Candidate Promise Tracker
Tracking Candidate's Campaign Promises & Goals
Recall Information
On Wednesday July 23rd, Secretary of State Kevin Shelley announced that recall supporters had submitted more than 1.3 million valid signatures; well over the 897,158 needed to force an election.
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante scheduled a recall election for Tuesday, October 7th. He is required by the California Constitution to choose a date 60 to 80 days from the July 23rd certification.
This will be the first time in the state's history that an elected official will face a recall election.
On September 15th 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals postponed the Oct. 7 recall election, because some counties would be using outmoded punch-card ballot machines. However, on September 23rd an 11-member panel of the appeals court rejected the three-judge panel's decision and reinstated the Oct. 7 special election.
The recall election will be a two-part process. First, voters will be asked whether to recall Governor Davis. If a majority votes "yes", then voters will decide on who will succeed Davis from a list of candidates.
There are also two initiatives, which will be on the ballot; Proposition 53 and Proposition 54. Proposition 53 deals with infrastructure financing. Proposition 54, the "Racial Privacy Initiative" would prevent state and local governments from collecting racial and ethnic information from Californians.
On Wednesday August 13th, the Secretary of State's office certified 135 candidates to run for governor. Officials disqualified 112 would-be candidates because of incomplete paperwork. To qualify, they needed to submit 10,000 signatures or a $3,500 filing fee along with 65 signatures. Among the record number candidates that will appear on the Oct. 7 ballot are teachers, lawyers, a student, a comedian, a sumo wrestler, and an adult film star.
Top candidates include Democratic Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, Republican and Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican Senator Tom McClintock, Independent and political commentator Ariana Huffington, and businessman Peter Camejo of the Green Party.
Republican business executive Peter Ueberroth dropped out of the race on September 9th, saying he could not win the race. He was the President of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Organizing Committee and a former major league baseball commissioner.
Businessman and former GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon dropped out of the race on August 23rd, saying there are too many Republicans in the race. Simon lost to Davis in last year's election. He has since endorsed Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), who bankrolled the recall campaign, announced on August 7th he was dropping out of the race. Issa spent an estimated $1.5 million of his own money on the recall effort.
According to the Secretary of State's Office, the Oct. 7 recall election will cost approximately $53 to $66 million.
Select an Issue:
Recall Candidates:
For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.
Promise
"In spite of a national recession, our economy has grown from the 7th largest to the 5th largest in the world."
"But there's more to do - on our schools, our environment, our economy, and on energy."
Highlights
Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…
- Announced an estimated $35 billion budget deficit in December, and a $38 billion deficit in May.
- Said in his State of the State Address that his 'most immediate priority' is jobs.
- Tripled the vehicle license fee in June.
- Signed a 'compromise budget' on Aug. 2nd
- Appointed President Clinton's budget chief to lead the effort to fix the budget.
- Signed legislation reforming the state's workers' comp system.
For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.
Promise
"I will do everything humanly possible not to cut one penny from public safety. If we can increase it, we will."
Highlights
Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…
- Proposed an overall increase in prison funding in his budget plans.
- Vetoed an early-release prison bill.
- Proposed to preserve funding for local law enforcement programs in his May budget plan.
- Signed a 'compromise budget' with some cuts to prisons and local law enforcement programs.
- Signed gun safety legislation in September.
For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.
Promise
"My fellow Californians, together we've increased education funding by 30% -- and student achievements scores are up three years in a row. But there's so much more to do."
Highlights
Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…
- Proposed significant cuts to education in his January budget plan.
- Approved nearly $2.6 billion in mid-year (2002-2003) cuts to education.
- Reduced proposed January cuts and protected class-size reduction and accountability programs in his new May budget plan.
- Signed a 'compromise budget' with cuts to education similar to those proposed in his May budget plan.
- Announced in September $1.7 billion in bonds to upgrade overcrowded schools.
For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.
Promise
"I believe we must continue protecting our coastline, our air, water."
Highlights
Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…
- Signed a "polluter pays" bill increasing fees for air and water polluters.
- Announced funding for coastal conservation and parkland improvement.
- Proposed some reductions to environmental programs in his budget plans.
- Signed a 'compromise budget' with additional cuts to environmental programs.
- Signed coastal protection and air pollution bills.
- Signed the electronic waste recycling bill.
For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.
Promise
“I won’t be completely satisfied until every child in the state of California has access to quality, affordable health care.”
Highlights
Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…
- Proposed to protect children's health care coverage in both budget plans.
- Requested federal aid to insure more children statewide.
- Approved cuts to the Healthy Families outreach program.
- Proposed and approved cuts to Medi-Cal programs.
- Signed a 'compromise budget': children's health care coverage was protected and proposed cuts to Medi-Cal were reduced.
- Signed a landmark bill (SB2) that will require many businesses to provide health insurance to their employers.
For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.
Promise
"...No governor ever spent as much money as we spent this year in real dollars, accounting for inflation, on transportation improvements. We will continue to do that for the next two to three years."
Highlights
Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…
- Said in his State of the State Address that he "will direct his agencies to accelerate freeway and public transit projects by one year."
- Proposed an estimated $1.5 billion in cuts to transportation.
- Signed a 'compromise budget' with cuts to transportation.
