The
editorial board operates independently from the U-T newsroom but holds itself to similar ethical standards. We base our editorials and endorsements on reporting, interviews and rigorous debate, and strive for accuracy, fairness and civility in our section. Disagree?
San Diego’s Shirley Weber became the first Black secretary of state and the fifth Black person ever to serve as a California constitutional officer when she raised her hand Friday and Gov. Gavin Newsom swore her in. The state’s gain is also the state’s loss.
Weber has a strong grasp of the voting issues that are key to her new job. She plans to focus on making participation easier. But she will be missed a lot in the Assembly. No one in the California Legislature came close to the former assemblymember’s advocacy for criminal justice reform, especially as it relates to limiting police use of violent force, and for education reform, especially as it relates to teacher tenure changes and more equitable