California Gubernatorial Election

“This is an election that has national implications...and voters need to look at the character” of the candidates, says Leigh Teece, the co-chair of the Restore Our Values campaign, who spoke to POLITICO exclusively Saturday. Teece — a former Republican who is now a “no-party-preference” voter” — is the CEO and founder of the Emeryvillle-based non–profit, World Mentor, a group which aims to boost STEM skills in education, and also chairs the Silicon Valley Institute for Business Education. This year, she says, voters looking to cast ballots in the gubernatorial election are “starved for values. Democrats and Republicans really feel battered. We want governance.” It’s a model, she says, was exemplified by former GOP Rep. Tom Campbell — a fiscal conservative and social moderate. Right now, she says, “John Cox is the best candidate you’ve never heard of,” but the IE hopes to spread the word and help boost his numbers.

-- She says that’s the reason she has taken on the effort to raise money to assist Cox, “a conservative businessman who supports our passion for education” and charter schools, and who’s shown that as a father and a businessman,”he can restore values as being a priority.” Teece says the group has raised about $110,000 to date, and aims to raise more from independents and Republicans alike – and that it expects the ad to run in five media markets in California. Stay tuned.