Via SacBee: Brown: Schwarzenegger's inexperience hurt; Whitman's would, too

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown said this afternoon that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political inexperience has been detrimental in Sacramento, and that the state could expect more of the same if Republican rival Meg Whitman wins the election.
Asked about the possibility of using the initiative process to achieve pension reform, Brown told The Sacramento Bee's editorial board that he would negotiate with labor unions first.
He mentioned the failure of Schwarzenegger's initiatives at the ballot box in 2005, saying "one has to be very careful what battles you fight and what ballot measures you present, because you have a limited amount of political capital."

Brown said, "The most important thing for the next governor is, don't fight the wrong fight. Make the key moves clearly, strategically and effectively. And I think the inexperience of our current governor led to the debacles that we've seen, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if my opponent wins, you might see a repeat of that."

Whitman, the former eBay CEO, is a political neophyte but says years of business experience have prepared her to govern.

Brown, like Whitman, told The Bee that he would live in Sacramento if elected. He said he would keep his house in the Bay Area but have one in downtown Sacramento, too.

Brown and Whitman appear unlikely to release their tax returns ahead of the November election, with the two sides unable to agree about what years to release.

"We're not opening up ours if she's not opening up hers," Brown said.

Asked why not, Brown said, "They'll have a field day with me, and you don't know what they're going to say."
Later, Brown was asked if was morally opposed to the death penalty.

"I haven't really tried to parse out all the considerations that go into my view," he said.

Brown said living in Oakland and seeing its high murder rate afforded him one perspective. He said he has not previously said that he is morally opposed to the death penalty.

"I said I would prefer a society that didn't have to use the death penalty," he said. "But my preference has been overruled."

Brown said he would carry out executions.
PHOTO CREDIT: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown meets with The Bee editorial board on Friday, September 24, 2010. Hector Amezcua, Sacramento Bee.

Categories: AG Jerry Brown, Governor 2010

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