PD Editorial: Leaders for the Golden State

Aside from the governor, and perhaps the attorney general, California’s constitutional officers generally toil in the backwaters of state government - keeping the books, issuing licenses and archiving records, writing checks to cover spending authorized by other elected officials. They’re important duties, even if they are low-profile offices.

On Tuesday, voters will choose a new state controller, a new state treasurer and a new secretary of state. Voters also must decide whether to return four incumbents, aside from the governor, to statewide office.

Here are our recommendations:

Controller: The choice between Democrat Betty Yee and Republican Ashley Swearengin is the closest call among the eight statewide contests. The controller is the state’s chief accountant, and both candidates have demonstrated the requisite skills for the job - Yee as a member of the Board of Equalization and Swearengin as mayor of Fresno. We’ve observed Yee as our local representative on the Board of Equalization and respect her diligence and intellect, making her our choice for controller.

Treasurer: As state controller for the past eight years, Democrat John Chiang has done an exemplary job of keeping the public informed about the state’s finances, issuing monthly reports on tax revenue and using the Internet to post information about public spending on salaries, pensions and other benefits. When state legislators passed a budget balanced with smoke and mirrors in 2011, he tried to cut off their paychecks. Grandstanding? Probably, but it kept the public - and the Legislature - focused on an important issue. He’s a logical successor to Bill Lockyer as the official responsible for managing the state’s assets.

Secretary of state: The next secretary of state faces substantial challenges. California is a hub of technology, yet the state has badly outdated systems for elections, monitoring campaign finances and lobbyist activities, and registering new corporations. Republican Pete Peterson is well prepared for the job of upgrading those systems. As head of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at Pepperdine University, he teaches government officials to use the Internet and technology. Sacramento needs that skill set.

Superintendent of public instruction: This is one of the hardest fought, and, according to the latest Field Poll, closest contests in this election. It pits incumbent Tom Torlakson, a former state legislator, and education reformer Marshall Tuck.

Torlakson, who is heavily supported by the teachers union, contends schools are headed in the right direction given a rebounding economy and the state’s new Common Core curriculum. But many associated with public education find such rosy narratives hard to accept.

Tuck, who worked in the financial world before switching careers to education, lacks Torlakson’s political pedigree. But given the nature of the job and its nonpartisan status, that’s to his credit. So is his work heading the Partnership for Los Angeles Public Schools, where he has helped raise test scores and graduation rates in some of the area’s poorest schools. Lately, he has been the target of withering attacks by the teachers’ union, but most of those are rooted in teacher dissatisfaction over cuts that had to be made when the economy turned sour. Torlakson represents the status quo while Tuck represents needed reforms in public education. Tuck is the better option.

As for other statewide posts, Attorney General Kamala Harris isn’t facing a serious challenge, but she still deserves credit for an energetic first term and a strong focus on consumer issues. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones also has taken strong pro-consumer stands and is facing a challenger who has doubts about state regulation of insurance premiums. And despite the obvious conflict between his calls for more public engagement in government and his refusal to debate his opponent, Lieutenant Gov. Gavin Newsom is articulate, understands business and was ahead of his time on gay marriage. All three deserve re-election.