Opinion: Gov. Bustamante, We Hardly Knew Ye

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[With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger undergoing surgery today to repair his broken femur, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante became acting governor for the few hours that Schwarzenegger was under general anesthesia. Here is the legacy of that historic time, the first Latino governorship in modern California.]

SACRAMENTO -- As the year draws to a close, it is time to reflect on the successes of the Gov. Cruz Bustamante Administration.

Under the leadership of Gov. Cruz Bustamante, California enjoyed peace and extraordinary prosperity. State coffers swelled with sales tax revenue, thanks in large part to the huge post-holiday sales surge. The state’s violent crime rate actually declined slightly.

California’s prisons reported minimal incidents of violence. And fortunately, no natural disasters struck the state on Gov. Bustamante’s watch.

Asked what he was proudest of as he looked back on his Administration’s record, outgoing Gov. Bustamante said it was his leadership role in keeping the state of California on a steady course during troubled times in the rest of the world.

Asked whether he had any regrets, he said it was that his Administration could not bring peace to Iraq.

Then, asked about any regrets in his personal life during his Administration, he smiled and said, ‘Eating those leftover cookies the morning after Christmas.’’

He also said he is looking forward to private life after the hectic but rewarding hours of his governorship.