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As the campaign for the 2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary gets underway, the issue that most divides candidates Steve Westly and Phil Angelides is proving to be tax policy.

Dealing with topics such as immigration, the economy and education, Westly, the current state controller, and Angelides, the current state treasurer, are competing to win the Democratic primary election on June 6 – and recent polls have shown that Westley is slightly ahead of his opponent, with many Democrats undecided.

The two candidates have similar histories, but they have highlighted several differences in their platforms – the biggest being the question of raising taxes.

While Angelides said he would tax the wealthy and close corporate tax loopholes, Westly said he would not raise taxes unless it became unavoidable. Westly said he would instead alter the state lottery to allot more money to schools.

In addition, Westly proposes to make community colleges free for all California residents by instituting a policy of forgivable loans, which require that students receive a degree and graduate in order to receive the benefits. To fund the proposal, he plans to give community colleges a share of Proposition 98 funds, which promises K-14 education a minimum amount of state and property tax revenue each year.

Angelides has outlined his own platform on education, proposing to roll back tuition and fees, increase financial aid, and double the number of counselors in California high schools.

He proposes to immediately roll back college fees to the level they were at before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took office in 2004 and provide state funding to make up the difference. However, Angelides has not yet publicly revealed how he will find the money to do so.

Angelides also plans to raise the income ceilings on CalGrants to benefit middle-class families and to increase the cap for competitive grants to 34,000 from the current level of 22,500.

Jesse Melgar, media relations director for Bruin Democrats, said the group has chosen to support Angelides because he has expressed sincere interest in the group’s work, and has consistently offered his support to the organization.

“Being an experienced Democratic, he’s served as kind of a mentor for us,” Melgar said, adding that Angelides has collaborated and communicated with the Bruin Democrats in the past.

Many political leaders and groups have declared their endorsement of either Westly or Angelides as well.

Campaign co-chairs for Westly include state Sens. Martha Escutia, D-Montebello, and Carole Migden, D-San Francisco. He has also been endorsed by various groups, including the California Small Business Association and the Association of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs.

The co-chairs of Angelides’ campaign include U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-California, and Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Angelides has been backed by the California Federation of Teachers and the California Federation of Labor.

Melgar said Angelides has a record of success and experience that has won him support from those prominent figures.

“The fact that he’s being supported by Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and other prominent Democrats shows that he’s a Democrat that’s capable of leading the state of California and undoubtedly we trust his experience,” he said.

The statewide concern over several other issues, such as the environment and the budget, have entered both Westly and Angelides’ campaign platforms.

In regard to the environment, Westly proposes to ban offshore oil drilling and stop toxic storm water runoff and pollution, while Angelides has proposed to reduce California’s gasoline and diesel use by 25 percent in the next 10 years.

Nick Velasquez, spokesman for the Westly campaign, said that in order to be truly committed to progressive values, one must be able to manage the budget and subsidize proposed programs, as Westly has done and will continue to do.

But Brian Brokaw, spokesman for the Angelides campaign, said the broad range of supporters show the treasurer’s advantage over both Westly and Schwarzenegger, who will be running for governor against the winner of the Democratic party.

“He not only has the support of both California senators, which is quite an honor to the campaign, but he’s got unprecedented breadth ... and support from progressive and conservative Democrats,” Brokaw said.

Analysts have said the key to winning the election in November will be winning the large number of moderate and independent voters.

Westly and Angelides both attended prestigious institutions of higher education and currently hold high posts in Sacramento. Westly graduated from Stanford University and was elected California state controller in 2002, while Angelides graduated from Harvard University and was elected California state treasurer in 1998.

Schwarzenegger will be the Republican candidate for governor in November’s election, though Julie Soderlund, press secretary for Schwarzenegger’s campaign, said the governor is currently focused on governing and is not concerned with the Democratic primaries.

With reports from Bruin wire services.