Dan Lungren

One primary reason I can think of for choosing Dan Lungren over Gray Davis in the governor’s race is to maintain a balance in California’s political landscape. Should Davis win, the Democrats would control all three branches of California’s government bodies. As a result, there would be a decided shift left in the political process, with every liberal bill passed by the Assembly and Senate having a good chance of being signed into law. The office of governor may be reduced to a rubber-stamp.

Is California ready to support the typical policies of the Democrats--i.e., big government, higher taxes, increased welfare spending, etc.? I for one hope not.

SCOTT TOMCHICK

Huntington Beach

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I will vote for Lungren because he is the candidate not only willing to admit something is terribly wrong with our state’s education system but is willing to support new ideas to reform it, such as the voucher system. On the other hand, his opponent, Davis, gives us the same old tired rhetoric, promises that sound good but have not produced any results. We need to elect a Republican because Democrats have been holding hands too long with the teachers unions and they dare not oppose them for fear of losing a large hunk of their campaign contributions.

ANDY DOWNS

Newport Beach

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During the Oct. 15 debate between Lungren and Davis, Lungren stated he was for family planning. His voting record proves quite the contrary. In Congress he repeatedly voted against federally funded family planning services for low-income women. He has said he wants to return to the policies of former Gov. George Deukmejian, who slashed state funding for family planning programs. As a result, during Deukmejian’s term, California’s teen pregnancy rate became the highest in the country.

Californians must elect a governor who will advance the policies of the Wilson administration, which reduced the state’s teen pregnancy rate by 18%, thereby avoiding the need for many abortions.

Lungren is truly not a candidate who represents the moderate views of the majority of Californians.

VICTORIA W. BELL

San Marino