Gubernatorial candidate visits

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 12:00 AM)

Independent campaigns to limit government

Speaking Sunday to a gathering in Oakhurst, Chelene Nightingale, American Independent candidate for governor, brought her message of eliminating state income tax, reducing business taxes and regulations, dealing with illegal immigration and supporting the middle class.

Her decision to run for the state's top political position has taken Nightingale from a career in television -- with appearances on "The Nanny," "Northern Exposure" and "Days of Our Lives" -- to speaking in front of small but enthusiastic crowds.

She spent last weekend in Auberry, Porterville, Tulare and Oakhurst.

Speaking before 60 people at the monthly meeting of the Mountain Area Tea Party at the Best Western motel's Yosemite Gateway Restaurant, Nightingale said she favors a half-time Legislature over a year-round schedule, giving special-interest groups less time to make contact with lawmakers. She said the governor has a staff of 400 and that she would dramatically reduce that.

"Everyone on my staff would be a constitutionalist," she said.

The state, she said, must get the water turned on in the Valley to support agriculture and should do more for the timber industry.

"People are more important than fish and owls," she said.

Nightingale promotes herself as a supporter of the military, veterans and gun owners' rights.For the past five years, Nightingale, 44, has been a leading Constitutional activist, organizing many rallies and marches in California.

In addition to organizing political events, she has lobbied as a private citizen in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., demanding secure borders and no amnesty for illegal immigrants. Nightingale has spoken at Tea Parties and End the Fed events.

In 2006, she was the campaign manager for third-party gubernatorial candidate Art Olivier. During the last presidential election, she endorsed Congressman Ron Paul.

Because of her past political achievements and affiliations, she said, the National Constitution Party leaders and members asked her to run for governor in California as an American Independent.

The daughter of a war veteran, Nightingale accepted the challenge as a way "to help restore our ailing state that has been hurt by special-interest groups and big government."

Nightingale was managing director of a former nonprofit organization, Saveourstate.org. She also was a vice president for a distribution-production company and has been a small-business owner.

Other candidates in the governor's race are Democrat Jerry Brown, 72, Republican Meg Whitman, 53, Libertarian Dale Ogden, 59, Green Party member Laura Wells, 62, and Peace and Freedom Party member Carlos Alvarez, 23.

Nightingale said she hopes to raise $100,000 for her election. Multibillionaire Whitman is expected to spend an estimated $70 to $90 million and Brown, $20 million.

"It's unfortunate 'we the people' allow Wall Street candidates to buy their way into office," Nightingale said, referring to Whitman. "How can you justify saying you are fiscally responsible when you spend that much money on the election?"

Jon Pero, of the local Tea Party, said Nightingale's presentation was well-received, especially her comments on illegal immigration, limited government and fiscal responsibility.

"We met a candidate that is one of us," said Pero, "a person who addresses our concerns and wants to work for us and for our children's future. She won the support of a whole room of people, and we invite everyone to join in the fight to take California back and restore constitutional government."

Details: nightingaleforgovernor.com , mountainarea@centralvalleyteaparty.com.