Endorsements 2006

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR | John Garamendi

Tom McClintock, the Republican candidate, has an excellent chance of becoming a terrible lieutenant governor. In addition to Arnold’s blessing, McClintock has strong support from a right-wing base and a lot of money. In the state Senate he was rabidly anti-choice and a big supporter of big tax cuts.

John Garamendi, a former assemblyman and state senator, is a centrist Central Valley Democrat. He was California’s first elected insurance commissioner and was a strong advocate for consumer protection. He went to Washington in 1995 as Bill Clinton’s deputy interior secretary, and when he returned in 2002 he was again elected California insurance commissioner.

Garamendi says he plans to use the lieutenant governor’s office to push for education, healthcare and environmental reform. There’s no reason to expect important things from him, but keeping McClintock out of office is important.