Travis Allen: The Only #CAGOV Candidate to Support the Death Penalty

The San Francisco Chronicle connected with six of the major gubernatorial candidates for the Electoin 2018 race for Governor.

Here are their views on the death penalty.

Full disclosure: this issue has been the most contentious for me, as I have changed my mind many times back and forth over it.

As of now, I am still a firm supporter of the death penalty, and Travis Allen's support for the policy makes him the best candidate for governor, too.

5 of 6 candidates for California governor oppose death penalty

Democrats:

State Treasurer John Chiang: He “personally opposes the death penalty but would enforce the law as written. Commutation requests would be handled on a case-by-case basis,” a spokesman for the candidate said.

Every one of the candidates likes to play that game: "I am personally opposed to it, but I will follow the law on the subject."

Blah, blah, blah.

Delaine Eastin, former state school superintendent: “I am against the death penalty. It is not a deterrent to crime, too often its application throughout the country has been racially biased and it tends to impact poorer individuals who can’t afford expensive lawyers. Life in prison offers the opportunity to free an individual if we later determine their innocence. ... As governor I will follow the law, and I will carefully consider ALL requests for clemency.”

Plays the race card.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom: A spokesman said Newsom “has long believed that evidence overwhelmingly proves the death penalty is a waste of money, fails to deter crime and is fundamentally inhumane. That’s why he supported previous ballot measures with the more effective alternative of life in prison without parole. ... At the same time, he recognizes that California voters have spoken on the issue and, if elected governor, he’d respect the will of the electorate by following and implementing the law.”

Newsom cares about money? Really.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: Villaraigosa “is fundamentally opposed to the death penalty because it has proven to not be a deterrent and disproportionately impacts the poor and minorities. ... His opposition to the death penalty will not change as governor, and he will work to ensure that due process is followed under the law because there is no room for error,” said a spokesman.

The class warfare card. "Hurts the poor". Since when should anyone care how much or how little money a convicted criminal has?

Republicans:

Assemblyman Travis Allen: “I believe the death penalty is absolutely necessary in cases where heinous crimes have been committed. As the next governor of California, I will reject any requests to commute a death sentence for someone that has been rightfully convicted and sentenced.”

Winner!

Businessman John Cox: A spokesman said Cox “has opposed the death penalty on fiscally conservative grounds, but is also pro-life and anti-death penalty because of his Catholic faith. He argues that life without the possibility of parole is a just and fitting punishment without the significantly higher costs of keeping those same felons on Death Row for decades. ... As governor, he would not interfere, though, with a lawfully passed and administered death penalty statute or sentence.”

Is this the reason why John Cox was endorsed by some pro-life organization? Who cares?

Travis Allen is my choice, the only candidate willing to stand on his own for conscience and principle's sake, regardless of the views of others around him.