Mixed APA Feelings about Davis Recall
July 25, 2003
Political leaders and newly naturalized citizens have mixed opinions about the Oct. 7 recall election of California Gov. Gray Davis.
Foes driving the costly recall, says Rep. Robert Matsui (D-Calif.), have been beyond the control of the Democratic governor.
“The recall won’t solve the problems of the state,” says Matsui. “Forty-seven states have similar problems and a budget deficit due to a national recession, the Sept. 11 terrorists’ attacks and, specifically, in California the dot-com collapse and the abuse of corporate crooks like Enron.”
Ehe partisan recall, he notes, only complicates the state’s finances.
“The recall will cost taxpayers an additional $30 [million] to $60 million and is a partisan effort by Republicans to pursue their conservative agenda,” Matsui says.
Former State Treasurer Matt Fong, a Republican, countered that Democrats control the state legislature and all statewide constitutional offices. Democrats, hence, are responsible for state finances.
“Voters are realizing that California’s fiscal train wreck is at the hands of Gov. Davis and his party, who are entirely in control of California,” says Fong. “The recall will hopefully allow California to define a new balance sheet for California’s finances and our economic well-being.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.) says the recall mechanism shouldn’t be abused.
Honda blamed low voter turnout in California’s 2002 gubernatorial election for making Davis’ recall possible.
“This is a misuse of the referendum process,” Honda says. “The recall process was set up to remove people who were guilty of criminal acts or malfeasance.”
Honda alluded to the influence of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who bankrolled the recall. Issa, was also the first to declare his candidacy to succeed Davis.
“This recall is another example of people with money taking advantage of the referendum and the initiative process,” says Honda.
Among newly naturalized immigrants, the political drama surrounding the effort to recall Davis seems all too familiar as they were sworn in on July 25 and were looking ahead to their first election.
“It’s so crazy,” says Eduardo Galang, 45, who was born in the Philippines.
“It’s like the controversy when the Marcos regime had power,” he says of the popular uprising that drove dictator Ferdinand Marcos from power in the 1980s and replaced him with former President Corazon Aquino.
Galang was among nearly 7,000 people being naturalized during ceremonies at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Many filled out voter registration forms, saying they were eager to cast their ballots for the first time, even in an election as unusual as the recall vote scheduled for Oct. 7.
Kim Hoang, 38, of Vietnam, says she had been unaware that top officials could be removed through recall elections.
“I didn’t think that kind of thing happened here,” says Hoang, a saleswoman in Orange County.
Raj Bahtia, 34, found the Republican-backed effort to remove the Democratic governor similar to politics in his native India, where he says elections are often messy, corrupt and unconventional. Still, the Los Angeles physician says he plans to vote in favor of ousting Davis.
“Elections there are usually a nightmare,” Bahtia says of India. “The recall is the same way. … It’s also funny and it’s hilarious.”
Jeremiah Marquez of The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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