Gubernatorial Candidate #2 in the Series

I had the opportunity on Monday, along with many others to go to the Chamber Luncheon with Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Poizner. Certainly Poizner is an accomplished person with a successful career in the high tech sector and then more recently serving as the California Insurance Commissioner. Overall his strategy seems to be a rational, common-sense approach (including his 10-10-10 plan) to the problems of California – though there might be many that would argue with his particular solutions.

Poizner clearly makes public education a central part of his plan though he has a long history with charter schools. He advocates for a return of educational decisions from Sacramento and Washington, D.C. to local communities and school boards. Specific to his plan seems to be the consolidation of small school districts and schools (an old strategy) and elimination of categorical funding in favor of core funding. Further his advocacy is for elimination of positions that are not directly connected to the classroom. As a former statewide advocate for charters, he suggests that we should give all schools and districts the liberties of charter flexibility and then hold ALL accountable for the results.

The Chamber is focused now on completing this series and hosting Jerry Brown as the 3rd candidate in this race. It is certainly interesting and informative to have these candidates in Riverside and speak directly to us and our issues.