Schwarzenegger Woos the Special Interests

When I read “1st Benefit Is Set for New Gov.” (Nov. 4) I was appalled by the spin and outright lies put forward by Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger and his spokesman, Rob Stutzman. First the candidate lied by stating he would take no special-interest money, then he did exactly that. Now Stutzman tells us that “voters know they have sent a man to Sacramento who cannot be bought” while that man is busy selling access for dollars to repay the $4.5 million in low-interest loans he used to bombard us with television advertising.

If the independently wealthy, well-funded and famous Schwarzenegger has to borrow millions to run for governor, what chance does an ordinary, idealistic candidate have? Some call it fund-raising, but I call it bribery on layaway. We need public financing of elections, as in Maine and Arizona, which has increased voter participation and candidate diversity in state elections. Clean-money candidates don’t owe anyone except voters and the thousands of people who gave $5 to get their candidate qualified for public financing. Do you think Schwarzenegger feels he owes favors to those who give him $21,200 a pop? You bet!

Nick Gleiter

Sherman Oaks

*

Re “Schwarzenegger Fills Education, Finance Posts,” Nov. 3: I just wanted to thank all those people who voted for Schwarzenegger. We now have former Mayor Richard Riordan as the secretary of education for the state of California. A man who left the city of Los Angeles’ educational system a mess has input on the educational system for the entire state. We’re doomed. We’re all doomed.

Pat Barnes

Valley Village

*

Democratic Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg decries Riordan’s lack of experience for the post of education secretary. Given the total mess the “experienced” people have made of California’s education system, maybe Riordan’s inexperience will bring about the needed changes that will fix it.

Trent D. Sanders

La Canada Flintridge