Free Republic

<p>SACRAMENTO - In the race for the state's chief financial officer, California voters have a clear choice between a tight-fisted career politician and a Silicon Valley businessman and multimillionaire.</p> <p>Both candidates -- GOP state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks and Democrat Steve Westly, a former eBay executive from Atherton -- promise to be independent watchdogs of state spending. But each would bring a distinct experience and style to the job that is little known among voters, but critical at a time when California is facing a double-digit budget deficit.</p>