The California Peace Officers’ Association has endorsed Meg Whitman for Governor of California. The following is a column penned by their President, Jim McDonnell…
Keep California Safe: Elect Meg Whitman
By Jim McDonnell, California Peace Officers’ Association President
We all want a safe and more prosperous California. There’s one candidate for governor with the vision to make that happen.
Since the beginning of her campaign, Meg Whitman has said that protecting Californians is the first priority of government, because without safe communities nothing else we do matters.
Meg recognizes that this begins with supporting our first responders and she has a detailed plan for prioritizing spending in Sacramento and finally putting a stop to the budget crises that undermine the security of Californians.
Meg believes criminals should be held responsible for the crimes they commit and she believes that justice must be delivered quickly and fairly.
Meg supports the death penalty and California’s “Three Strikes” law, both of which have helped keep violent criminals off the streets and out of our communities. As governor, she will oppose any attempts to weaken California’s sentencing laws and will be a steadfast partner with law enforcement and stand up to protect local law enforcement budgets from state raids. She will be a strong defender of victims’ rights.
Meg has managed complex budgets and solved tough issues as a businesswoman and we believe her proven record as a strong manager and job creator are the exact skills needed to lead our state out of its current crisis without sacrificing safety.
Meg strongly opposes and has advocated against releasing felons early to address prison overcrowding. She believes early-release is far too risky. She will develop a plan to solve overcrowding.
Meg recognizes that quality education is essential to public safety. She has a plan to raise the bar on California’s K-12 public schools that will reduce criminal behavior and prepare California’s children with the skills they need to compete for jobs.
Our state and our public safety system need a proven leader like Meg. For 30 years in business, Meg often faced complex challenges that required smart, creative solutions, and she always delivered results.
The California Peace Officers’ Association is proud to endorse Meg Whitman for Governor. We believe Meg is the only candidate who will refocus spending on Californians’ most important priorities and put safety first. If our streets, neighborhoods and families cannot be kept safe, our other aspirations mean very little.