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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Primary 2008: Locals Opine on Best Business Candidate

With a week to go before California’s presidential primary on Feb. 5, the Business Journal asked business people from a broad spectrum of industries whom they think would be the best candidate from a business perspective. Katherine Whitman Pomegranate International “Strictly from a business standpoint I think that Mr. Romney has the best experience. He has been involved in a lot of hedge funds and venture capital and things like that; he certainly has that understanding of the business world. That wouldn’t be something that would hurt right now.” David Honda Honda Construction “I like Mitt Romney only because he’s had a job and made a payroll. It’s a personal conviction of mine that if you haven’t run a company big, little, it doesn’t matter and make a payroll and worry about paying taxes and paying vendors you shouldn’t be in the business of politics. I think politicians should have at least have Economics 101 before they get into politics. They are not effective unless elected. And once elected you hope they stand by their convictions. I hope Mitt Romney would.” Sandy Sigal NewMark Merrill Companies “My kneejerk reaction is I like Mitt Romney. He obviously ran a business, a venture capital firm, seen lots of business in action, ran the Olympics, and was chief executive of a state. Intuitively I like that better than I like somebody who might be a senator or has been in politics their whole life. That’s not to say I don’t like McCain or Giuliani. I actually like both of them. But if I wanted to say who looks best from a business perspective I think it’s Mitt Romney.” Diane Duke Free Speech Coalition “The candidate that would be best for the Adult Entertainment Industry is the one who respects adults’ right to be adults; respects and upholds our Constitution; and does not impose their brand of morality on others. Of the candidates left in this Presidential race, ask yourself “Who do I think will respect my ability to make choices for myself about what products I buy, what I read, and what movies I can watch?” then, you’ll know who is the best candidate for our industry.” Jim Dunn Airtel Plaza Hotel “I just don’t know. It’s just so hard to believe anybody anymore. That’s the problem I have with all the candidates. The question I ask myself is, what do they promise and what do they deliver? Whether they are Democrats or Republicans, depending on the make up of the House or the entire Congress, what’s the deliverable they can really do? I cannot pinpoint a particular candidate that ignites my passion for believing in somebody.” Greg Lippe Lippe, Hellie, Hoffer & Allison LLP “McCain. He’s more fiscally conservative yet he’s still a moderate. If business wants any legislation passed for the benefit of business you are going to need somebody who can work with both sides. Because he’s moderate he has the best chance of working with both sides. There is no question that Mitt Romney is the most knowledgeable person in business but McCain is the best for business.” Bert Boeckmann Galpin Auto Group “I was really impressed by with [Mitt Romney]. In fact I have not supported any of the candidates thus far because I was so impressed with Romney when he came by the dealership and went over things with me. My only concern is when you are going national across the United States is who is going to be the best candidate. If you were to say to me today who is the most formidable Republican left it’s our fella from Arizona [Sen. John McCain]. I think he’s good for business but I don’t think he’s a Mitt Romney. I think he would be good for business and I think he’s the more electable of the two.” With a week to go before California’s presidential primary election, the Business Journal asked business people from a broad spectrum of industries whom they think would be the best candidate from a business perspective. Katherine Whitman Pomegranate International “Strictly from a business standpoint I think that Mr. Romney has the best experience. He has been involved in a lot of hedge funds and venture capital and things like that; he certainly has that understanding of the business world. That wouldn’t be something that would hurt right now.” David Honda Honda Construction “I like Mitt Romney only because he’s had a job and made a payroll. It’s a personal conviction of mine that if you haven’t run a company big, little, it doesn’t matter and make a payroll and worry about paying taxes and paying vendors you shouldn’t be in the business of politics. I think politicians should have at least have Economics 101 before they get into politics. They are not effective unless elected. And once elected you hope they stand by their convictions. I hope Mitt Romney would.” Sandy Sigal NewMark Merrill Companies “My kneejerk reaction is I like Mitt Romney. He obviously ran a business, a venture capital firm, seen lots of business in action, ran the Olympics, and was chief executive of a state. Intuitively I like that better than I like somebody who might be a senator or has been in politics their whole life. That’s not to say I don’t like McCain or Giuliani. I actually like both of them. But if I wanted to say who looks best from a business perspective I think it’s Mitt Romney.” Diane Duke Free Speech Coalition “The candidate that would be best for the Adult Entertainment Industry is the one who respects adults’ right to be adults; respects and upholds our Constitution; and does not impose their brand of morality on others. Of the candidates left in this Presidential race, ask yourself “Who do I think will respect my ability to make choices for myself about what products I buy, what I read, and what movies I can watch?” then, you’ll know who is the best candidate for our industry.” Jim Dunn Airtel Plaza Hotel “I just don’t know. It’s just so hard to believe anybody anymore. That’s the problem I have with all the candidates. The question I ask myself is, what do they promise and what do they deliver? Whether they are Democrats or Republicans, depending on the make up of the House or the entire Congress, what’s the deliverable they can really do? I cannot pinpoint a particular candidate that ignites my passion for believing in somebody.” Greg Lippe Lippe, Hellie, Hoffer & Allison LLP “McCain. He’s more fiscally conservative yet he’s still a moderate. If business wants any legislation passed for the benefit of business you are going to need somebody who can work with both sides. Because he’s moderate he has the best chance of working with both sides. There is no question that Mitt Romney is the most knowledgeable person in business but McCain is the best for business.” Bert Boeckmann Galpin Auto Group “I was really impressed with [Mitt Romney]. In fact I have not supported any of the candidates thus far because I was so impressed with Romney when he came by the dealership and went over things with me. My only concern is when you are going national across the United States is who is going to be the best candidate. If you were to say to me today who is the most formidable Republican left it’s our fella from Arizona [Sen. John McCain]. I think he’s good for business but I don’t think he’s a Mitt Romney. I think he would be good for business and I think he’s the more electable of the two.”

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