Recently I was challenged to list what I would do, if elected governor of California, to fix the once Golden State. We know California doesn’t need another gubernatorial candidate. Since I’m a registered Republican, the voter registration demographics are not favorable, there is virtually no road to victory even if I wanted to run. As this is now a top-two “jungle election” state, another Republican entrant would only make the chance of two Democrats appearing on the November 2026 ballot more likely. (So, Honey, calm down.)
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Having said all that, I have served in Sacramento for nearly six years as a state senator and I was the only certified public accountant (CPA) at the time in the Legislature. Unfortunately, the supermajority did not take most of my suggestions and California has dropped to 44th place out of 50 states on its per capita unrestricted net position (UNP). Since I’m a numbers person, and I know I would probably only have four years to accomplish an agenda, so reducing debts through a much better budgeting effort would be the top priority.
But there’s much, much more to do. So, here are the ten (of what could be an infinite number of) priorities I would pursue:
1. Establish the position of Chief Operating Officer.
This is something I tried to do with Senate Bill 1297 (2018). It was approved by the ten-member Senate Governmental Operation Committee without opposition. But it was killed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, then chaired by Sen. Ricardo Lara, who is facing a hostile media on his travel habits as the current elected California Insurance Commissioner. Obviously, having someone with business expertise running the massive 300-plus agency bureaucracy didn’t mesh with his personal management style. The current governor is just too busy doing political gymnastics, like blaming everything on the U.S. President, to effectively run the ship of state. Install someone who can oversee the organizational chart and make personnel changes as necessary when necessary.
2. Look for opportunities to make local government more efficient by merging counties and cities where appropriate.
Alpine County has roughly 1,100 residents. Why should it have an independently elected Sheriff, District Attorney and five Supervisors? Merge it with either Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono or Tuolumne County. Amador City has some 200 residents and can’t afford an annual financial statement audit. Merge this smallest city in California with the nearby city of Sutter Creek or have it disincorporate and let the Amador County Board of Supervisors run this tiny 0.3 square mile area.
3. Stop the High-Speed Rail boondoggle.
The state could build a high-speed autobahn for a fraction of the cost to move residents from the southern half of the state to the northern half and vice versa. I tried to do this with Senate Bill 319 (2019), but legislators are not permitted to recommend new roads. But, as Governor, I would divert the funding from the rail to this lane idea immediately.
4. Request that the State Auditor implement “extensible business reporting language” (XBRL) in its annual comprehensive financial report.
It’s mandatory for publicly traded corporations. It will allow better digital research of the state’s finances. I tried to move this agenda forward with Senate Bill 598 (2019), but the supposed “digital” governor, Gavin Newsom, vetoed the bill. I would pursue this initiative immediately and then require that all the counties and cities follow suit.
5. Cities and counties are to complete their annual audits within six months after their June 30 fiscal year end.
Too many cities blow through this deadline. Fort Jones in Siskiyou County still has to issue its annual comprehensive financial report for 2019! I would impose much harsher penalties for delinquent municipalities then those just implemented with Senate Bill 595 (Choi). If the disclosure of how a city or county is managing its tax dollars is not important to elected leaders, then a serious financial penalty will wake them up. Just try waving a ten percent penalty when you pay your county tax collector a day late. Not only should California’s municipalities complete timely audits, but they should also be posted on a repository website operated by the governor. And I would also demand that the auditor’s management letters be posted as well. These important documents list where the client needs to improve its accounting systems and internal controls. Be transparent.
6. Trim down Sacramento’s appetite for noncore services.
Recently established Cal Saver needs to be abolished and handed over to the private sector. Handling the defined contribution pension plan for nongovernmental employees is not a core function of government. It’s a “feel good” mandate that requires more state staffing with employees who, ironically, receive massive defined benefit pension plan benefits that need to be funded. And there are plenty more noncore activities, like public banks, that should be eliminated.
