Perot Supporters Vow to Press Sacramento on Budget Impasse

Ventura County supporters of Ross Perot’s derailed presidential bid vowed Friday to test their political clout by demanding that Sacramento politicians immediately end the state’s budget deadlock.

Although Perot has announced he will not become a candidate, his supporters said in a town meeting Friday they will remain organized in order to bring changes to the political process. Several suggested that a good place to start is California, where the governor and legislators have failed to pass a budget weeks after the state began a new fiscal year.

“Let’s flex our muscles and show those politicians we can do something,” said Starr Callies of Camarillo.

Callies, 44, came up with the idea of bombarding state legislators with phone calls, letters, postcards and faxes urging them to immediately pass a state budget. In sample letters passed out at Friday’s meeting, Perot supporters call on Gov. Pete Wilson and the Legislature to “stop playing Monopoly with our money!”

“This is a perfect example of what we, as a political force, can accomplish if we stick together,” said Steve Dinneen, a regional coordinator for the former Perot election committee.

After listening to a report from Bob Hayden of Ventura, the acting chairman of the national post-Perot movement, the 150 people in attendance agreed to stay involved in a national coalition.

The as-yet-unnamed coalition will seek to influence presidential and congressional candidates, develop a platform and continue registering voters.