Governor-elect Jerry Brown heading back to Sacramento

Inauguration ceremonies for governors will take place in states across the country over the next few weeks. We’re taking a look at states where new leaders will have to face major deficits, population shifts and rising unemployment as they move into their mansions. How are these new governors going to fare when faced with their states’ looming budget problems? Today we look to California to consider Jerry Brown, who served as governor there from 1975 to 1983. Brown returns to the statehouse at the age of 74, older and ? perhaps ? wiser.

Bruce Cain, political science professor at the University of California Berkeley, says Brown’s biggest obstacle will surely be the massive budget shortfall he will inherit. Oakland resident Pete Nicks says he was impressed with Brown’s leadership when he was mayor of Oakland. He says that if anyone can think outside the box in a situation like the one California is in, it’s Jerry Brown.