SACRAMENTO, CA - State Treasurer Phil Angelides today issued the following statement:
"I have tremendous respect for my friend Bill Lockyer and his accomplished career in public service. Throughout his legislative career and his service as Attorney General, Bill has a long history of fighting for Democratic ideals -- protecting the environment, civil rights, consumers, and a woman's right to choose.
"With Attorney General Lockyer's decision today, I now hope to unify the Democratic Party behind my candidacy so that we can wage a winning campaign that puts California back to work for working people and builds a better future for our children.
"We will be a stronger California if we solve our budget problems now instead of leaving our children to pay our debts. We will be a stronger California if we have first class schools and if more of our young people, not fewer, can go to college. We will be a stronger California if working families and their children can see a doctor when they are sick. And we will be a stronger California if we have a Governor who stands up for our families and our children, not just the well-heeled and the well connected.
"That is the kind of Governor I will be."
Angelides also announced that Rep. Joe Baca, Rep. Dennis Cardoza, Rep. Sam Farr, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Mike Thompson, State Senator Wes Chesbro, and Assemblyman Joe Baca, Jr. today joined Angelides 2006 co-chairs Sen. Barbara Boxer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and hundreds of elected officials across the state in endorsing his candidacy for Governor (see attached endorsement list).
Pretty damned effective power play too. Angelides endorsement list is huge. Westley has a big decision to make whether or not to be a maverick challenger or join the unity day celebration.
