From: Jim Warren Subject: GovAccess#11: first(?) Gov candidate to file computerized disclosures Feb.3, 1994 CALIF'S GUBERNATORIAL-CANDIDATE COMPUTERIZED CAMPAIGN-FINANCE DISCLOSURES California's Secretary of State is the official archivist for required state-level campaign-finance disclosure filings. Last Fall, Chief Deputy Secretary of State Tony Miller came out strongly advocating computerized disclosures so as to better-facilitate their timely public access and use. On Jan. 3rd, Miller fired off faxes to the three semi-announced major candidates for Governor -- Pete Wilson, Kathleen Brown and John Garamendi -- asking that they voluntarily file their required disclosures in computerized form, in addition to the currently-required post-tree/pre-landfill paper form. (Legislation to authorize and require computerized filings and access is now in process -- details when the Are.) In a Feb. 1st press release, Miller announced that the "Garamendi for Governor" committee has become the first statewide campaign to file its contribution and expense reports on diskette. Diskette copies are available from the SoS's Legislative and Constituent Services office, 916-445-6375, initially for free -- possibly for a nominal copying-cost if demand becomes too great. The press release went on to say that, "Governor Pete Wilson's campaign staff said that they were not prepared to provide a diskette of the semi- annual report, but would do so in March when the first pre-election report is due. "State Treasurer Kathleen Brown's gubernatorial committee has indicated that it, too, is investigating the possibility of filing on diskette." [The following are *exclusively* my personal curmudgeon's comments, *definitely* unsolicited and unapproved by the SoS or Tony Miller. --jim] BUT, WILSON AND BROWN ALREADY HAVE MATURE, COMPUTERIZED CAMPAIGN OPERATIONS It seems rather strange that the well-established, cash-laden campaign operations of the two leading candidates -- Kathleen Brown and Pete Wilson -- can't get it together to put a copy of the print-file of their already- computerized disclosure information on a diskette, rather than only print it on mountains of hide-in-sight paper. Can California afford a Governor who chooses staff that incompetent? Hope you let *all* of the candidates know how you feel about making such public records available in a *timely* and *modern* [computerized] form. TONY MILLER - EXPERIENCED ADMINISTRATOR, NOW RUNNING FOR SECY OF STATE Though the press release, appropriately, made no mention of it, Miller has begun campaigning to succeed his boss (who's moving on) as California's Secretary of State. For 14 years, he's been Chief Deputy of the department and was its Chief Counsel for half a decade before that. However, as a quiet, career administrator rather than a professional political hustler, he has an uphill battle. And, his daring to ask the leading politicians to file *useful* disclosures like this is hardly likely to endear him to the big-bux hustlers. But, what a novel idea -- an experienced, proven administrator heading an important administrative department (rather than a career political hack). BLUSHING ERRATA The last several GovAccess updates were dated 1993. Tsk! Naaaah, was '94. Musta been a computer error. Mo' as it Is. --jim Jim Warren, columnist for MicroTimes, Government Technology, BoardWatch, etc. 345 Swett Rd., Woodside CA 94062; voice/415-851-7075; fax/415-851-2814 **To join or drop from the gov-access list, email to jwarren@well.sf.ca.us.** >>Permission herewith granted for unlimited reposting and recirculation.<<