(Calitics will promote to the front page a reasonable number of candidate diaries that the Editorial Board believes communicate substantive policy positions of which the Calitics community should be aware – promoted by jsw)

Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger introduced his latest bad idea for solving our state’s budget crisis: privatizing California’s prison system.

Prisons must be managed with public safety, inmate welfare, and rehabilitation as top priorities — not maximizing corporate profits. What’s more, we can’t facilitate the creation of new powerful corporations with the financial incentive to lobby for the imprisonment of more and more residents of our state.

Turning over control of some or all of California’s prisons to private corporations would be a disaster for California — and we can’t let it happen.

So I’ve launched a new petition — on Facebook and also on my campaign website — to spread the word and build opposition to Governor Schwarzenegger’s privatization proposal. I hope you’ll take a minute to join me, urging the governor and your legislators not to privatize California’s prisons.

For six years, we’ve had a governor who failed to manage our prisons — and now he wants to avoid responsibility for the consequences of his mismanagement.

Solving this crisis requires a serious and thoughtful reorganization of the way California manages incarcerations, prisons, and public safety systems in general. To reduce the prison population, we must deter crime and reach young people early, before they begin down the criminal path, channeling them into more productive pursuits.

Please sign my petition to Governor Schwarzenegger and your legislators now (on Facebook here, and on my campaign website here).

Prison and sentencing reform have many complex elements, and one-stop-shop solutions such as privatization are not the answer.

For Governor Schwarzenegger to proclaim that the answer to our failing and costly prison system is to move from public to private management is out of touch with reality.

Thanks so much for standing with me and making your voice heard on this critical issue.

— Chris Kelly, Democratic candidate for California Attorney General

( – promoted by shayera)

It’s great to be here blogging with you at Calitics!  I look forward to stopping by regularly and working with you in the weeks and months ahead.

As you probably know, I’m running for re-election in 2010, and our June 30th fundraising deadline is rapidly approaching.  It’s important that we post solid numbers at the end of each quarter to show our potential right-wing opponents that we’re ready for anything they throw at us. But this deadline is even more important than most.

Why? (Edit by Brian…See the flip)

Because we understand that former HP CEO Carly Fiorina is poised to jump in the 2010 Senate race any day now. She’ll be the best-funded opponent I’ve ever faced, with nearly unlimited personal resources to pour into the campaign. We need to be ready to match her deep pockets with the grassroots support of friends like you.

So at this critical juncture, we’re going to do something truly unique – and I hope you’ll be a part of it!

On Tuesday, June 30th, at 6:15pm PT / 9:15pm ET, we’ll be hosting our first ever Boxer Virtual Fundraiser. You don’t need to drive anywhere, or get dressed up, or find a babysitter for the kids. In fact, all you need to do is jump online to join us.

During next Tuesday’s Boxer Virtual Fundraiser, I’ll be speaking to you live via webcast from San Francisco. I’ll share the latest information about the campaign and answer some of your questions in real-time – and you can just tune in over the internet to watch, listen, and participate.

Plus, because this is a virtual fundraiser, we don’t need to rent a room or pay for food and drinks. So 100% of your contribution will go directly into our Media Fund, preparing us for the attacks that are sure to come.

We’ve made it easy and affordable for everyone to participate in this grassroots fundraiser – and I hope you will.

Please click here to RSVP for our first Boxer Virtual Fundraiser now — and join us online next Tuesday at 6:15pm PT!

We’re going to have to get creative and pull out all the stops to win in 2010 – and next Tuesday’s online virtual fundraiser is just the first step.

Thanks so much for your continued support. I look forward to speaking to you Tuesday night!