EDITOR'S notebook

A recent cartoon in a local paper, from his view, sums up Gray Davis' approach to balancing California's $38 billion budget deficit. It shows Davis on the back of the sinking Titanic with the caption, "I've got the answer—let's just charge more for the tickets."

Beard has been stumping on the campaign trail, time permitting, after paying the $3,500 fee and getting the required signatures among registered voters to be certified as a candidate. He took part in a local debate and spoke to a Republican group recently.