Governor’s Race

* Re “Governor’s Race a Field of 4 as Deadline Passes,” Feb. 5:

So The Times believes that Californians only have four choices for governor?

Last time I checked, there were seven or more political parties on the ballot. What about Dan Hamburg, who is running as the Green Party’s gubernatorial candidate? What about other third parties and their candidates? Surely you don’t think candidates from the Demopublican Party represent a choice!

The mass media do the public a huge disservice when they purposely ignore alternative parties and candidates. Not only does political debate get severely stifled, but it makes the general electorate feel powerless within the political sphere and thus less likely to vote. The Times has an obligation to thoroughly cover all the candidates and issues. This is what democracy is all about.

PAUL J. RACKO

Long Beach