Garamendi to make 3rd bid for governor in 2010
The lieutenant governor throws his hat into the ring to replace Schwarzenegger when the governor's term expires. For the first time since 1998, there will be no incumbent.
SACRAMENTO — Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who first ran for governor 26 years ago, announced his third Democratic bid for the office Thursday, saying his decades of experience in state government would allow him to vanquish problems that have eluded Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"California is not a movie set, and gridlock is simply not acceptable," Garamendi, 63, said in an announcement outside the Capitol, faulting Schwarzenegger for failing to resolve the state's fiscal problems. "This is real life. This is about real people."
Garamendi's early entry into the 2010 race is the latest indication that the campaign to replace Schwarzenegger, who must abide by voter-approved term limits, is shaping up as protracted and crowded. For the first time since 1998, there will be no incumbent.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom began an exploratory bid a month ago. Other Democrats said to be contemplating the race include Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown -- who was governor from 1975 to 1983 -- and former state Controller Steve Westly, who ran two years ago but lost the primary election.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's name also has been mentioned, and Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County has filed papers allowing her to raise money for a campaign.
On the Republican side, Steve Poizner, who succeeded Garamendi as state insurance commissioner in 2007, is said to be considering the race. And Tom Campbell, a former GOP congressman from the Bay Area who briefly served as Schwarzenegger's finance director, has also filed papers for an exploratory bid.
Other names circulating from that party are two former executives of Silicon Valley companies: Meg Whitman, who was at EBay; and Carly Fiorina, who headed Hewlett-Packard.
Next to Brown, Garamendi has the longest political resume of these potential candidates -- 16 years as a state legislator, eight as insurance commissioner and three as an environmental official in President Clinton's administration.
A former Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia whose rough hands document his experience on a family cattle ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Garamendi is respected in Democratic circles for his detailed knowledge about California's water and environmental issues. But his poor track record in raising money contributed to his primary losses in his lackluster gubernatorial campaigns of 1982 and 1994.
- Garamendi Fills Key Campaign Job - Politics: Insurance commissioner names veteran political consultant Darry Sragow to manage his expected run for governor. Aug 17, 1993
- Garamendi's Campaign Running on Lean Funding - Politics: Although he lacks Kathleen Brown's base, the candidate for governor is not without resources. Apr 10, 1994
- Running for No. 2 Spot With No. 1 as the Goal Oct 13, 2006
