LAT editorial: For California attorney general: Jerry Brown

EDITORIAL
For attorney general
May 8, 2006

CALIFORNIANS NEED AN ATTORNEY GENERAL with enough passion, experience and creativity to steer the state through a period of economic and legal challenges. The question with Jerry Brown is not so much whether he has these qualities. It's whether he has too much of them. An excess of passion and creativity can lead to conflict, and long experience can result in a short attention span.

But these are hesitations, not disqualifications. Brown's opponent in the June 6 Democratic primary, Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, brings less experience and a mixed record to the race. Brown is easily the better candidate.

At first blush, there are plenty of reasons to chuckle at the notion of Brown running for the office his father won 56 years ago. This is, after all, ex-Gov. Moonbeam, the Jesuit novice and student of Zen, the man who defined 1970s California, dated a rock star, ran three times for president, worked with Mother Teresa in India, chaired the state Democratic Party, then became mayor of Oakland.

But Brown offers more than an entertaining life story. His career has given him perspective, and his record shows a rare combination of innovation and pragmatism. In Oakland, he has instituted curfews for felons and reduced the crime rate. He pushed for political reform even before Watergate and has stuck with it. He was an early crusader for the environment and gay rights, and he still leads on those issues. He has shown a refreshing disregard for the political establishment, even as he has become part of it....

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More than just a criminal prosecutor, the attorney general must protect consumers, uphold environmental laws, defend civil rights and advise countless state boards, agencies and officials on the law. Brown is clearly better suited than Delgadillo for that task. The Times endorses Brown to face off against Republican Chuck Poochigian in the Nov. 7 general election.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-ed-ag08may08,0,2465329.story?coll=la-home-commentary

he would certainly get a handel on E-voting in that state. Besides he just brings allot to the table, wish we had someone of his expertise in Texas.

I think Jerry Brown has a good public servant mind. I don't know if he is the best politician at times. He seemed to become part of the 'Clinton is the worst human being on the planet' cliche that permeated the beltway whores in the 90s. His five dollar campaign that Joe Trippi ran in '92 was a joke, maybe even worse than a joke. He was tilting windmills.
But, I think he would make a good AG, and horror of horrors, an even better governor. He probably can't run, but if he did, I would vote for him again.

imposed AFTER Brown left. Retroactively, could that mean that he could run for another term ?

it would look bad for the Democratic Party. They have some good young candidates for all state wide elective offices. And, Gerry Brown would be cast as the tired old work horse that the Dems turned to in desperation.

What? Did he term limit out of Oakland?