Simon Draws Conservative Line in Sand - Article HerePosted on 02/06/2002 8:59:50 AM PST by Impeach98
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Simon Draws Conservative Line in Sand - Article Here
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Bill Simon makes stop in Santa Maria
By Jasmine Marshall / Times Staff Writer SANTA MARIA -- Declaring himself "a real Republican" before a small crowd of Santa Marians Tuesday, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Simon promised to restore a balanced state budget and promote conservative values if elected. The most recent poll by the Los Angeles Times shows Simon gaining ground on Republican front-runner Richard Riordan. In a primary with low voter turnout, Simon is projected to pull in 21 percent to Riordan 26. Simon, the scion of former treasury secretary William E. Simon Sr., has served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in New York and founded an investment firm and Christian television station PAX-TV. Simon has been courting cultural conservatives and the agribusiness vote by visiting communities like Bakersfield and Santa Maria as he enters the homestretch for the March 5 primary to pick a GOP challenger to incumbent Gov. Gray Davis. At California Grill on Broadway, Simon sought to draw a distinction between himself and Riordan -- who also stumped in Santa Maria on Jan. 24. "I'm proud to be a Republican, but I don't think Dick (Riordan) is," Simon said. "I think Dick is a Democrat in Republican's clothing." His comment drew cheers from the crowd. Simon promised to promote "a culture of life" if elected. He said he favors laws requiring parental consent for minors to get an abortion. Asked what can be done to promote "alternative lifestyles" in schools, Simon said he would promote conservative values through careful appointments in key state positions. Like Riordan and Davis, Simon talks about accountability when it comes to public school education. His education plank calls for making performance testing mandatory for all schools, without exception. Simon said the performance downturn in California's schools is more the fault of administrators than teachers -- and advocates charter schools as a way to give educators "more of a voice." Opposing bilingual education, Simon said "new Americans need to become assimilated in American culture." That includes mastery of the English language, he argued. Several Santa Marians asked how Simon plans to solve the current $12.4 billion budget deficit. His answer includes over $12 billion in cuts to state programs, leaving state job vacancies open and a job promotion package he claims could create $1.5 billion in tax revenues. While he still thinks privatization of the energy market is "a good idea," Simon said the state should get out of the power business. He blames the energy cost not on deregulation itself, but the law he called flawed that made it a reality in California. To keep the state from another energy crisis, Simon favors encouraging private industry to build more power plants, and peruse options such as solar and wind power. With the specter of the Enron fallout haunting the campaign trail, Simon said he supports president Bush's new plan to allow employees more flexibility to sell their 401k options as a way to avoid similar catastrophic losses in the future. While not "rampant," Simon said practices that brought Enron down are "not isolated" in cooperate America. He said he's withholding judgment as how much more regulation of industry is needed. Simon promised to make agricultural concerns a centerpiece of his administration. "I like to say my first act as governor would be to declare farmers an endangered species," he said, drawing applause from the audience. To keep agribusiness healthy, Simon favors ensuring water is available for farmers through stream storage facilities, promoting conservation and using recovered water sources. Like Riordan, he favors reducing agricultural regulations, and adds plans to cut out "middlemen" in workers compensation claims. * Staff writer Jasmine Marshall can be reached at (805) 739-2219, or by e-mail at jmarshall@pulitzer.net. |
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GOP's Simon brings his campaign to town
By Emanuel Parker
Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - -->ARCADIA -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon hailed his conservative heritage Tuesday as he rallied campaign workers and supporters before this weekend's state GOP convention.
Simon addressed about 75 people at a small campaign office in Arcadia and afterward joined them for pizza and soft drinks in the parking lot.
Simon vowed not to raise taxes to balance the state budget, to renegotiate the long-term energy contracts signed by Davis and to restore the state's roads, power plants and water sources.
He promised to revitalize school facilities, called for more charter and magnet schools and more local control of education. He said every California student should be able to read by the third grade.
"You've got to start with ideas," Simon said. "You need vision, ideas and specifics; anyone who doesn't have those should not be running for office."
Simon will vie with GOP candidates Richard Riordan, the former Los Angeles mayor, and Bill Jones, California secretary of state, in the March 5 primary to decide who will face Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in the fall.
Simon noted former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani endorsed him for governor, even though Giuliani worked with Riordan for years as they led the nation's two largest cities.
"He picked me because of my leadership abilities," Simon said.
Simon said his campaign speech doesn't vary, whether he's speaking to conservatives, liberals or moderates.
"My dad always said if you tell the same story to everybody, you don't have to remember what you told each person," Simon said.
In his introduction of Simon, former state Sen. Richard Mountjoy said only those with high moral standards should seek high office.
"If that happened, you would not need campaign reform. I always look for (high morals) in candidates I endorse, and Bill Simon is that kind of person. He's a man of principle, the Constitution and of God," Mountjoy said.
"He's wonderful," said Betty Flippen of Arcadia, a Simon volunteer. "This is the third time I've seen him and he gets better each time. He's my man, definitely."
Jack Etter of Arcadia liked what he heard.
"I thought it was a great speech and he will make a great candidate," he said.
-- Emanuel Parker can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4475, or by e-mail at emanuel.parker@sgvn.com.
Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - -->ARCADIA -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon hailed his conservative heritage Tuesday as he rallied campaign workers and supporters before this weekend's state GOP convention.
Simon addressed about 75 people at a small campaign office in Arcadia and afterward joined them for pizza and soft drinks in the parking lot.
Simon vowed not to raise taxes to balance the state budget, to renegotiate the long-term energy contracts signed by Davis and to restore the state's roads, power plants and water sources.
He promised to revitalize school facilities, called for more charter and magnet schools and more local control of education. He said every California student should be able to read by the third grade.
"You've got to start with ideas," Simon said. "You need vision, ideas and specifics; anyone who doesn't have those should not be running for office."
Simon will vie with GOP candidates Richard Riordan, the former Los Angeles mayor, and Bill Jones, California secretary of state, in the March 5 primary to decide who will face Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in the fall.
Simon noted former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani endorsed him for governor, even though Giuliani worked with Riordan for years as they led the nation's two largest cities.
"He picked me because of my leadership abilities," Simon said.
Simon said his campaign speech doesn't vary, whether he's speaking to conservatives, liberals or moderates.
"My dad always said if you tell the same story to everybody, you don't have to remember what you told each person," Simon said.
In his introduction of Simon, former state Sen. Richard Mountjoy said only those with high moral standards should seek high office.
"If that happened, you would not need campaign reform. I always look for (high morals) in candidates I endorse, and Bill Simon is that kind of person. He's a man of principle, the Constitution and of God," Mountjoy said.
"He's wonderful," said Betty Flippen of Arcadia, a Simon volunteer. "This is the third time I've seen him and he gets better each time. He's my man, definitely."
Jack Etter of Arcadia liked what he heard.
"I thought it was a great speech and he will make a great candidate," he said.
-- Emanuel Parker can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4475, or by e-mail at emanuel.parker@sgvn.com.
© 1999-2002 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Los Angeles Newspaper Group, Inc.
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Governor hopeful comes to town
He talks with residents about housing, water and state bureaucracy The Tribune San Luis Obispo -- Gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon, crisscrossing the state in search of votes in next month’s GOP primary, fielded questions from area residents Tuesday at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. Applause and welcome signs greeted Simon as his plane landed. He was in Los Angeles a few hours earlier to gather support for his bid as governor of California. Simon, 50, will face off March 5 against former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and Secretary of State Bill Jones. Recent polls show he’s running a close second, trailing Riordan by about five percentage points. Simon faced queries on topics including housing, issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, and his stance on funding for state-mandated programs. His approach was simple: “Reduce the bureaucracy in Sacramento,” and allow local officials to deal with problems. “Local government … is where people understand problems best.” “From my perspective, we need to control borders,” he said, in response to a question about giving illegal immigrants driver’s licenses. “I’ve said that before Sept. 11. Citizens deserve priority.” Simon also pointed out his efforts to reach out to Californians by city-hopping all over the state. Tuesday he was to continue on for a campaign event in Santa Maria. “I’m the only candidate not to raise taxes,” Simon asserted. “I’m the only candidate to come forward with a vision.” With the theme of “Renewing the California dream,” Simon’s focus rests on the state’s budget, education, the energy crisis, roads and water. He wants to make accountability mandatory for all schools to improve the quality of education. On the state’s water issues, he hopes that off-stream facilities and more dams will prevent farmers from suffering the loss of their lands. Those are the same issues that concern San Luis Obispo resident Don Lee, 73. “There’s the worry of losing ag ground,” Lee said, adding that he felt that was something Simon could do for San Luis Obispo. Then there’s Simon’s affable nature. “He’s got no negative baggage,” said 56-year-old Matt Kokkonen. “I believe he’s the man for the job.” Kokkonen first saw Simon at the California Republican Women’s Convention in December, liked his approach and has been a supporter since. “Can’t conservatives reach out as much as liberals?” Simon asked, before continuing, “Liberals have no monopolies on leadership, no monopoly on ideas.” |
Or is it panged? LOL!
I have a good feeling about this guy. Ronald Reagan's home state will be in good hands! Go Bill Simon.
Go Bill Simon!!!
"No!" the crowd shouted back.
"Liberals," Simon continued, "do not have any monopoly on good ideas, on inclusiveness or on compassion."
LATimes Story
It's been a while since we've heard that kind of talk.
The Republican sleeping giant has awoken! I hear the sound of distant thunder.
Seeing that movie reminded me that Dick Riordan once declared Bill Clinton to be the "greatest leader in the free world."
That's right and I hope Dad told you that you still need to remember the story you told all of them.
GO SIMON!
Didnt't Jones also author (or at least pass, as Assembly Republican Leader) several tax hikes in the early 1990's?
Yep. He helped overthrow the existing conservative leadership at the behest of liberal Pete Wilson.
The largest state tax increase in American history passed by one vote, with a handful of Republican traitors siding with the Democrats -- and Jones was the leader of the pack.
... and Ronald Reagan was from Illinois. Meanwhile Bill Jones has refused to defend the prolife plank in the Republican Party Platform. 'Nough said.
Jones called for a repeal of the pro-life plank from the Republican Party, he pushed through the largest tax increase in any state's history and blamed the private energy companies for price gouging that in reality was done by government municipalities like LA's DWP.
Jones is a decent guy. But he is not the best choice for the GOP candidate for Governor. That honor clearly belongs to Bill Simon.
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