Also on the ballot

Although they are the front-runners, Cruz Bustamante and Steve Poizner don’t constitute everyone running for California Insurance Commissioner. Four other candidates round out the list of contenders. Following are the additional candidate’s platforms, summarized from their campaign Web sites.

Jay Earl Burden: Currently a mechanical engineering major at California State University at Sacramento, Calif. Born in Hayward, Calif., raised in Manteca, Calif., and moved to Marysville, Calif., in 2004. Web site: www.ednoonan4gov.org/burden.htm.

Larry Cafiero: The simple concept of government as it should be — representative of the people — conflicts with what occurs today, according to Cafiero. “Elected officials serve their campaign donors above the people they are elected to represent. The message of my campaign is, ‘Make democracy work as it was meant to work.’ The insurance commissioner must be an advocate for the people, wielding his power on behalf of Californians against an army of insurance industry lobbyists and attorneys. As insurance commissioner, I unequivocally pledge to be that advocate of the people. As a Green, I take no corporate campaign contributions – I am beholden only to the people of California.”Web site: www.vote cafiero.com.

Tom Condit: “We need to reduce or eliminate the power of giant corporations like the insurance companies. I am running for insurance commissioner as part of a movement against corporate power and for democracy and equality. If elected, I will fight discrimination and redlining in insurance, work to reduce insurance company bureaucracy and red tape, and end the practices by which companies try to avoid risk by dumping those who need help the most. Web site: www.tomcondit.org.

Dale Ogden: An actuary with professional educational credentials in both property-casualty and life-health insurance. “During my 30 plus years of diversified insurance and regulatory-related experience, I have provided assistance and expert testimony to several state insurance commissioners, executive agencies of the federal government, executive and legislative branches of state governments, and state-created automobile and workers compensation insurers and guaranty funds. I’ve helped improve insurance regulation by drafting laws and regulations and designing policies that streamline insurance regulation and let competition work. The Department’s budget increased from about $28 million in 1988 to more than $200 million in 2006. I can reduce that by at least $150 million without eliminating any meaningful services.

With my regulatory experience in many of the states, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’ve seen the harm done by both excessive zeal and abuse by elected and appointed politicians for personal and political benefit. I would not make those mistakes nor commit those abuses. Unlike my opponents, I am not interested in promoting my political career; if I am elected to the position of Insurance Commissioner, I would never seek another political office.” Web site: www.dale fogden.org