Brown leading in polls in race for governor

Current California Governor Jerry Brown will likely win a record fourth term in office as he is leading the polls by 19.5 percentage points in the upcoming Nov. 4 election, according to Real Clear Politics.

Running against first-time republican candidate Neel Kashkari, Brown is expected to win by a landslide, according to RCP.

“The polls show Brown with a clear lead over Kashkari,” said political science Professor Elizabeth Huffman. “It looks like a pretty safe bet to claim Brown will win. While I am not an expert on state-level politics, I don’t foresee any big changes in Brown’s agenda.”

His agenda includes supporting education at all levels and furthering moves to make California as environmentally friendly and economically stable as possible, according to his website.

Kashkari wants to create more jobs, fix the public school system and make higher education more affordable, according to his website.

For the most part, Kashkari criticizes Brown for not doing enough for the state on all fronts and claims that he can do better.

One of their main points of friction is centered around Brown’s high-speed rail program.

Brown supports the project that would connect northern and southern California in a cleaner way than other modes of transportation, while Kashkari opposes spending the money on the “crazy train,” and would rather direct the funds towards things like education, according to an article from CBS Sacramento.

My sister has the mindset of if I see a slander campaign upon someone, I’m not gonna vote for them because everybody keeps slandering them. And then she gets all confused because she sees one for slandering and one for helping and then she doesn’t know what to do anymore

— 22-year-old mathematics major Maddie Owens

“I think I say no on building the thing [high-speed rail], I think the money could be better used other places like education,” said 18-year-old landscape architecture major Emily Curtis.

Maddie Owens, 22, a mathematics major agreed with Curtis.

“It’d be pretty cool to get to Los Angeles a hell of a lot faster, but it would be nice if CRC got some more funding,” said Owens.

The men both have lengthy resumes that include high power positions.

Kashkari was senior advisor assistant secretary to the United States Treasury Department from 2006-09, Vice President of Goldman Sachs and Managing Director of the Pacific Investment Management Company, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Brown is the reigning governor, has served as attorney general, the mayor of Oakland and been Secretary of State, according to the Sacramento Bee. Brown previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983 before starting his third term in 2011.

The next governor will be decided on Nov. 4 by the residents of California between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Before voting, Huffman said that it is crucial to be educated on the information appearing on the ballot.

“It’s very important that people inform themselves and then take part in the democratic system. Its easy to claim that the government doesn’t listen. It’s a little harder to consider that maybe the public has abdicated its responsibility,” Huffman said. “If we as citizens don’t even attempt to inform ourselves and show up to vote, should we be surprised when the political system is not responsive to our needs?”

Students overwhelmingly agree with Huffman’s sentiments.

“There is no point in voting if you are not educated because you have no basis to make your vote on,” Curtis said.

Owens shared an example of how uneducated attempts at voting can be difficult and confusing.

“My sister has the mindset of if I see a slander campaign upon someone, I’m not gonna vote for them because everybody keeps slandering them. And then she gets all confused because she sees one for slandering and one for helping and then she doesn’t know what to do anymore,” Owens said.

For information about everything being decided in the election visit the General Election website at: http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/