Simon
vows change
By Jill Thomsen
On-line Forty-Niner
Republican
gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon Jr. addressed
business leaders in downtown Long Beach
Wednesday, promising that “12 days from
now, when we win this election, we will
see a brighter future in California.”
More than 310 people attended the Long Beach
Chamber of Commerce event and listened attentively
as Simon discussed the state’s business
climate.
“When it comes to attracting news jobs and
businesses to our state, Gray Davis is the
best thing that ever happened — to Arizona,
Colorado and Nevada,” Simon said.
As part of the California Visionaries luncheon
series, Simon’s speech continually touched
on actions the candidate would take as governor,
despite polls released last week by the
independent Public Policy Institute of California
showing Davis leading Simon by 10 points
among likely voters, 41 percent to 31 percent.
“I don’t really look at polls,” Simon said.
“If Moses took a poll he’d never have left
Egypt. The fact is I don’t have to make
the case against Gray Davis — he’s done
it all by himself.”
Business management senior Jeremy Slater
attended the event, hoping Simon’s speech
would be informative since he did not know
much about the first-time candidate.
About 30 protestors marched outside the
downtown hotel where the luncheon was held,
chanting “Save your bucks, Simon sucks”
and carrying signs that said “Lying Simon”
and “Simon is worse than Wilson.”
The majority of the protestors were from
unions and were on lunch break from work
in the area, said Dave Sickler of the state
building and construction trades council.
“They want to get information to the public
on where Simon stands on issues affecting
working families, they know how important
this election is,” Sickler added.
In his speech, Simon addressed his community
service record as well as housing issues
to his stance on abortion.
“A woman’s right to choose will not be disturbed
whether I want it to or not,” the pro-life
candidate said. “It is the law.”
Simon also pointed out that he does not
have a litmus test when it comes to judges.
Litmus tests use a single indicator, such
as abortion, to decide judgeship appointments.
Cal State Long Beach Society for Advancement
Management President Oron Maher attended
the event along with four other members.
“We support pro-business candidates, and
we also want to reach out and be good community
members,” Maher said.
CSULB alumna Christy Zamani said that although
Simon’s speech was good. “I don’t think
it was true. He talked about education but
didn’t address the growing number of college
students and how to address the problem
statewide.”
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