Excellent points, and I'll add one. Another role of a REPUBLICAN governor will be to improve the image of the Republican Party through solid and sane leadership, so that local Republican candidates for Senate, Assembly and Congress can win in competitive districts. While there are few of these districts after the Democrat gerrymander, there are some (particularly in the Central Valley) that are trending Republican and a conservative in office will help bring those to the right side.
Go Simon!
That and the budget are his two most important jobs.