Governor speaks in Palo Alto
Demonstrators both for and against Davis rally outside the Technet Forum
Katherine Liu Governor Gray Davis speaks during the Technet Forum at the Hyatt Rickeys Hotel last night. He discussed his political platform and emphasized recent successes in health care and education.
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World & Nation EditorWednesday, October 23, 2002
last updated October 23, 2002 2:09 AM
Gov. Gray Davis, Class of ’64, discussed his political platform — emphasizing his successes in education, labor and health care — in front of hundreds of technology industry employees yesterday evening during the Technet Forum at the Hyatt Rickeys Hotel in Palo Alto.While his speech jumped from topic to topic, Davis repeatedly returned to a theme of investment — in education, medical research and California workers and businesses.
Prior to the speech, dozens of demonstrators for and against Davis loudly exchanged their respective viewpoints concerning the upcoming gubernatorial election.
David Shashoua, treasurer of the California Young Republicans of Silicon Valley, declared that Davis’ record as governor “speaks for itself.”
“We need to help show how much government corruption has been happening with Davis,” Shashoua said. “Our roads are sick, our education system is a flop — if you turn a $12 billion surplus into at least a $24 billion deficit with more regulations causing small businesses to leave and move out of our state, there are hardly any jobs at small- to mid-sized firms.”
Kathleen Sundaram, who supports Davis’ Republican opponent, Bill Simon, said that she was not associated with any specific organization, but was protesting on her own initiative.
“I am concerned how Davis has driven the state into the ground — union members being fooled, taxing anything that moved,” Shundaram said. “The economy will be more depressed with no building or construction projects for the workers to work in. They are all fooling themselves. We have had it.”
She went on to explain that “the press has just been putting up the image that Simon is a flawed candidate . . . but to elect Davis is like a woman who goes back to her abusive spouse.”
Joe Keys, a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (District Council 16), was among the pro-Davis supporters on the street.
“We are out here to come to Davis’ [speech] tonight,” Keys said. “Upon noticing the Simon supporters, we brought out our signs to show our side of the issue.
“I found out [about this speech] from my union meeting,” he added.
Keys explained that he and his fellow Davis supporters have done all they can to back the governor in his reelection bid, and that sometimes they even go to protest at Simon’s speeches...
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