Running men.

As the political season got into its traditional post-Labor Day full swing, the candidates in the governor's race hit the trail. Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger runs for re-election after a string of successes and setbacks in his first term, and Democrat Phil Angelides will try to step up to higher office from the treasurer's post. So the Business Journal asks:

Who will be better for business?

Dolly Shukla

Guest Relations Manager

Shutters on the Beach,

Santa Monica

Definitely Schwarzenegger. For one thing he's already done a lot for business, the business climate has dramatically improved, and more than 5,000 jobs have been introduced since he's come into office. And he's helped the small businesses, which are really the backbone of this country and this state. He's improved working conditions--a lot of that isn't easy to do without raising taxes and he has not raised taxes. He's the clear choice for moving our state and the economy forward.

Kevin Shultz

Senior Managing Director

FTI Capital Advisors LLC 

I would have to say Schwarzenegger. Despite the fact some of his initiatives--like the one on global warming--are opposed by the business community, I think his low-tax framework and his generally pro-business attitude are a stark contrast to Angelides' proposals. Schwarzenegget has been fortunate to ride the coattails of a very good national economy, largely thanks to tax cuts. But overall I think he conveys the right attitudes and pro-business policies.

Dex Deboree

Executive Producer

Ebeling Group

Angelides. I'm afraid Schwarzenegger's motives and intentions are totally beneath the surface and not in our best interests. I just spent time in Europe and I got a whole different view of how the rest of the world is looking at him. I think he plays to whoever is looking at him at the time, and I don't trust that. I think as it stands now Schwarzenegger sort of supports the Bush administration on giving tax breaks to big business.

Aaron Wheeler

Chief Executive

Sunny Mountain Media Group

Let me compare it to the ESPN show, "The Contender": If the judges had to call the fight at this time, Gov. Schwarzenegger would be the front-runner. Is it better for business? It depends if you are a stakeholder by right or by ownership. Well, I think I just heard the bell for the next round.

Bruce M. Ross

Chief Financial Officer

AFA Financial Group LLC

Schwarzenegger. Everything he does is probusiness, like keeping taxes low and enticing business into California. And the workers' comp reform has been a help for business. The companies that I have worked for have prospered since he's been in office and business has gone up. I think Angelides is looking to raise taxes in order to balance the budget. I don't think more taxes are what California needs; we just need cuts in spending.

Steve Welker

Chief Creative Officer

Catapult Marketing

Schwarzenegger. He'll tax people much less and tax businesses much less. Our clients do business nationwide. One of them, a pet food manufacturer, they' re packing up their California operations and they're moving to Tennessee. And California will need to replace that business. They're following Nissan to Tennessee where the business costs are lower. Hopefully that's not becoming a trend. But if we elect Angelides we can pretty much count on that happening. I don't know if higher taxes and voters not going along with Schwarzenegger's cost-control plan is part of the reason they're leaving. But we elected him into office and then basically turned our back on the idea we wanted him to make changes.