Posted on 01/24/2002 8:42:10 AM PST by ElkGroveDan
Riordan details possible plans BY DION NISSENBAUM Mercury News Sacramento Bureau Republican Richard Riordan waded into two touchy issues Wednesday, telling a Silicon Valley crowd that as governor he might try to eliminate the state's elected schools chief position and would be open to halting executions if evidence emerged that they were being unfairly imposed.
One day after appearing with his two main GOP opponents in the political season's first televised debate, the former Los Angeles mayor told a meeting of the Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley and the Rotary Club of San Jose that he wants to consolidate educational oversight in Sacramento.
``What I would do as governor is attempt to take everything involved in education and put it under one person: the secretary of education,'' said Riordan, who proposed shifting the powers of the elected schools chief and Board of Education under the quasi-Cabinet position.
Under the state Constitution, Californians have elected an independent schools chief since the late 1800s to oversee the education budget. The education secretary, appointed by the governor, generally guides state policy.
The superintendent of public schools, Delaine Eastin, said the office gives voters a direct voice in deciding how schools are run. ``I do think it's important to have an independent voice that does stand up to the governor,'' said Eastin, who is wrapping up her final term in the post.
To eliminate the job, Riordan would have to ask voters for support. Eastin said that voters have rejected such efforts three times.
Assemblywoman Lynne Leach, R-Walnut Creek, who's running in the March 5 election to replace Eastin, said she believes voters would still be reluctant to eliminate the non-partisan post.
``Right now the general public sees it as their first line of defense,'' she said.
Backpedaling
After the speech, Riordan backed away slightly from his remarks and said he had not decided exactly what he would do. But he did say that one person was needed to oversee education.
Riordan used the event to offer a broad sketch of his education proposals. In a 15-minute speech, he unveiled what he called ``classroom first'' budgeting. Under the plan, the state would work to ensure that most education funds are spent in the classroom, not on bureaucracy. Riordan said there is no ``magic pill'' to help schools, but touted his plan as a good way to ensure that children are always the top priority.
Views on death penalty
After his speech, Riordan was quizzed on a variety of issues, including the death penalty. Riordan called it a ``wonderful weapon'' to combat crime, but said he would keep an open mind about imposing a temporary ban on its use.
``Are we applying the death penalty fairly, honestly?'' he asked. ``You can't be afraid to look at things like that.''
There are more than 600 people on death row in California, the most in any state. Last fall, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors joined several more boards of supervisors in calling for a statewide ban on executions while a study is done on capital punishment in California.
On Wednesday, Riordan said he has always supported the death penalty. But in a 1987 Los Angeles Business Journal article about his efforts to oust California Supreme Court Justice Rose Bird, Riordan said he was against capital punishment.
``She put herself up as above the law,'' he said. ``Take the death penalty, which I personally do not support, but which most people do. She decided to overrule the death penalty in every case, although the citizenry and Legislature had voted for it.''
On Wednesday, Riordan said he did not remember making the remark and added, ``But whether I did or not, I have never been against the death penalty.''
Riordan appeared relaxed and confident Wednesday after holding his own in Tuesday night's debate. The former mayor leads his two closest opponents by more than 20 points in independent polls with fewer than six weeks to go before Republicans go to the polls to choose a candidate to take on Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in November.
``She put herself up as above the law,'' he said. ``Take the death penalty, which I personally do not support, but which most people do. She decided to overrule the death penalty in every case, although the citizenry and Legislature had voted for it.''
On Wednesday, Riordan said he did not remember making the remark and added, ``But whether I did or not, I have never been against the death penalty.''
MEANWHILE: Riordan admits $500 donation from Enron in '96 (California governor's race) (BUSTED!)
Bump for Simon!
So basically, what he's saying is either he's senile, or it doesn't matter what he says, because he can think something completely different.
Sort of like coming out in support of gay marriage and then a week later saying he opposes it.
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