Jerry Brown stops at Victory Park

Brown sign autographs at Vistory Park’s Rose Garden on Sat. Oct. 30, 2010

Stockton, CA / Bilingual Weekly

Jerry Brown spent less than half an hour this past Saturday, October 30, 2010, speaking to supporters and signing autographs at Stockton’s Victory Park, but that was enough for the three hundred people crowd who showed up spite the short notice.

Brown is California Attorney General and two-times Governor, who’s now running for a third time as Governor in Tuesday’s election against Republican and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman.

Brown’s early morning Stockton stop marked the beginning of a marathon last-minute trip through the heart of the San Joaquin Valley that was to end in Bakersfield. The trip came a few days after Whitman visited the city for a second time, noting Brown did not come to Stockton because “he doesn’t care about the Central Valley”

As Governor (1975-1983) Brown gained a reputation as a fiscal conservative —according to some analysts he was more conservative than Governor Reagan, whom he replaced. His fiscal policies resulted in one of the biggest budget surpluses in California’s history —roughly $5 billion. This surplus melted as Proposition 13 (People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation —an amendment of the Constitution of California enacted in 1978) lowered property taxes and required a two-thirds vote majority to raise most taxes.

He was the first Governor to exchange the luxurious Governor’s Mansion for a humble apartment and drive his own middle-class sedan. He is also credited with appointing more women and minorities to office than any other previous California.

At 73, Brown did not look tired nor mild. He shouted and touted and never mentioned his opponent.

Other speakers at the rally included Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-18^th District) State Senator Lois Walk, Assemblywomen Alyson Huber and Cathleen Galgiani, Insurance Commissioner candidate Dave Jones, and Secretary of State Debra Bowen.