The Southwest Voice

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“We want a government that stands for the working men and women of California,” said Phil Angelides to a large crowd of cheering supporters.

Angelides and other Democrats running for office spoke at Beach Park on Sunday, Oct. 8.

As the smell of barbequed hamburgers drifted through the air, Angelides stressed the need for affordable health care, well-funded public education, and “tax breaks for people living from paycheck to paycheck.” 

Many unions were well-represented on this balmy fall afternoon. Still stinging over Schwarzenegger’s attempt to take their pensions away, Kern’s firefighters outnumbered any other group in attendance.

However, Bakersfield teachers were also present. Having lost trust in Schwarzenegger after he reneged on a promise to return millions in borrowed money from California’s school children, they feel especially keen on seeing Angelides take office in January.  

Trailing Schwarzenegger by double-digit numbers in the polls, Angelides acknowledged an uphill climb.

“It’s going to be a tough race,” he said. “But you know what? We beat him last year and we’re going to beat him again!” 

There were a few Schwarzenegger backers that attempted to heckle the visiting Democratic candidate for governor, but the four or five who positioned themselves with signs across the road in the park were no match for the large activist base of Democrats who waited an hour and a half to see their party’s choice.

When he finished his speech, Phil Angelides was presented with a giant pumpkin signed by supporters, a perfect gift from agriculture-rich Kern County.