Editorials Atty. general: Brown
AFTER NEARLY A QUARTER-century absence, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown is seeking to get back to Sacramento, this time as California's attorney general. Opposing him is termed-out state Sen. Charles Poochigian.
There is a huge gap separating Brown's and Poochigian's political careers and views on a number of issues. This has led to a feisty campaign in which each candidate has attacked the other's trustworthiness and ability to do the job.
But what is most important for voters to consider is who has the better background and ability to perform as the state's attorney general. We believe it is Jerry Brown.
As Oakland mayor, Brown has had a valuable lesson in practical public policy. As governor in the 1970s, Brown admits he was isolated from the average Californian. That has not been the case during his tenure as Oakland mayor.
Brown chose to live in a downtown Oakland neighborhood with a high crime rate and has had some success in lowering the city's overall crime statistics, even though there has been an increase in homicides in the past couple of years.
As mayor, Brown was successful in bringing businesses and residential development to parts of Oakland that had been neglected for years and in expanding charter schools. He also formed a special police unit to combat violent crime.
Poochigian criticizes Brown for his opposition to the death penalty as governor, but Brown vowed he would enforce the state's death penalty law. Brown rapped Poochigian for opposing abortion, but Poochigian says he will honor California law on the right to choose.
The result is that there is not likely to be any significant practical difference between Brown and Poochigian on abortion law or carrying out the death penalty.
Brown said he would change the state Justice Department's focus to "reorganize and beef up the Division of Law Enforcement" so more state agents can be mobilized to help overworked and outgunned local police officers.
He has the endorsement of many law enforcement groups, including the California Police Chiefs Association.
We believe that both candidates are well qualified to be attorney general, but Brown has the edge in both executive experience and a more balanced approach to law enforcement.
We urge voters to mark their ballots for Jerry Brown for attorney general.
