CA-Gov: Corrections Officers Endorse Phil

The San Jose Mercury News made a fairly bold statement today about the impact of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association endorsement of Phil Angelides, saying that it "could revive the campaign." I think that's an old media take on things, and that the campaign is sufficiently revived and energized as we head into the stretch run. But one thing the endorsement does bring is money money money:

The prison guards are heavy hitters in California politics, particularly known for independent campaigns that help push their favored candidates over the top. Typically, they back winners for the state's top office: The union helped boost Republican Pete Wilson and Democrat Gray Davis to the governorship.

"They're known for their clout,'' said San Jose State University political science professor Larry Gerston. "These guys are extremely well-organized. They really weigh in heavily on law enforcement matters. And they're not afraid to put their money behind candidates who they believe will fight for their cause.''

The correctional officers have purchased $5 million in television time for the final weeks of this election, and are said to have millions more at their disposal.

Without question the prison system should be an issue in this campaign. The Governor failed to deliver any bill addressing the overcrowding of our state prisons this legislative session. He has pretty much no vision for how to address the institutional problems at the root of the prison system. We have thousands and thousands of inmates in temporary beds, and the overcrowding is already responsible for growing violence. If unchecked, the system is frankly on the verge of collapse.

Phil Angelides set out his prison reform plan months ago, calling for expedited hiring, opening two currently unused prisons, getting the broken prison health care system out of receivership, and expanding rehabilitation programs. The leaders in the field, those on the front lines every day, now support him. There's a tendency to forget about this issue, to look at crime statistics to the exclusion of all else. But it's important, it requires serious leadership, and this Governor is not leading. Phil Angelides will.