Letter to the Editor: For the Record

Editor: This letter is in response to the Wednesday Sun-Star editorial, “Politicians should stick to the truth.”

The Sun-Star erroneously used me as an example of a candidate who has mislabeled my job title on the June primary ballot.

In fact, my ballot designation of “Taxpayer Advocate/Senator” is a true and accurate statement (I have worked as taxpayer advocate for Americans for Prosperity since 2008 and as a state senator since 2004). My title was upheld by a Sacramento County Superior Court judge last week after I was sued by two opponents.

GEORGE RUNNER
Taxpayer advocate/California state senator
Sacramento

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/04/08/1378339/letter-for-the-record.html

“Taxpayer Advocate/Senator Runner” is the Winner

Ballot designation challenge by BOE opponents Alby and Nakanishi denied

High Desert –  Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner continued a long string of political victories today when a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge issued a court ruling that Runner is in fact a “taxpayer advocate” and that his ballot designation for Board of Equalization in the June primary will be “Taxpayer Advocate/Senator” as he requested.

“The Judge’s ruling was an accurate reflection of my work both in the Legislature and in local communities around the state on behalf of taxpayers,” said Runner. “Protecting taxpayers is something I have done for the last two decades as an elected official and businessman. This is something I want to continue on the Board of Equalization.”

The ballot designation that was approved by the Secretary of State was such a threat to the candidacies of former Assemblymembers Barbara Alby and Alan Nakanishi that they jointly attempted to get a judge to overrule the decision of the Secretary of State. They lost in court today.

Runner’s victory was in contrast to that of former Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi. Nakanishi went to court this morning without any ballot designation and lost his request to have “Jobs/Economy Specialist.” Instead, Nakanishi will appear on the ballot as “Jobs, Economy Analyst.” This same ballot designation would be available to any number of bureaucrats and seems out of place for an accomplished physician, former Mayor, and Assemblyman.

Runner will now have the ballot designation that both of his major opponents feared, the support of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly, high name identification in the part of the district with the most voters, more slate cards than any other candidate and an enormous fundraising advantage.

George Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in the State Senate. He authored California’s Amber Alert system and Jessica’s Law in 2006. He lives in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

Runner Continues to Lead the Pack in Race for BOE

Raises more than Opponents nearly 3 to 1 combined

Sacramento — Senator/Taxpayer Advocate George Runner has demonstrated his continued financial advantage over the field in the race for Board of Equalization.

Runner reported raising $153,000 in the last reporting period. This is almost three times the combined total of his opponents.

“My campaign for Board of Equalization started much later than the others,” said Runner.  “Yet we have used the time to raise money, secure endorsements and lock down more pieces of slate mail than anyone else in this race.”

In the reporting period that was just completed the fundraising totals were:

Senator/Taxpayer Advocate George Runner     $153,000
Jobs/Economy Specialist Alan Nakanishi              $41,630
Acting Board Member Barbara Alby                     $14,550       

Runner has secured more than 5 million pieces of slate mail and earned the coveted endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.  He is the only candidate from the voter heavy southern portion of the BOE district.

“So far every measurable factor in this race has turned to be in our favor but we are not done,” added Runner.  “Our campaign plan is aggressive and will continue until June 8^th.”

Poll Shows George Runner is Clear Front-Runner in BOE Race

Sacramento – The results of a poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies show Senator/Taxpayer Advocate and Board of Equalization candidate George Runner as the clear front-runner in the primary race for Board of Equalization.

The California Republican Primary Survey shows Runner was chosen by 56% of likely voters in the upcoming Republican primary, more than doubling the combined score of both of his opponents who each received 12% of the vote.

The survey also demonstrates the value of the endorsement from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to the Runner campaign.

Here is the question that was asked –

In the race for Board of Equalization, there are three different candidates. I would now like to read you a brief statement about each and have you tell me which one you personally would be most likely to vote for in the June Primary election based on the descriptions. Here are the descriptions. (RANDOMIZE)

Tax Payer Advocate/Senator George Runner is trusted and being supported by the well-known Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Board of Equalization Chief Deputy Barbara Alby has long worked with Board of Equalization member Bill Leonard, and Leonard is campaigning for Alby because of his confidence in her ability.

Physician and Board of Equalization Deputy Alan Nakanishi has the support of Board Member Michelle Park Steel because of his dedication to his job and to the people they serve.

Based on these statements, which candidate would you personally be most likely to vote for? (IF CHOICE, ASK:) And, would you DEFINITELY vote for (choice) based on the statements, or would you only PROBABLY vote for (choice)?

Combined Runner 56%

20% DEFINITELY RUNNER
36% PROBABLY RUNNER

Combined Alby 13%

4% DEFINITELY ALBY
9% PROBABLY ALBY

Combined Nakanishi 12%

2% DEFINITELY NAKANISHI
10% PROBABLY NAKANISHI

18% DON’T KNOW/UNDECIDED (DNR)

1% REFUSED (DNR)

The poll was conducted in early February 2010.

“I have worked on behalf of taxpayers of California for well over a decade and I am humbled by the voters’ clear understanding of my qualifications and ability to represent them on the Board of Equalization,” said Runner.

Runner has his largest advantage in the voter heavy southern portion of BOE District 2, where he has represented constituents for more than two decades on the City Council, State Assembly, and now State Senate.

George Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in the State Senate. He authored the successful Amber Alert system and Jessica’s Law in 2006. He resides in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

Opposing view: ‘Impossible to enforce’

Keep government out of cars; let authorities focus on current laws.

By George Runner

Everyone knows that driving while texting is dangerous — as are many other activities that some drivers undertake while sitting behind a steering wheel, such as lighting a cigarette, following a GPS device or applying mascara.

The difference between the aforementioned activities and texting is they have not been outlawed by state legislatures. That’s because it’s next to impossible for law enforcement officers to prove a wreck was caused by a driver paying more attention to his hamburger than the road ahead.

But it’s just as difficult for law enforcement officers to know whether a driver is tapping out a text while behind the wheel. So why have states like California passed laws to prohibit driving while texting?

SacBee: Sen. Runner sues Brown over photo ID ballot measure summary

by Andy Furillo, Sacramento Bee

State Sen. George Runner has sued Attorney General Jerry Brown to force California’s top cop to rewrite the summary on a ballot measure that would require people to show a picture ID before they could vote.

Runner, a Republican from Lancaster, charges in the lawsuit filed Oct. 14 in Sacramento Superior Court that the Democratic attorney general tried to “mislead the public” with a slanted ballot measure.

In its official “title and summary” on the Runner-sponsored initiative, Brown’s office states that the measure would place “limits” on voting and that it “prohibits citizens from voting” unless they produce the photo ID.

“I believe the attorney general’s job and responsibility is to give voters a fair explanation for an initiative that is put before them,” Runner said in an interview Tuesday. He called the attorney general’s ballot summary on his initiative “way over the top.”

A spokesman for Brown said that Runner’s lawsuit is “without merit.”

“Our lawyers believe that the title and summary they prepared accurately and properly summarizes the key points of the initiative,” attorney general spokesman Scott Gerber said in an e-mailed statement.

No hearing date has been scheduled on the suit. The case has been assigned to Judge Timothy M. Frawley.

Initiative sponsors such as Runner routinely sue the attorney general over wording on initiatives before they go out for signature gathering and even afterward when the measures are placed before voters. Runner, however, said the summary suggesting his “Vote SAFE: Secure and Fair Elections Act” limits or prohibits voting is “factually wrong.”

His suit says that a letter to the editor to the San Bernardino Sun written by Brown’s chief deputy, Jim Humes, in response to a Runner op-ed article in support of the initiative reflects a political slant on the attorney general’s part that biased the summary.

Humes’ letter says Runner failed in his op-ed piece “to acknowledge the troubled history of voting in our country,” which Humes said included “poll taxes, literacy tests and requirements that one own property in order to vote.”

The senator on Monday submitted another draft of his measure to the secretary of state’s office. He said that he expects to get an additional attorney general’s title and summary by December and that he will then begin circulating petitions again to try to place the initiative on the November 2010 ballot.

Runner’s initiative would require voters to present photo identification to obtain a ballot. Under the measure, voters could still cast provisional ballots if they didn’t have a photo ID or refused to show it. Ballots cast by mail would have to include the last four numbers of voters’ California driver’s licenses or ID cards, or the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.

Addressing Job Losses Should Be Job #1 in Sacramento

George Runner opines on California’s job losses and how the state can turn the crisis around. Read his Flash Report blog here.

Runner Raises Most/Spends Least in BOE Race

Reports More Than Quarter Million Cash On Hand

SACRAMENTO—Senator and Taxpayer Advocate George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) ended the first financial disclosure period of 2009 reporting $250,872 cash on hand for his Board of Equalization campaign. In addition to a $55,365 cash on hand advantage, Runner also only spent $42,908, far less than his closest competitors in the race.

Cash on hand numbers
Senator/Taxpayer Advocate George Runner $250,872
Former Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi $195,000
Senator Roy Ashburn $80,716
Former Assemblywoman Barbara Alby $75,220

“We are spending our time and resources wisely—raising money, gathering local and regional support and saving every penny until the time is right,” said Runner. “I am thrilled with the momentum we are seeing with fundraising and endorsements so early on in the campaign.”

In addition to a staggering fundraising advantage, Runner has secured some of the most effective Republican slate mailers. He has purchased those that focus on taxes and public safety that are likely to be mailed in the 2010 primary election.

Runner has been endorsed by a growing list of local conservative leaders from every corner of BOE District 2. The district encompasses all or portions of 37 counties that span from the California-Oregon border to San Bernardino County.

Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in the State Senate. He is well known statewide for his work in implementing the successful Amber Alert system and passing Jessica’s Law in 2006. He resides in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.