what were the causes of the california recall of governer gray davis

---

Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 09 Nov 2003 12:23 PST

Are you wanting to know what the REASONS were for the recall?

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

Hi! Thanks for the question.

The sample voter?s information sheet provides official reasons for the
recall of Gov. Davis are the following:

a. ?The grounds for the recall are as follows: Gross mismanagement of
California Finances by overspending taxpayers? money?

b. ?threatening public safety by cutting funds to local governments,
failing to account for the exorbitant cost of the energy fiasco, and
failing in general to deal with the state?s major problems until they
get to the crisis stage.?

c. ?California should not have to be known as the state with poor
schools, traffic jams, outrageous utility bills, and huge debts.?all
caused by gross mismanagement.?

?VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLET?
http://www.votescount.com/oct03/vp1.pdf 
http://www.sloclerkrecorder.org/processed_pdfs/SampleBallotBooklet.pdf   


Search terms used:                              
"reasons for recall" "gray davis"
                     
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                             
Thanks for visiting us.                             
                             
Regards,                             
Easterangel-ga                             
Google Answers Researcher

I think the reasons given on the petitions (that davis lied about the
budget to get reelected) don't explain everything that happened.

During california's 2002 election you would read several quotes from
people who wanted 'none of the above' added to the ballot.  Davis was
already unpopular because of the electricity crisis and the economy. 
In the electricity crisis he was seen as the dude who screwed up
deregulation, and as the dude who spent way too much to fix it.  And
the California economy was still hung-over from the boom.

Then California GOP primary spit out an ultra-right candidate that was
even more unpopular.  Davis wins the election, but there was still a
lot of discontent out there.

Along comes Congressman Darrel Issa who sees an opportunity.  He has
money.  California's constitution requires fewer than a million
signatures to trigger a recall.  So Issa launches a 'recall davis'
website, gauges enough interest, spends $1.5 million on
signature-collectors, and sets the recall in motion.  Makes sense -
every congressman wants to be a senator, or at least a governor.  Soon
Schwarzenneger jumps in and steals the show, which makes sense too,
what else is he gonna do with his time and name.

So, start with voter discontent.  Add a constitution that makes recall
possible.  Add a republican congressman with a lot of cash.  Add a
quick recall campaign with a wide-open field.  Add a successful,
well-spoken, well-married movie star.  These things came together to
cause the recall.