Davis Starts Full-Time Campaigning

Governor Gray Davis is free to begin campaigning full time after completing action on hundreds of bills sent to him by lawmakers this year. He used some of his late decisions to distance himself from Republican Bill Simon’s charges that Davis has put the governor’s office up for sale to the highest bidder. Simon is demanding the High-Speed Rail Authority disclose all contacts with Davis´ campaign over an aborted thousand-dollar-a-plate fund-raiser last month. He’s also asking the Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate if Davis´ tax-paid office staff is illegally cooperating with his campaign.

Davis´ chief campaign adviser says some of Davis´ final bill actions showed he is not for sale. Despite accepting their heavy campaign contributions, Davis vetoed legislation sought by Indian tribes and Mercury Insurance. And he signed a farm worker mediation bill over the objection of agribusinesses.