Linda Katehi campaigns for her job
Good morning. On behalf of The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board, welcome to The Take, your opinion-politics newsletter.
We open with the campaign by UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi to save her job, move to Gavin Newsom’s plan to save college sports, and encourage Bernie Sanders to save the republic. And what’s up with the money in the race to replace Sen. Mark Leno, and Donald Trump’s tax returns?
To the loose affiliation of civic pals, faculty, developers and others defending the embattled UC Davis Chancellor-on-leave Linda Katehi, add Alice Huffman, Sacramento public affairs consultant and president of the California NAACP.
Katehi’s allies have been lobbying legislators, calling reporters and commenting this week at the Board of Regents meeting in Sacramento. At first, Janet Napolitano defended her, but public records raised further doubts about Katehi, and Napolitano put her on paid leave and hired former federal prosecutor Melinda Haag to conduct a 90-day investigation.
UC hasn’t discussed the case much since then. But Katehi’s defenders have sought to discredit Napolitano and defend the chancellor’s reputation. Huffman has sent letters to the Legislature’s women’s caucus and black caucus saying she is “alarmed” by Katehi’s treatment, and suggesting the lawmakers ask whether Katehi is being tried in the press and singled out because she is a woman. Huffman’s letter says she is responding to “calls to my office.” – Shawn Hubler @ShawnHubler
Take a number: $142,140
Equality California Political Action Committee has spent $142,140 on an independent campaign to elect San Francisco Supervisor Scott Weiner to the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mark Leno.
Equality bills itself as the “nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.” Its political action committee has accepted $70,000 from another committee, Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy. Californians for Jobs biggest funder? Chevron, at $300,000 this year.
Our take
Editorial: Gavin Newsom places his stamp on University of California sports policy. It’s a start, but only that.
Endorsement: In the 11-candidate donnybrook to replace Assemblywoman Beth Gaines, Republicans Bill Halldin and Kevin Kiley offer hope for the GOP.
Erika D. Smith: Selflessly fighting for the greater good is what superheroes do. So help us, Bernie Sanders. You’re our only hope. @Erika_D_Smith
Their take
The L.A. Daily News writes that a Muslim girl identified as “Isis” in a high school yearbook says something about this period of national anxiety.
The San Diego Union-Tribune lauds the California Public Utilities Commission for reconsidering the San Onofre bailout.
The L.A. Times asks why Oakland would build a dock to export coal when the U.S. is trying to wean itself off coal.
The Tacoma News Tribune lauds the feds for rejecting a massive trans-oceanic coal-export terminal in Washington state.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel urges Speaker Paul Ryan to stick to his principles when he meets with Donald Trump.
Debra J. Saunders writes in The San Francisco Chronicle that Democrats should acknowledge that Hillary Clinton recklessly – inexcusably – endangered national security.
John Fund writes in The National Review that Donald Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns is a ticking time bomb.
Tweet of the day
Mitt Romney (@MittRomney)
Mr. Trump, tear down that tax wall.
Romney’s tweet refers to his Facebook posting that says Trump’s failure to release his tax returns is suspicious: “the potential for hidden inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups is simply too great a risk …”
Syndicates’ take
Thomas L. Friedman: Trump’s Miss Universe foreign policy.
Dana Milbank: Does being ‘pro-life’ extend to fighting Zika?
Double take
Sacramento’s Measure Y is a fiscally unsound way to help kids, Councilman Jeff Harris says, or it is the best way to help kids, Councilman Jay Schenirer says.
This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 5:32 AM with the headline "Linda Katehi campaigns for her job."