CAMPAIGN WATCH : More, Please

Friday’s long-awaited debate between Pete Wilson and Kathleen Brown was lively and illuminating, but by no means did it explore all the differences between the two gubernatorial candidates. Clearly the matter of debates should not be put to rest.

Brown has challenged Wilson to more debates but he has declined. The governor should reconsider. The issues in this campaign and the trade-offs for this beleaguered state are far too complex for the two to satisfactorily explore in just one hour. The people of California deserve another opportunity to hear them in face-to-face confrontation.

Speaking of debates, where are the folks from Philip Morris, R. J. Reynolds and the other large tobacco companies that are bankrolling Proposition 188? Apparently hiding behind that cloud of rhetorical smoke about “tough but reasonable” smoking restrictions.

The restrictions embodied in Proposition 188 would repeal all the truly tough local smoking ordinances already on the books. The measure would kill the farsighted statewide workplace smoking ban scheduled to take effect in January. In their place it would put--surprise--rules much friendlier to cigarettes. Cities, counties and the Legislature would be barred from ever adopting tougher rules to protect nonsmokers.

To Philip Morris and friends, the less said the better. No doubt that’s why industry backers of the measure have declined almost all requests to debate its merits. They claim to be waging a “cerebral” campaign to educate voters. Looks more like they’re trying to play with voters’ heads.