Vital, fearless newspapers will be crucial in helping Californians to decipher the multitude of initiatives coming their way, state lawmakers told the Governmental Affairs Day audience Wednesday in Sacramento. And Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said newspapers will be important resources for voters to navigate the volume of campaign advertising that will accompany what he projects to be the costliest gubernatorial race in the state's history.
Poizner was the sole gubernatorial candidate -- declared or undeclared -- to accept CNPA's invitation to its Capitol day, as the Associated Press noted. Poizner's platform favors coalition-building, transparency and reform, he told his interviewer, Los Angeles Times editorial writer Robert Greene. Watch video of Poizner interview (video by Shasta College journalism students, under direction of Craig Harrington, The Intermountain News, Burney)
Cooperation is the only way for California to emerge from its budgetary quandary, the panel on state and local government concurred.
The impact of local revenue reductions must be painted in human terms, said Tony Oliveira, president of the California State Association of Counties and a former California publisher himself. He was joined by League of California Cities Chief Executive Chris McKenzie and Sens. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) and Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), who replaced Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) on the panel. They were interviewed by Dan Morain of The Sacramento Bee.
A plethora of initiatives will not persuade Sacramento to collaborate on solutions, the panelists said. Wolk lamented the impact that the newspaper industry's economic ills would have on the democratic process. Watch video of government panel (video by Shasta College journalism students, under direction of Craig Harrington, The Intermountain News, Burney)
Poizner alluded to a future California under his presumed governorship, and the middle panel shared their views on its current dysfunction. That left Bill Lockyer the tough-talk perspective, which the state treasurer gave, before inviting attendees to call him at home or email him with any questions. And he gave them his personal contact information.
Local voters will need to decide how to fund their local needs -- "potholes, cops and schools," he termed them. The most critical needs in one county or region differ widely from another, he said.
Fearless newspapering was acknowledged by Sen. Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley), who presented a Senate Resolution to Tim Crews, publisher of the Sacramento Valley Mirror in Willows.
CNPA President Anthony Allegretti opened the 14th annual event at 10 a.m. in the Sheraton Grand Sacramento. Karlene Goller, Los Angeles Times; and Will Fleet, The Fresno Bee; emceed the day. Introducing Poizner was Paul Nyberg, Los Altos Town Crier; while Cheryl Dell, The Sacramento Bee, introduced Lockyer.
CNPA's Tom Newton thanked attendees for supporting the association's Capitol work on newspapers' behalf, and K.C. Meadows, Ukiah Daily Journal, welcomed the group on behalf of the California Society of Newspaper Editors.
More than 120 took part in the Governmental Affairs Day events. CNPA arranged afternoon appointments for newspaper people with their lawmakers at the Capitol. And an evening reception was scheduled for the Capitol Basement Rotunda.
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