t respond directly to the question.

He did win the primary, though, proving that voters thought him
a better Democrat than Al Checchi or Jane Harman. And now Davis, an
unshowy, dogged, old-school public servant, is hoping to be the
first Democratic governor in 16 years. And he’s doing it by
breaking the traditional definition of a Democrat, and venturing
into more moderate territory.

Various polls place Davis six to eight points ahead of the
Republican candidate Dan Lungren.

He’s stuck with issues that have broad appeal among moderates
­ like education, pollution, and abortion rights ­ and
stayed far away from the issues that turn off the center, like
affirmative action or criticism of crime policy.

The former aide to Governor Jerry Brown ­ the flamboyant
"Governor Moonbeam" of the 1970s ­ is trying to win by toning
it down.

The Platform: Education Reform

"Government’s role is fundamentally three-fold," said Davis in a
speech in San Francisco last February.

"(It is) to provide every student in our public schools a clean,
safe place in which to learn; competent, well-trained teachers from
whom they can learn; and adequate, current textbooks with which to
learn," he said.

Davis offers a score of suggestions for reforming education,
including more charter schools, $3 billion for textbooks, and more
tutoring programs using older students as mentors for younger
ones.

Davis will also be striking closer to campus. Not only will he
continue as an ex-officio member of the board of Regents, but if
elected he will be responsible for selecting five more regents to
replace retirees.

He’s been a friend to the UC. Last year, he sponsored the
College Affordability Act, which froze fees until 2001. As an
ex-officio regent, Davis has shown up to some meetings, especially
when fee issues were at risk.

He also wants to stop social promotion, put a corporation-style
Chief Financial Officer in every school to prevent bankruptcy, and
require parents to sign a contract with their child’s school to
help with homework.

He’s tough on drugs in schools, supporting Å’zero-tolerance’
policies and voluntary drug testing for high school students.

UC and Cal State students would have to complete 30 hours of
community service before graduation, under a Davis plan.

"Through their service, these students will better understand
the world around them and their ability to improve it," said Davis
in a speech to a Silicon Valley group last March, "And they will
develop a tangible sense of connection to the community, grounding
their collegiate experience in the real world."

His Supporters

His choice of what to fight will probably give him a victory, as
his platform has managed to appeal to some of the broadest groups
of Democratic constituents as well as centrists (who are also more
likely to vote).

He has enormous support from environmentalists for his
legislative feats, women for his pro-choice stance, and especially
labor organizations, which have turned out the rank-and-file to
walk precincts for the candidate.

"He has a 22-year history on the issues that matter most to
working families," said Sharon Cornu of the California Federation
Labor, AFL-CIO. She cited examples such as protecting state
employees’ pensions and opposing Prop. 226, which would have
preventing unions from making political contributions.

Some of his other support comes from minorities, although he
garners support through his interest in broad-based social justice
concerns rather than addressing specific racial concerns.

For example, Latinos simply don’t want another Pete Wilson,
according to Jose Arroyo, of a local chapter of the League of Latin
American Citizens Los Angeles. Gov. Wilson, he said, is widely seen
as the worst thing to happen to Latinos since the U.S. annexation
of Alta California.

"Latinos are the most socially conservative group of people
imaginable," Arroyo said. "But the Republicans are sometimes so
insensitive."

The Platform Part II: Getting Tougher on Social Issues

Davis also promises to go after tobacco companies ­
although he doesn’t offer concrete suggestions ­ and his
health-care policies are geared towards reforming managed care.

In deference to veterans, Davis would support a Constitutional
amendment banning the desecration of the flag.

On crime, Davis has come out almost as tough as his opponent,
Attorney General Dan Lungren. He supports the death penalty, the
Three Strikes law, and wants to reform sentencing laws so convicts
aren’t paroled for good behavior.

One of his strongest suits is the environment, where Davis has a
very strong track record and hits on some concrete suggestions
based on his knowledge of the subject matter.

He supports many protections for workers: he has promised to
reinstate the daily, 8-hour overtime law, and he has stood in favor
of state-employee pensions, occupational health and safety issues,
and raising the minimum wage.

For more info, check out www.gray-davis.com.Lt. Governor Gray
Davis

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