Education not incarceration. Promote equity of opportunity for all. Environment is the commons: Protect our state parks, air, water, land.

Has California's budget deficit been fixed? No. Are you upset, angry, frustrated? Me too. Restore social services. Stop scapegoating public workers. Let the super rich pay their fair share.

I am an economics professor who has watched politicians wreck California. We have historic unemployment and massive debt. I will use the position of Lieutenant Governor to expand jobs, reduce government spending and balance our budget. Our officials should reduce taxes by finding the lowest-cost, best-quality services—rather than hiring protected groups in exchange for campaign contributions. Controlling the border to prevent illegals from committing crimes and terrorist acts and siphoning billions in services is a top priority. Pension costs should not be passed along to our children. Californians should receive tax cuts if disasters strike since that is when they need their funds. California's farmers must have access to water resources, not tiny endangered fish. But protecting our coastline and environment is essential so tourists want to visit and retirees want to live in our wonderful state. I oppose Proposition 25—we must keep the two-thirds requirement to bring as many people as possible into budgeting decisions and prevent one party from monopolizing state finances. Let's provide tax credits to parents who home school or choose private schools. We also need strong eminent domain laws to protect property from being seized by governments. I support Proposition 19; adults should freely make their own choices without fear of government. I am a gun owner and lifelong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. However criminals using firearms should face the harshest sentences. Had it with rhinos and socialists? I have. Help me take back our state and our liberties.

I'm running for Lieutenant Governor because state government is broken and California deserves new leadership. My background is in business and job creation. Over my career, I've started 15 different small businesses that employ more than 1,000 Californians combined. As Mayor and County Supervisor, I've tackled the toughest problems, made government more accountable and delivered real results. We've created high-wage, green-collar jobs, invested in schools and raised test scores, fully funded police and fire protection, safeguarded our environment, and provided universal access to health care. All with balanced budgets and sound fiscal policies that protect taxpayer dollars. I was proud when Time Magazine named me one of "America's best big-city Mayors." As your LG, I will continue leading the fight for good jobs, strong schools and clean air and water. I will hold the line on out-of-control fee increases which make it harder for Californians to afford college. I will grow our economy and push for proven new investments in job training. I will stand up to Texas oil companies who want to drill off our precious coast and roll back our landmark environmental protections. I won't just hang around Sacramento and be part of the problem—I will offer real solutions and fight to change its do-nothing dysfunction. I'm honored to be endorsed by California's teachers, nurses, police and firefighters, business leaders, major environmental organizations and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. To join my campaign for reform, visit: www.gavinnewsom.com. I ask for your support.

Angered by the mess in Sacramento? Then join my fight to clean it up. As a lawmaker and Lt. Governor, I've fought hard to fix what's wrong with state government. To set an example I cut my own pay. I showed independence by writing a law making pay raises for politicians illegal when the state has a budget deficit. To stop Sacramento's irresponsible spending, I fought to tie the hands of the politicians by enacting a cap on state spending and requiring a rainy day reserve. I put my business experience to work by fighting to eliminate job-killing regulations and reform tax laws to encourage employers to create new jobs. I worked across party lines to improve the quality of our schools and ensure education receives the necessary funding. By exposing exorbitant salaries of UC officials who misused tax dollars to fix up their mansions, I helped save millions of dollars for our schools. By opposing efforts to increase fees and tuition costs for residents of California, I helped keep hard-working parents and students from footing the bill for Sacramento's mismanagement. I've been a leader in the battle to ensure neighborhood safety by working to reduce gang violence and other drug-related crimes. Those efforts earned me honors as the Crime Victims United's "Legislator of the Year." As Lt. Governor, I'll be an independent leader who will continue my fight to rebuild the economy, demand excellence from our schools, and protect tax dollars against waste, fraud and corruption.www.abelmaldonado2010.com.