Running around the Capitol; Cox on Allen; Increasing CA water supply

CADET RUN

As far as we know, Paul Mitchell was not among those running around the Capitol in the wee hours this morning.

Following 28 weeks of intense training, 53 fully-clothed cadets set to graduate this week from the California Highway Patrol Academy were scheduled to take part in a 5-mile run to the Peace Officers’ Memorial near the Capitol starting at 5:15 a.m. today.

The run is part of a longstanding tradition for cadets to recognize the more than 1,600 officers killed in the line of duty.

Mitchell, political consultant and data expert, made good on a bet two years ago when he ran around the Capitol sans clothing after two Democrats made the runoff for U.S. Senate.

ALLEN ENDORSES COX

Nearly two months after a hard-fought gubernatorial primary, Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, has decided to throw his support behind Republican John Cox.

“It’s time we put the Primary past us and UNITE to WIN IN NOVEMBER,” Allen tweeted. “Today, I’m officially endorsing Republican nominee JOHN COX.”

Cox responded on Twitter by praising Allen as a “great competitor that cares about the millions of Californians forgotten by the Sacramento political class.”

UPDATED SALARY NUMBERS

State Controller Betty Yee released an update to the state’s government compensation website, which includes cities, counties and special districts. The latest numbers include self-reported payroll data from 2017, which cover over $22 billion in wages for 390,000 positions. Six cities and two counties submitted non-compliant reports, according to the office.

See The Bee’s searchable database of state government employee salaries here.

GET SMART

Congresswoman Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, will speak at 9:00 a.m. today at the Capital Commerce Center during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the launch of SmaRT Ride service in the South Sacramento area. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg will also be in attendance.

UC CENTER HOSTS PANEL ON WATER SUPPLY

A panel discussion on expanding California’s water supply is being held at noon today at UC Center Sacramento. The focus of the conversation will be about how the state could tap into technological solutions. A recent poll from the Public Policy Institute of California found that water remains the top environmental issue for likely California voters.

TWEET OF THE DAY

The State Worker (@TheStateWorker) — “One thing I love about CA state workers is that they so reliably send me the emails where managers say, “don’t talk to reporters.” You guys are the best!”

INFLUENCER OF THE DAY

California schools aren’t exactly leading the nation. What should we do about it? Inluencers have plenty to say.

“Our focus on education needs to start earlier, investments in early childhood education have been proven to increase student performance throughout K-12, and makes it more likely that students will go on to pursue advanced degrees and certificates after high school graduation. Having programs that stimulate and spark confidence in young kids is critical in addressing academic success but studies have also shown that early childhood education also helps reduce destructive and problematic behavior in students as they get older.”

— John Pérez, Former Speaker of the California Assembly

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