GOVERNOR ASKS FOR `VOTE OF CONFIDENCE'.

Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer

CENTURY CITY -- Reaching out Saturday to doubters in his own Republican Party, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed the governor's race as a battle for the future of California with him at the helm, fighting efforts to increase taxes and stop the gains the state has made.

``Three years ago, I asked you to vote for me as an act of faith,'' Schwarzenegger told a luncheon crowd of nearly 1,000 GOP delegates at their fall convention. ``Today, I ask for it as a vote of confidence.''

With Schwarzenegger concerned about drawing his conservative base to the polls Nov. 7 in his election battle against Democrat Phil Angelides, the governor sought to assure the right that he is with them on key issues of taxation, immigration, public safety and education.

And it was on taxes that he appeared to score points with the generally polite audience, winning sustained applause when he pledged to not raise taxes in a second term and criticized proposals made by Angelides.

``When I was elected, I said California would be back,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``Everyone can see California is back and the difference between us and (Democrats) is they want to raise taxes.

``Our opponent has never met a tax he doesn't like or a tax he won't hike.''

Angelides, in a conference call with reporters, issued a strong rebuke to the governor's speech, saying Schwarzenegger ``either doesn't understand government or is purposely misleading people about my positions.''

``He knows I am proposing to reduce taxes on the middle class and he is purposefully misleading voters,'' Angelides said. ``I'm saddened the governor has chosen to take the path of divisiveness.

``He is hearing the footsteps of the right wing in his party and he is doing all he can to hold on to his power,'' Angelides said.

For the governor, his speech and brief appearance at the convention were designed to remind Republicans that even if they are not satisfied with all of his policies, he offers them a better choice than Angelides.

While he offered little in the way of specifics, the governor pledged to work on a variety of issues including education and health care.

``Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century,'' Schwarzenegger said, borrowing a line used by Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in his quest to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The governor pointed to $55 billion budgeted for education this year in California and said he wants to see a system that supports more charter schools. He said he also wants to see increased parental choices in schools for their children, although he fell short of endorsing a voucher system for schools.

On health care, Schwarzenegger said he will attempt to do what he accomplished when he reformed the workers' compensation system.

``We reformed it not by spending more money, but by bringing all the people to the table and working out a change,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``Today, workers' compensation premiums are 45 percent less.''

Schwarzenegger also told delegates he would be better for the state than Angelides on immigration issues -- sending National Guard troops to the borders, opposing driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and supporting English-language immersion programs.

Angelides said raising the issue of immigration was similar to the campaign of former Gov. Pete Wilson and an attempt to use it as a wedge issue to divide voters.

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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