Why I'm Running

By Tony Miller

The Office of Lt. Governor is largely defined by the officeholder. I have a clear vision of what I will do as Lt. Governor of California.

WHY I’M RUNNING

One of the most important things I learned as an Eagle Scout is the cardinal rule of the out-doors...to leave your campsite better than you found it. What is true about camping is also true of the life experience. We must leave things better than we found them.

And that is why I am running for Lt. Governor of California...to make a difference...to make things better.

Historically, the office of Lt. Governor has been defined largely by the incumbent of the of-fice. Prior Lt. Governors have fought for nursing home reforms, for economic development to cre-ate jobs and for quality education in California. These are worthy goals and they will receive my at-tention as well. I will focus especially on education. We don’t need to have the best prisons in the country but we must have the best schools.

And, above all else, I am running for Lt. Governor to carry on the fight that I have waged for over twenty years....the fight for meaningful campaign finance reform.

The current system, dominated by big money, is an obscenity. Big money not only talks, it shouts, it overwhelms and it corrupts. In the last election cycle, over $121 million was contributed in state legislative races...most of which was given in large chunks to incumbents by well-funded spe-cial interests having business before the Legislature. The system is rotten to the core.

That is why I teamed up with AARP, the League of Women Voters of California, Common Cause and United We Stand America to co-author Proposition 208 which passed with 61.3 percent of the vote at the November 1996 General Election. Proposition 208 gave California the toughest cam-paign finance law in the nation.

For an entire year Proposition 208 was in place, fundamentally changing the political process. Unfortunately, on January 6, 1998, a federal judge in Sacramento blocked enforcement of Proposi-tion 208. That decision is being appealed but in the meantime, California remains one of the few states with no limits on contributions in state elections. That must be changed.

Whatever happens with Proposition 208 in the courts, as Lt. Governor I will continue to fight to limit campaign contributions, limit spending and sever the link between lobbying and campaign fundraising.

And I will also fight to reduce the cost of campaigns....to ensure that we have candidate statements and photographs in the ballot pamphlet for all candidates for office...that we offer candi-dates free web sites...and that we develop programs to provide candidates with free radio and televi-sion time.

Elections that are for sale are not free. That is true whether campaigns are self-funded or funded by special interests.

In reality, I’m not running against the three legislators, one millionaire and the other candi-dates who have filed for this office. I am running against a system that is desperately in need of fix-ing....a system that inherently tilts the playing field in favor of tobacco companies and insurance com-panies and those with the big money...a system that is inherently anti-environment, anti-consumer and anti-health care reform.

I ask you to join me in the fight for campaign finance reform.

This is a fight for the very soul of democracy. It is a fight to create a system based on one person one vote, not one dollar one vote.

There is nothing more powerful than an idea the time of which has come, and this is the time for campaign finance reform.

This is the time to make sure that we leave Campsite California better than we found it.

Thank you for considering my candidacy for Lt. Governor of California.