SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - From self-professed geniuses to golf course operators, and even a notable political activist named Cindy Sheehan, the field of gubernatorial candidates encompasses an array of Californians this election year.
On March 27, Secretary of State Debra Bowen released the official list of candidates running for state and federal offices in the coming June 3 primary. A total of 15 candidates have applied for the job of governor.
The list shows Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, faces competition from within his own party from a lone hopeful, Akinyemi Agbede.
Agbede, a self-professed "super genius," is running on a platform of stopping California from becoming a third-world country, according to his campaign website.
On the other side of the aisle, six Republicans have filed for governor, including standouts Assemblyman Tim Donnelly and businessman Neel Kashkari, both of whom have been vigorously campaigning for the past few months.
The other Republican candidates vying for governor include:
-Richard Aguirre, a real estate investor;
-Andrew Blount, mayor of Laguna Hills;
-Glen Champ, a business owner and engineer; and
-Alma Winston, a project funding CEO.
On his campaign website, Blount discuses his life growing up in a trailer and the strides he made teaching himself how to read, eventually going on to start his own software company.
The independent gubernatorial candidates are:
-Joe Leicht, a golf course operator;
-Janel Buycks, a minister and business owner;
-Rakesh Christian, a small business owner;
-Robert Newman, a psychologist and farmer; and
-"Bo" Bogdan Ambrozewicz, a small business owner.
The Green Party candidate is Luis Rodriguez, an author and community organizer.
Lastly, representing the Freedom and Peace Party, is Cindy Sheehan, who become somewhat of a brief media sensation in 2005 when she camped out near President Bush's ranch in Texas after her son was killed in Iraq.
From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com
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