Letter to the editor

The race for California secretary of state may have "no clear favorite" in current polls, as your Sept. 25 article reported. But after hearing state Sen. Debra Bowen speak last spring, I'm convinced she clearly deserves the office.

Check out Bowen's record and you'll find Sacramento's smartest and most incorruptible legislator. As Senate Elections Committee chairperson, she's acted decisively to ensure voting rights, to make state information public and to keep personal information private.

If you're a permanent absentee voter, that's thanks to a Bowen bill. If your health-insurance mailings no longer broadcast your Social Security number to potential identity thieves, thank Bowen again.

Bowen is tech-savvy enough to tell you precisely how computer experts have "hacked" electronic voting machines in tests. She wants to make these black boxes auditable, or else replace them with paper ballots. Her other electoral-reform priorities include requiring signature gatherers to clearly tell you whether they're paid or volunteers.

Incumbent Bruce McPherson is a moderate, nice guy. But he's an unelected caretaker who hasn't distinguished himself as secretary of state. Bowen will be a great successor -- and perhaps someday a great governor. Then look-alike Meryl Streep can play her in the TV docudrama.

Michael Katz
Berkeley