Jerry Brown (D)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-A new ad from the Republican Governors Association takes aim at California Attorney General Jerry Brown, painting the Democratic gubernatorial candidate as a tax-and-spender.
The ad criticizes Brown's record on taxes and spending for the time he was California governor nearly three decades ago, from 1975 to 1983, and the mayor of Oakland, Calif., from 1998 to 2006.
Declaring that California is in such economic dire straits because of high taxes and profligate government spending, RGA spokesman Tim Murtaugh said the ad urges Brown to jettison his "long-held practice of wasteful spending and pushing for massive tax increases."
Titled "Trouble," the ad started running on broadcast and cable television Saturday, as the state Democratic convention was underway in Los Angeles.
The spot claims that under Brown's gubernatorial administration state spending increased 160 percent, city spending in Oakland increased 60 percent and taxes increased while he was mayor, and as attorney general he spent $230,000 "redecorating" his office.
"Thirty-five years of big spending and higher taxes: Tell Jerry Brown no more wasteful spending," the spot says, urging viewers to sign an online petition against Brown's candidacy.
"Everywhere he's been, Jerry Brown has frittered away taxpayers' dollars while consistently going back to them for more," Murtaugh said. "Here's the opportunity for Californians to say that Jerry Brown should stop his long-held practice of wasteful spending and pushing for massive tax increases."
The RGA ad was created by Interface Media Group, the same Washington, D.C.-based company that recently produced a similar -- not to mention controversial -- ad against Brown on behalf of the California Chamber of Commerce.
Last week, CalChamber's 30-second television spot was pulled from the airwaves after just days of running amid criticism from some of its board members who decried the group spending money on political attack ads. Meanwhile, others criticized the business lobby for giving its money to an out-of-state firm.
Brown, his party's presumptive nominee, is vying to succeed Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Golden State's chief executive. He will face the winner of the June 8 Republican primary -- likely either state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner or Meg Whitman -- in the November general election.
Brown may run for an additional two terms as governor because he was in office before the state enacted term limits.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.