Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

The Race Is On Column for the week of September 28-October 7, 2003

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Political campaigns have been compared to horse races and the California recall election for governor is no exception. There they are at the starting gate. The bell rings and Swarzeneggar bolts to the lead with Bustamante on the inside. McClintock runs on the outside while Huffington covers the backstretch. Camejo brings up the rear and where is Davis? Some candidates are really scratched but don’t think of themselves as out of the running. Will it be a nose-to-nose finish? You will have to wait until October 7 to find out.

Fortunately the race is on but no thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who filed a lawsuit to delay the election until next year. They felt that 6 counties representing 44 percent of California’s registered voters would not have votes counted properly because they still have outdated punch-card voting machines. Of course these machines were good enough when it came to electing Davis but I guess that’s a horse of a different color. Fortunately the suit was overturned so this horse race won’t trot on forever. That was a real surprise since the court system usually rules in favor of things costing Californians more time, money, and energy. Maybe they felt there was no use riding a dead horse. Let’s get on with the race.

As we near the finish line the mud slinging will get thicker and thicker. And then there are compromises and sacrifices to be made. McClintock has been asked to step down so his votes can swing toward fellow Republican, Swarzeneggar. If he doesn’t there is danger that Democrat, Bustamante, will get in. After all, this may be the state’s only chance to elect someone other than a Democrat to office. However, McClintock has stated that he intends to see “this race through to the finish line.” Huffington and Camejo don’t appear to be a real threat but don’t count them out. They do represent those who are tired of a two party system. These 5 front-runners debated issues last Wednesday night. Although not particularly informative it was entertaining. Even moderator, Stan Statham, at one point said, "This is not Comedy Central, I swear." Some would have disagreed when Arnie offered Arianna a part in Terminator 4. It was not a compliment.

It reminds me of a story I heard once of someone shouting at a candidate from the audience at a rally, “There are a lot better men in this county than you!” The quick reply was, “That’s true, but none of them are running for this office.”

Governor Davis is busy signing bills left and right, claiming to go about the business of keeping California on track and forging ahead. I hope he doesn’t get writer’s cramp. Just how many bills can a governor sign in a week? Can one of the fabulous five front-runners run California better than Davis? Maybe? But then some say so could any of the other 135 candidates that can walk and chew gum at the same time. I myself can walk and chew gum at the same time and had thought about running for governor, too, my platform being that I promise to make no promises. I thought it would look good on future resumes to say I had been a gubernatorial candidate. But then I envisioned the person interviewing me saying, “So was I.”

God has given the horse great strength (Job 39:19) but it will be the horseman who will win this race, so as Jeremiah 46:4 says, “Harness the horses and get up, ye horsemen.” You have a race to run. And may the best horse....I mean rider win. They shoot horses, don’t they? Do they shoot riders? Whatever the outcome, California has had one heck of a ride.

Be sure to visit this page every week to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.