Angelides hits Schwarzenegger for 'character flaw'

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By KEVIN YAMAMURA and ANDY FURILLO
Friday, October 27, 2006
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited an urban charter school Tuesday to emphasize his support for public works bonds on the November ballot, but he said he has to give more thought to an initiative restricting government control over private property.

Running for the state's highest office, Schwarzenegger and Democratic challenger Phil Angelides face pressure to take positions on all 13 ballot proposals to show where they stand philosophically. But each has deferred one ballot choice for seemingly political reasons, even with Election Day only two weeks away.

While Schwarzenegger toured the American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland to tout the bonds, including a $10.4 billion school construction measure, Democratic challenger Phil Angelides made Northern California stops to convince his base that a national "Democratic tidal wave" will sweep him into office.

The property initiative poses a political dilemma for Schwarzenegger because it is backed by his GOP base yet opposed by environmental groups and the California Chamber of Commerce, two interests the Republican governor has courted.

Schwarzenegger said Tuesday he has not taken a position on Proposition 90, though he intends to "very soon because I'm looking at all the aspects. As you know, it's a very complicated issue, and so I'm looking at all the different angles so that I come out very clear."

Proponents have asserted that Proposition 90 prevents government from seizing private property to give to another private owner. Opponents say it goes too far by requiring compensation whenever any new law substantially reduces the value of one's property, a possible hindrance to land-use powers.

Angelides, who opposes Proposition 90, charged Tuesday at a labor event in nearby Hayward that Schwarzenegger's uncertainty means "the guy's got a character flaw."

"He says he's an environmental governor," Angelides said. "...How can he not stand up unequivocally and say he's not only opposed to it, but he's going to campaign against it like I've been doing?"

Angelides has dodged an initiative dilemma of his own on Proposition 88, a $50 parcel tax to support schools. While Angelides considers himself the education candidate in the governor's race, he has grown sensitive to charges that he would unduly raise taxes if elected. Schwarzenegger opposes Proposition 88.

"It's a moot issue," said Angelides spokesman Steve Maviglio. "This initiative is going to die because the backers have withdrawn from it."

While the governor has no stance on Proposition 90, he has criticized Angelides for waiting until July to endorse Proposition 83, an initiative to force registered sex offenders to live at least 2,000 feet from California schools and parks. Schwarzenegger backed the plan from its inception.

Both candidates support the public works bonds, but they have split over other proposals.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Matt David said the governor supports Proposition 85 requiring parental notification before a pregnant minor gets an abortion, though he believes that it is wrong to keep putting the question on the ballot after voters rejected the idea last year. Angelides opposes the initiative.

Schwarzenegger opposes a $2.60-per-pack hike in cigarette taxes for health care and hospitals and a $4 billion oil producer tax for alternative energy research, while Angelides supports them. And Angelides backs an initiative to publicly finance campaigns, while Schwarzenegger does not.

Schwarzenegger on Tuesday spoke to an eighth-grade class studying algebra at American Indian Public Charter School and then used a sixth-grade classroom to promote the bonds. Students in school uniforms stood behind the governor in a space where desks had been moved aside to accommodate the press conference.

"As I said upstairs in the classroom, (students) have to do the studying," Schwarzenegger said. "But they can't do the studying if they are not in good facilities."

Down in the polls, State Treasurer Angelides pegged his hopes for an upset on the Democratic upswing that may be taking shape across the country. "Republicans are going down in this election, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is going down with them," Angelides said after delivering a speech to a group of United Food and Commercial Workers shop stewards in Hayward.

Wearing a black, white and orange UFCW windbreaker, Angelides thumped the podium and said the Democratic momentum, driven mainly by concern over the war in Iraq, also will play into the California gubernatorial race.

Earlier, Angelides was accompanied by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nzqez, D-Los Angeles, at a Starbucks Coffee in Sacramento to energize what so far have been disinterested members of his party.

Since the beginning of the year, Nzqez has marked his speakership by cooperating with Schwarzenegger in putting the infrastructure bond package on the ballot and working with the governor to pass a number of bills favored by Democrats. The year's key legislation promises to cap greenhouse gas emissions, reduce prescription drug prices and raise the minimum raise.

Nzqez, however, blasted Schwarzenegger on Tuesday for issing an executive order last week that the speaker said would undermine AB 32.