Leslie Marshall: I support Gavin Newsom – my 5 reasons for keeping California’s governor in office

DAVID MARCUS: WITH RECALL AROUND THE CORNER, THE ENERGY OF QUIET TOWN MODESTO IS NOT DIRECTED AT POLITICS

I’m against all recalls.

I am against this election, not because it challenges the Democratic governor I voted for, but because I am against recalls in general. It spits in the face of the people and dismisses the will of the voters. When I (and nearly 8 million other people), an overwhelming 62% of the voters, put Newsom in the governor’s mansion, we voted him in for a full, four-year term. In a recall election, you can have less than 2 million people deciding who will run the state of nearly 40 million. It’s not fair, and it’s not right.

I want my governor to have experience.

If the conservative right’s attempt to oust Newsom from office is successful, he will most likely be replaced by Larry Elder. Now I know Larry. I like Larry. And just like Larry, I am a talk show host. Larry’s a broadcaster. He has zero experience in handling and operating the state of California.

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We are amid a COVID-19 pandemic. There are wildfires, homelessness, crime, and other issues that an experienced politician should and must handle. In 2003, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis was recalled and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor mainly known for being the “Terminator” and for his appearance without a shirt on. He had zero political experience and left the state of California worse off than if Davis had remained.

Now is not the time for a recall. If this recall is successful (and the latest data shows it most likely won’t be), then Newsom would be replaced with an untested, unprepared, and inexperienced individual who would put the state through months of political and bureaucratic dysfunction and economical.

Newsom has successfully led the fight against COVID-19 

California is the state with the highest population in the nation. And despite those complaining about the governor’s handling of the state during COVID, specifically mask mandates and shuttered schools, the governor made decisions based on medical professionals, not politics. The governor specifically tied decisions to lockdowns based on ICU capacity (or lack thereof) in California’s hospitals. He listened to the medical professionals’ and the health care workers’ pleas. For months, California led the nation to have the lowest COVID and death rates. E

Even now, cases of COVID-19 throughout three of California’s largest counties have dropped three days in a row. Compare that with states like Florida, which, just one day this past week, saw over 1.200 new cases. One in five new cases is in Florida, which has 18 million fewer people than California. The governor is doing what conservatives are asking for, reopening the schools.

In Florida, they’re at or up to 200% capacity in their ICUs. We are not at capacity currently here in California. They are rationing their medical care in Idaho, and Alabama sets the record for children hospitalized with COVID. We see the same in Texas, with four regions at total capacity in their ICUs. And at least 45 Texas districts have had to close completely without mask mandates in their schools. Children in Texas are going back home; children in California, including mine, are back in the classroom.

There are no alternatives.

Those on the right complain about Newsom’s handling of COVID-19 and claim that the mask mandates and lockdowns are why they started this recall. But that’s not true. This recall is nothing but a power grab. Let’s be honest. If a conservative Republican could oust Newsom, a liberal Democrat, that would be a huge win for Republicans and would light a fire under their voters in states across the country. In addition to the governor’s handling of COVID, some would say that education is a big complaint by those who want to vote yes on this recall.

So, you would expect the top candidates to have plans for improving California’s education system. School choice, which most applauds, will not fix everything broken with our education system. And many of the things candidates are proposing (reopen the schools and give more money to teachers, counselors, and tutors), Newsom’s already done. The governor is doing what conservatives are asking for, reopening the schools, continuing by having students’ masks indoors, and vaccinating students and staff and regularly testing.

Newsom has accomplished a lot.

Looking beyond the French Laundry headlines, you will see Newsom has a successful track record. That’s probably why his approval rating is 57% even going into this recall. He has ended the death penalty in California and put forth the largest economic stimulus, infusing millions into housing, pre-K, debt relief, and broadband. He expanded the anti-poverty program, providing more money to Californians with young children. He has also developed early childhood education and has ensured that all children in California’s public schools get a free breakfast and lunch.

He has banned fracking, is moving toward ending fossil fuels, and prohibited a pesticide linked with many deaths, illnesses, and congenital disabilities. He expanded Medi-Cal and boosted ObamaCare subsidies. On housing, he enacted rent control, banned evictions, and turned hotels into housing for people experiencing homelessness. On COVID, we have one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation, and we were leaders in acquiring personal protective equipment for our health care workers. The bottom line is we are still in a COVID-19 pandemic. We have the delta variant, and now the mu variant is on the horizon. Wildfires are raging. We need a competent and experienced leader at the helm of this state as governor. Gavin Newsom has proven he is that leader, and hopefully, he will continue to be after the recall election on Sept. 14.