Although California’s economy has pockets of strength, the state is also home to the nation’s highest poverty rate, when the cost of living is taken into account. The growing inequality and the affordability issues that are driving so many middle-income families out of the state are serious concerns and should be the centerpiece of the debate in the governor’s race.

We believe the state would be best served by the election of John Cox as the next governor of California.

Cox, a successful businessman who lives in the San Diego area, offers a balanced, non-ideological approach, favoring lower taxes and reform of overreaching government regulations, along with support for the state’s clean-energy goals and environmental protection.

Two of the state’s most pressing problems — the crisis in housing affordability and the state’s neglected infrastructure — are caused, Cox argues, by flawed government decisions and policies. The cost of building a house or fixing a mile of road is far higher in California than in other states because of accumulated rules, fees and taxes that have themselves become a greater problem than whatever problem they were originally intended to address.

It is time for a change.

Gavin Newsom is a thoughtful leader who cares about the future of California, but as a longtime officeholder he has deep connections to many of the interest groups and politicians that have been part of the problem. That’s evident from Newsom’s careful two-step on both sides of major issues.

For example, during a debate in May, Newsom stated his position on high-speed rail as: “I’ve long supported the vision, but I’ve been honest about the financing.” He expressed a similar ambiguity on single-payer health care, Senate Bill 562, telling supporters “it’s time to move” the legislation while acknowledging to reporters that the details of how to pay for the proposal remain unresolved.

That yes-and-no approach may encourage interest groups to write checks to the Newsom campaign in the hope that the wind will shift in their direction. But it leaves voters with no idea what the policies of his administration would be, or how much they will cost.

A government dominated by one party lacks the necessary checks and balances to ensure that policies are fully vetted before they become law. In California, that has too often led to reckless increases in spending, especially on pensions for government workers, creating endless pressure for tax increases at both the state and local level.

For perspective, in the time since Newsom was elected lieutenant governor, from 2011-12 to the current fiscal year, state general fund spending has ballooned over 61 percent from $86 billion to nearly $139 billion.

California needs steady economic growth and high-wage jobs to bring in the revenue required to pay its bills and build its future. That can’t be achieved with unsustainable government spending and even higher taxes. It certainly can’t be achieved if businesses are driven into the ground or out of the state by over-regulation, increased costs and uncertainty about future policies.

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Orange County Register endorsements for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election

Re-elect Phillip Chen for Assembly District 55

Re-elect John Moorlach to represent Senate District 37 Recent polls indicate that the race for governor has tightened and both sides say turnout will be key. Infrequent voters may come out to cast ballots for Proposition 6 to repeal the gas tax increase, and that would help Cox, who chaired the effort to qualify the measure and signed the ballot argument in support of it.

Newsom might be helped by a surge of progressive Democrats who are hungry to seize control of the state party from established Democratic leaders like Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

One growing group won’t be casting ballots. They’re the former California residents who will vote this year in Arizona, Nevada, Texas and other states where the cost of living in California no longer troubles them.

John Cox offers common-sense leadership that will encourage economic growth, expand housing opportunities and reverse the state’s affordability crisis. He has our endorsement for governor.