For the top spot on the CA ticket this year I endorse Jerry Brown, a Democrat. Whatever else you might say about this guy, the thing that distinguishes him the most from his main opponent, Meg Whitman, is that this guy really knows government. In addition to already being governor from 1975-1983, he’s served in many other public positions, including the Mayor of Oakland and Secretary of State (CA), and is currently the state Attorney General.

Basically, my thinking comes down to a few points. First, California is a mess. The political system is screwed up, and the reality of actually attempting to fix it will take an intimate knowledge of all the different players, agencies, interest groups and so on to coordinate. Brown is a career politician, which I believe is a good thing – better than simply wanting to jump into politics for a quick romp and then exit to a high-paying lobbying job. This guy actually wants to work for the state. Crazy, I know.

Second, Brown supports the clean tech economy and environmental leadership that California will hopefully continue to lead in. This one hits close to home for me, as I work in the renewable energy sector. Much work still needs to be done to improve the green business climate in the state, and due to the reasons above, I believe Brown will be able to understand and cut the red tape faster and more effectively than Whitman. I believe Whitman would also be a good thing for business in the state, but much in the same way that Arnold Schwarzenegger spent years simply learning the ropes, I believe her effectiveness would be limited and/or misguided. In terms of actual climate policy, as well, Whitman is suspect, promising to suspend the incredibly important AB-32, which established California’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (which mandate that the utilities get 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2013) and set the state up to be a leader in the new clean tech economy of the future. VOTE NO ON PROP 23! (more on that in a subsequent post).

Third, I am much less worried about Brown’s “ulterior motives”. While in his previous stint as Governor he ran several times for President, his age would now preclude that possibility, as well as the previously mentioned golden parachute as a lobbyist. This guy will probably be a public servant until he dies. If not, he’s spent more than 35 years trying to fool us otherwise.

What gives me serious pause to Meg Whitman is first and foremost her disregard for politics for most of her adult life, having rarely voted at all. Her work as a businesswoman is impressive, but the state is simply far more complicated than running an IT company, and it strikes me that her goal to be governor is not out of a sincere desire to serve the state’s interests (as opposed to just business’s interests). I also don’t like the idea of Whitman’s use of her massive personal fortune for campaigning. What it says to me is that rich people can simply buy their way into politics (see: The Governator) without really having a demonstrated interest in serving the interests of the people. Brown may be supported by unions, which have their problems, but unions at least represent real people, banding together for collective and community betterment. There are no union chiefs who are billionaires, and a very few who are millionaires. Whitman represents the few, the powerful, the elite, who don’t necessarily want more than to enrich themselves and their friends. They see themselves as Masters of our Universe, who should simply be trusted to set the listing ship straight. But aren’t they the ones who got us into this mess?

In addition, Whitman supported Proposition 8, which took away the right of gay and lesbian people to marry. I would never vote for a person who supports taking away the civil rights of others.

If people really want to see uncorrupted campaigns based on real issues and policies, they should also support public financing of elections (which probably equates with a large tax hike). Otherwise politics will always be dominated either by the wealthy elite with big business behind them or the less-wealthy elite with giant unions and a lesser portion of big business behind them.

Vote for Brown on November 2!

This article is part of the CA Midterms 2010 series.