As a candidate for lieutenant governor I am asked to speak many groups. One of the first questions I am asked is along the lines of, "Is this job important?" My answer it that it can be and should be important.
A main duty of the lieutenant governor is to assume the duties of the governor if he leaves the state. In our state the governor and lieutenant governor are not elected together. As a result, the ones elected often represent different political parties. There is a long-standing unwritten agreement that the lieutenant governor will do nothing to disrupt the governor's programs should he leave the state. That arrangement is fair.
In addition, the lieutenant governor is chairman of the California Commission for Economic Development. It is charged with addressing regional or local economic development problems and making recommendations for solving them (to the governor and Legislature). With the state's spotty economic recovery, this commission should be busy meeting with citizens and business, professional and civic leaders in various parts of the state to gather and refine ideas for strengthening local economies that need it.
Another of the commission's responsibilities is to provide a forum for dialogue on economic issues between state government and the private sector.
Is the 16-person commission doing these things? No. In his nearly four years in office the current lieutenant governor hasn't managed to get a quorum appointed so that it can hold meetings, let alone fan out around the state to get opinions and make recommendations for action.
I am a Republican who thinks the composition of this commission should reflect the realities of California, politically, geographically and demographically.
The lieutenant governor, by law, is also a member of the Board of Regents of the University of California, the Board of Trustees of the California State University system, the State Lands Commission, the California Emergency Council and the Ocean Protection Council. If he does his homework he can be a positive influence on all of these.
Add up these duties and you have the makings of a full-time job, which is the way I would treat it. The incumbent, Gavin Newsom is quoted as saying of the job, "It's just so dull." He also told an interviewer the he goes to his office in the state Capitol, "one day a week, tops."
No wonder. He is co-owner of PlumpJack, company that owns seven bars/restaurants, three wineries, two resorts and a catering company. Nearly a year after he took office as lieutenant governor, his sister, who is president of his company, told a San Francisco reporter, "I've never seen him busier. Now that he doesn't have any more local conflict (he had been mayor), he's back involved in the PlumpJack business."
Mr. Newsom claims that he has declined to accept the lieutenant governor's salary of nearly $124,000 a year. At a glance it may seem commendable that he's not taking state money for not working, but he was elected to do a job and do it well. He has acted as if the position is an honorary one. It's not.
My parents were immigrants from Europe. They taught me that hard work was worthy and that opportunities would appear, including public service. If I am elected I will thank the voters by giving them an energetic full-time public servant determined to make our state once again Number One.
Ron Nehring is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. He is a small-business owner and educator, having taught democracy and governance classes in several emerging democracies in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
A rare opportunity to meet your candidates (including Neel Kashkari) for State and Federal office, all at one event! hear what they have to say, and ask them questions... TOMORROW! September 6th at Baywood. 11:30-1:30
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