Antonio Villaraigosa: the clear choice for California governor [View all]

[Zorro]

California is a big state with bigger contradictions. It is the wealthy tech capital of the world — and the epicenter of U.S. poverty. It is the most influential progressive state — and a tremendous educational disappointment for minority students. It is the boldest state on profoundly important issues like climate change — and one that’s unable to address the financial challenge of creating a sustainable pension system for government workers.

To address these giant California problems, the next governor must be willing to take on the most powerful factions in the state’s dominant Democratic Party. The environmentalists and trial attorneys who use state environmental laws to make adding housing stock so difficult, spurring a dire shortage that has led to sky-high rents and home prices. The teachers unions that don’t just oppose basic education reforms that have worked in other states, but use their clout to win approval of a school “accountability” program that makes it harder to hold districts accountable. The public employee unions that have fought off changes to generous pension programs that could soon consume one-quarter of the budgets of local governments and crowd out basic services like public safety, libraries and parks.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board believes that of the seven major candidates we interviewed, only two have a chance of being elected. Thankfully, this list includes the candidate with the best chance to be the aggressive reformer the state needs: Antonio Villaraigosa. The veteran Democrat’s willingness to challenge government unions while mayor of Los Angeles and his ability to get things done as speaker and majority leader in the state Assembly lend credibility to his claim that he could take on California’s political status quo.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom — the only other candidate with a real chance of succeeding Jerry Brown — talks a great game, displaying a deep understanding of a vast range of state issues. Like Villaraigosa, he calls for a variety of changes in state laws that would make it easier to add more housing. But Villaraigosa’s record as L.A. mayor from 2005 to 2013 far surpasses Newsom’s record as San Francisco mayor from 2004 to 2011. Villaraigosa not only displayed an effective, judicious management style in persuading his City Council to restrain city spending during a budget-crippling recession; he won voters’ approval for ambitious transportation projects and beefed up his police force. Yes, Newsom deserves credit for his early championing of same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization. But he hasn’t gotten nearly as much done — or overcome as many obstacles — as Villaraigosa. Questions about Newsom’s ability to build coalitions to advance his bold ideas have dogged him for years. His decision to skip so many debates in recent weeks didn’t help him. If he’s the frontrunner, he seems to be running scared.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/sd-antonio-villaraigosa-endorsement-for-governor-20180511-story.html