Portola Valley party for Steve Westly, candidate for governor Portola Valley party for Steve Westly, candidate for governor (July 06, 2005)

A who's who of Silicon Valley folks gathered in John and Eileen Donahoe's Portola Valley garden June 27 to help propel a kid who grew up in Atherton, and graduated from Encinal School and Menlo-Atherton High School toward becoming governor of the state.

About 350 people were there to boost the campaign of Steve Westly, who still lives in Atherton and now holds the office of state controller.

Guests ranged from high school English teacher Dave Lecount to the host -- John Donahoe, a division president at eBay, where Mr. Westly honed his business skills as an early executive and business guru.

Mr. Westly hopes to beat his main Democratic rival, State Treasurer Phil Angelides, in the primary next June, and eventually terminate the "governator" in November 2006.

The enthusiastic supporters applauded as Mr. Westly repeated his campaign mantra: "Where Washington has failed, California will lead."

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