Garamendi seeks to expand horizons - The insurance chief seeks fresh issues, such as...

Sacramento Bee ^ | 9/13/6 | Clea Benson

[SmithL]

ohn Garamendi has served two terms as state insurance commissioner and believes a quirk in term-limits law would allow him to seek a third this year.

But the Walnut Grove Democrat is running for lieutenant governor instead, and said Tuesday he wants to move on to issues beyond insurance -- such as global warming and education.

Besides, he added in a meeting with The Bee Capitol Bureau, he doesn't have the money to run for governor.

"You got $40 million sitting in your pocket?" he said. "I don't."

Garamendi, 61, criticized the role of money in politics.

"It is a rotten system and it's got to change ... ," he said. "It is a serious, serious problem."

He said he supports Proposition 89, a ballot initiative that would limit campaign spending.

Garamendi didn't absolutely rule out a future run for governor. But for now, he said, he wants to turn the largely ceremonial second-in-command post into an office that serves consumers and works on pressing issues.

"I think it's an office that's been underutilized for many, many years," Garamendi said. "It has the potential to really be a consumer watchdog and advocate for consumers."

Garamendi is running against Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks in the Nov. 7 election.

A former legislator and Clinton administration official, Garamendi ran unsuccessfully for the governorship in 1982 and 1994 and briefly entered the gubernatorial race during the 2003 recall election.

In 1990, he became the state's first elected insurance commissioner, serving four years. He was elected to his current term in 2002. Because the 1990 law establishing term limits didn't include the insurance commissioner, which previously had been an appointed post, Garamendi believes he would have legal standing to serve another term if he wanted one. The law was later amended...

[SmithL]

Political ad for Garamendi by the Bee

[Carry_Okie]

He said he supports Proposition 89, a ballot initiative that would limit campaign spending.

Of course, that puts the corporate media in control of political campaigns!

Such altruism.

[calcowgirl]

"McClintock is the poster child of the radical right wing of the Republican Party," [Garamendi] said. "And there's a lot of political pressure from the right wing for the Republican Party to assist him."

... "I've devoted my career to reducing the taxes and burdens that government has wastefully placed on families," McClintock said. "I think the fact that he finds that extreme tells you a lot about his own views."

PING!

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