California Forward
Since 2009, Hertzberg has been the co-chair of California Forward, a bi-partisan civic group dedicated to (in the words of their Mission Statement): “to help create a "smart" government – one that’s small enough to listen, big enough to tackle real problems, smart enough to spend our money wisely in good times and bad, and honest enough to be held accountable for results.”
On March 11, 2009, Hertzberg was unanimously elected co-chair of "California Forward," a bi-partisan state government "reform" group funded by private donations. California Forward describes itself as "an ambitious bipartisan effort to remake California state government." Hertzberg will be replacing Leon Panetta, the former Congressman and Chief of Staff to President Clinton, who was just appointed Director of the Central Intelligence Agency by President Obama. "It is a rare honor to serve alongside Bob Hertzberg, a leader who has immersed himself in the effort to improve California's systematic governance problems for more than 15 years," said Thomas McKernan, fellow co-chair of California Forward.
The web site of California Forward states that they are seeking “A Comprehensive Solution” to California’s problems, including 1) Fiscal reforms (performance-based budgeting, a more rational tax system and pay-as-you-go rules; 2) Structural reforms where more power is returned from Sacramento to local governments, pension reforms and a revitalized education system; 3) Democracy reforms, including non-partisan redistricting and voting systems. Accordingly, California Forward strongly supports redistricting reform and “Open Primary” initiatives (where voters can choose candidates regardless of partisan registration), all of which California voters passed via the ballot box in 2008 and 2010.
In conjunction with Chairing California Forward, Hertzberg is also a member of the Think Long Committee of California. This Committee is a non-partisan civic group focused on fixing California’s dysfunctional state and local government structures. The Think Long Committee promotes a vision of 21st Century government in California that is more efficient and “user-friendly” to ordinary California citizens.
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)