Governor: None of the Above

Re “The Scourge of the Amateur,” Opinion, Aug. 11: With Bill Simon Jr. just about out of the race for governor and Gov. Gray Davis’ continuing accumulation of a larger war chest on California’s time, two things should happen. Davis should share half of what he has collected with the state treasury and a third choice should be added to the election ballot--neither of the above.

Sandy Friedfeld

Rancho Palos Verdes

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Simon is indeed an amateur and, now, a scourge. His close friend, former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, ought to help convince him to resign from the race for governor of California. Riordan should also bow out with no equivocation.

This would allow the head of the Republican Party to appoint Secretary of State Bill Jones to be the Republican candidate for governor. The campaign could then go forward without rancor, with all Republicans able to get behind Jones. Issues rather than personalities would be the basis for the campaign, as is appropriate.

Karmen Brower

Calabasas

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Since I am not registered as a Republican this year, I felt powerless trying to find an alternative to Davis’ outrageous campaign contribution demands and marginal performance. His meddling in the GOP primary to discredit Riordan and get his preferred opponent, Simon, was one of the worst exhibits of legal political dirty tricks on record.

In my opinion, Simon’s campaign is a shambles, and he has little chance of being an effective governor even if he accidentally won. Riordan probably was on the way to a close election before Davis muddied his own hands to defeat him in the primary.

California election laws allow changes to the ballot up to about two months before the election. It’s time for Simon to resign his candidacy--time for him to get out of the way and let a viable candidate run. Riordan might even win this election if he filed as independent of party affiliation. This may be impossible--I haven’t found the filing deadline. But August to November is a reasonable duration for a campaign, anyway.

Davis deserves defeat as a natural consequence of his unethical solicitation of campaign contributions. I hope the groundswell of opposition to Davis can be put to good use.

Gary A. Moir

Rancho Palos Verdes

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Another negative result of 9/11 is the candidacy of Simon for governor. Riordan was a heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination until New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who had been elevated to near-sainthood in the public mind because of his actions in the aftermath of that disaster, was in a series of TV ads extolling the virtues of his friend Bill Simon.

Would Californians have been swayed by these ads prior to 9/11? Should any thinking Californian be swayed by them now? Riordan will have my vote, and given the dismal choice we have, I hope others will take the time to write in his name.

With the amount of unfavorable, if not scandalous, publicity Simon has been receiving it is inconceivable that he could win an election for dog catcher, much less governor of our state. The prudent action would be for him to step aside and encourage a write-in vote for Riordan.

Jean B. Rogers

Mission Viejo

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Re “Simon Describes His Anchor,” Aug. 11:

After all the recent revelations (no pun intended) of his shady business dealings, Simon--as so many of his kind have done before--decides to use his faith in God as both a shield and a diversion. What an insult this is to those of sincere religious conviction.

Hey, Bill, we can still see you there, trying to hide behind your Bible. Religion is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Martin Kaniger

Agoura Hills