Governor Edmund Brown Purpose

I started the Governor Edmund Brown group. Our purpose statement: Governor Brown was elected for his third gubernatorial term in 2010. Since taking office he has dramatically cut the state budget deficit, improved Californias credit ratings and cut waste and inefficiencies throughout government. Governor Brown also enacted historic public safety realignment, raised the states clean energy goal to 33 percent and is seeking the publics support for new revenues to protect education and public safety funds. Brown was elected Governor in 1974 and reelected in 1978, by a margin of 21%. During Governor Brown's tenure, California created 1.9 million new jobs, almost double the national rate. During his eight years in office, Brown marshaled both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature to slow the growth of state government, eliminate capital gains taxes for many small businesses, abolish the business inventory tax, index personal income taxes, adopt the nation's first energy efficiency standards, and make California the leader in co-generation, solar and wind energy. After his governorship, Brown again practiced law in Los Angeles and in 1989 became chairman of the state Democratic Party. He resigned that position in 1991, expressing frustration with the growing influence of money in politics, and sought the 1992 Democratic Presidential nomination. During that campaign he refused to take contributions larger than $100 and used an "800" number to raise funds. In 1998, Brown ran for mayor of Oakland against 11 other candidates and won in the primary with 59% of the vote. Before taking office, he successfully passed a voter initiative, changing the ceremonial office of mayor to that of a "Strong Mayor" form of city government. Brown was reelected in 2002 with 64% of the vote.