According to this Los Angeles Times news story about Tom Campbell, the Republican gubernatorial candidate supports the “top-two” ballot measure that will be on the California ballot in June 2010. This news is surprising, because Campbell was against the idea when it was last on the California ballot, in November 2004. Also, Campbell has been a professor of both law and economics, and he probably knows that political scientists are almost unanimously opposed to the measure. In 2008, Professor Paul Gronke, a political scientist at Reed College, polled the 600 members of the Political Methodology list-serve, and found only one political scientist who said he was in favor of the idea.
One reason Campbell may have changed his mind about “top-two” is that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is strongly in favor of the measure. Campbell’s position in favor of “top-two” makes it likely that Schwarzenegger will support him in next year’s Republican primary. It is reported that the Governor is even thinking of appointing Campbell to be California’s next Lieutenant Governor. That position is expected to become vacant on November 3, 2009, when John Garamendi, the existing Lieutenant Governor, will probably be elected to Congress in a special election. Also, because California’s three most influential newspapers, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Sacramento Bee, all support “top-two”, Campbell’s support for “top-two” will enhance his prospects of getting their endorsement.
Campbell has also changed his position on whether marijuana should be decriminalized. For decades he has advocated for decriminalization, but this year, he is opposed to the idea.
Not for legalization of cannabis then he’s not the right choice for Governor of California…period the end.
P.R. and nonpartisan A.V.
NO primaries are needed.
Glad this was brought to light sooner than later, I was going to vote for him based on his past position on marijuana laws, now that he has suddenly changed positions tells me two things, one he has been bought off, otherwise he wouldn’t just “change” his DECADE LONG views at the drop of a dime, and two, those types care more about themselves than they do helping the people.
I will be voting for Gavin Newsom, he supports decimalization, which is a start in the right direction.
Man, how much has this guy “changed his mind” on issues? That’s scary, almost like he doesn’t know what he agrees with or not. Isn’t this also kinda telling as to him being paid off by special interest groups? I mean who changes their mind about things they believed in for so long just because they think it betters their chances? Not the guy I want running this state, we need a real leader!
Sandy
Polls show a majority of California voters favor legalizing and taxing marijuana. It is insane for Tom Campbell to oppose legalization when he relies on libertarian voters as part of his base.
This guy’s disgusting. What a political cretin, switching his views like that.
I believe Campbell spearheaded the successful 1996 blanket primary initiative, which the US Supreme Court struck down on June 26, 2000. California used the blanket primary in 1998 and 2000.
Schwarzenegger backed the “top two” initiative in 2004, when he was more popular than he is now. Other “top two” backers were former Gov. Pete Wilson, former L. A. mayor Richard Riordan, and Leon Panetta. The initiative still lost in 51 of the state’s 58 counties.
In 1982, 3rd* party candidates for Congress got roughly 218K votes, while Democratic and Republican candidates that were eliminated in the primaries had around 382K votes. *Two Libertarian candidates who were the only opposition to a Democrat or Republican candidate got 74K.
In Senate races, there were about 77K votes for 3rd party candidates in November vs. 137K votes for eliminated candidates in the primaries. There was also 45K for a 3rd party candidate in a 2-way race.
In Assembly races, 3rd party candidates received 153K votes, eliminated primary candidates 627K, and 36K for 2 3rd party candidates in a 2-way race.
So while 3rd party candidates were on the November ballot, they were a “choice” in only a superficial sense. Meanwhile, more viable choices with greater actual support, could only be voted on by certain minorities of the electorate. Under Top 2, voters could still vote for 3rd party candidates in the primary, and if they happen to fail to make the runoff, vote for one of the two candidates that demonstrated the most actual support.
And of course it would be much easier for independent candidates to qualify for the ballot under SB 6.
Single issue voting on pot is pretty hilarious.
No elected official will be able to decriminalize-legalize-regulate pot in this state.
If it IS EVER legalized, GOD knows what private interest will be in charge of selling the stuff.
Anyone who’s promising marijuana reform is SELLING you SOMETHING THEY CAN’T DELIVER, and hoodwinked you for your vote.