Posted on 06/17/2002 9:44:30 AM PDT by ElkGroveDan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Law enforcement group cites rising crime, decreased funding, switches backing from Davis to former prosecutor Simon.
SACRAMENTO - Gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon today won a major endorsement from the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs [COPS], an organization which had previously endorsed Gray Davis in his 1998 campaign.
The endorsement letter COPS sent to its membership reads in part:
"Four years ago we supported Gray Davis, but upon careful review of his record, we have become totally disenchanted with him and his policies. We feel Gray Davis has shown a lack of leadership."
The following are Bill Simon's remarks as prepared.
"Let me begin by saying I couldn't be more proud today to have earned the endorsement of the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs - an organization I greatly admire for who they represent and what they stand for.
"As some of you may know - COPS supported me in the primary and that meant a great deal to me. But they warned me at the time that the endorsement was for the primary only, and I would have to earn their support for the general election. Monty cautioned me that they had been long time supporters of Governor Davis, and my chances weren't great.
"In fact, as we speak here today, the Governor's website and campaign is still featuring his endorsement from COPS.
"Yet I did keep talking to the men and women of COPS about my plans and vision and priorities, and I did earn that endorsement!
"If I can be presumptuous, I'd like to talk a bit about why I think I earned this endorsement.
"Governor Davis views public safety as a crass, political issue. For him, being "tough-on-crime" is a poll-tested, calculated position to take to benefit his campaign. When he says things like "no one will get to the right of me on crime" and Singapore is his model for law-and-order, he's not speaking from his heart, he's reading from Garry South's strategy memo.
"And as I spent the last several months meeting with members of COPS, they saw, I hope, that I am different. For me, being tough on crime is just something I am. It comes from working with people like Rudy Giuliani, and getting to know FBI agents and police officers when I was an Assistant US Attorney. I draw on my firm belief that public safety is the first priority of government. And no matter what else government does well, if it does not protect its citizens, government has failed.
"As I have campaigned across California, I have talked about how Governor Davis has failed in areas such as energy, the budget, our economy and our schools.
"Today's announcement I believe reflects the fact that the governor has also failed us when it comes to public safety.
"We have seen our entire country rally together in the wake of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. And all across America, our people understand that it is local law enforcement and public safety officials who were the first responders after the attacks. These men and women, equal only to our troops overseas, deserve our honor, respect, and unwavering support.
"Across America, crime continues to drop towards historic lows. Yet here in California crime is rising here, for two years running, on Gray Davis' watch.
"In the year 2000, crime rose in California by 3.5%, while it dropped in the rest of the country,
"In 2001, the rise in crime in California accelerated, rising 5.8%, while again dropping in the whole United States.
"When Governor Davis took office, he inherited budget surpluses, and decreasing crime rates. After four years of obsessive campaign fundraising - 12 hours per day in fact - and an almost complete neglect of his responsibilities as governor, he's managed to turn both of these trends upside down.
"We already know what Gray Davis neglected the budget, education, energy and the economy.
"It is one more sign of Gray Davis' failed leadership that crime is down nationwide, but on the rise for two straight years here in California.
"Crime is up and Gray Davis is cutting law enforcement. This is not leadership.
"Now, because of the governor's mismanagement of the state budget, he is cutting funds to local government. And since local governments spent two-thirds or more of their discretionary funds on public safety, these cuts are going to come right out of law enforcement- putting our citizens at greater risk even in the face of these rising crime statistics.
"And these very public safety officials - the brothers and sisters of the NYPD - the very same people who would serve us as well if the terrorists struck in California, have not received the support and training they need to fight the war on terrorism.
"Where Gray Davis has failed, I will lead. I will ensure that law enforcement and public safety officials have the resources they need to do the job. They know how to do it, as long as their elected leaders give them the tools.
"Again, I am honored to have received this endorsement."
Davis is only running them in limited media markets. L.A. and Sacramento, I think.
You're right about one thing: anything can happen. California is a fickle state. But in this case, I think they have just about had it with Gray Davis. If Simon doesn't make major mistakes, I think that he can beat Gray Davis, even if Davis doesn't make any more major mistakes. Reason? Davis has already made major blunders that people are not happy about, and I don't think they are ready to forgive (education and energy and budget deficit come to mind).
We'll see. But we have a lot of time.
Go Simon!
But, he is a good fundraiser! In fact, he spends 12 hours a day fundraising!
Makes me wonder if he spent 12 hours a day doing the state's business if we would have had an energy crisis ... poor test scores ... and a $23.6 billion deficit.
Oh no! A Conservative will never be able to win in the leftist, liberal, Hollywood star laden, Peoples Republic of Kalifornia! Yada, yada ,yada; blah blah blah!!!!!
There, I feel much better now. Just couldn't wait any longer for the California bashers to show up, so I took matters into my own hands!
ROTFL! Thanks
When I ran for the Assembly I stayed as far away from them as posible.
I think that's happening, which is contributing to the state's revenue plunge. Buck Knives, which has been here in San Diego for many years, is leaving California due to the cost of electricity. I have to think that that's just the tip of the iceberg.
This endorsement doesn't amount to much more than being a small pimple on a large man's ass. Yes, it's nice that he got an endorsement but the COPS endorsement doesn't carry any weight...in fact, they are considered to be an irrelevant splinter group within the law enforcement community. Compare the COPS endorsement to the eventual endorsements from the various POAs and the prison guards.
Simon needs to start talking about relevant tax issues that appeal to a cross-section of both parties...marriage penalty (I know this is a federal issue but he should talk about it anyway), property tax relief (increase in the property tax exemption and relief for heirs and/or partners in real estate...heirs and/or surviving partners should not be subjected to a tax reassessment of property) and capgains relief.
For crying out loud, Simon MUST slam each and every tax increase proposal by the legislature...if he doesn't, he deserves to lose.
He's probably trying to smoke Simon out and make him spend his scarce resources too early when voters aren't really paying attention. My guess is that Simon's people have a plan in place. They were really savvy in the primary when this kind of thing came up and I'm sure they know what they are doing now.I hadn't thought of that before you mentioned it, but I'll bet you're right.
It "feels" way too early for campaigning.
I attempted to look up the aformentioned California Organization of Police and Sheriffs and came up with this: "California Organization of Police and Sheriffs" which doesn't look good.
That isn't to say that the Organization doesn't exist they just may be behind the Internet curve.
Freegards
Bonehead
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