Gubernatorial hopeful Cox says no to splitting state

SACRAMENTO — Republican gubernatorial hopeful John Cox does not support a ballot initiative pushed by venture capitalist Tim Draper to split California into three states, saying there is a simpler answer: “We need to do a better job of managing the state.”

Cox, the GOP candidate in the fall election for governor, declined to comment on the measure last week after it qualified for the November ballot, and remained silent for several days. But at a Sacramento news conference Monday on efforts to repeal a state gas tax increase, Cox said he opposes splitting up the state he wants to govern.

“Tim Draper has alerted people to the mismanagement of the state, which I agree with him on, but I don’t think that’s the answer,” said Cox, a San Diego-area businessman. “We need to do a better job of managing the state, which is exactly what I’m going to do.”

Democratic candidate Gavin Newsom was frank in his assessment of the ballot measure, saying it was hardly a concern because it stood no chance at the polls.

“I don’t support the initiative, and I don’t expect the people in the state will support it,” Newsom said last week.

The Draper-bankrolled initiative is known as Cal 3. It would divide the state into California, which would run from Los Angeles north along the coast to Monterey; Southern California, which would go from San Diego and Orange County north past Fresno to Madera County; and Northern California, which would encompass the region from Santa Cruz north, including the Bay Area and Sacramento.

Last week, the secretary of state’s office confirmed that the measure had the 365,880 valid signatures needed to put it on the Nov. 6 ballot. It is Draper’s second attempt to split the state — in 2014, he circulated an initiative to divide California into six states, but failed to gather enough signatures.

Even if voters passed the measure in November, the state Legislature and Congress would still have to approve the plan.