George B. Schwartzman is a California, USA, businessman who ran for Governor of California in the 2003 California Recall.[1]
Financially conservative and socially moderate, Schwartzman ran as an independent. Despite a lack of funds, he managed to travel around the state and deliver speeches at several key conferences.
Schwartzman was the most successful "private citizen" candidate, and finished ninth overall in the race, just after actor Gary Coleman.
Some attribute his electoral success to the fact that his last name was quite similar to that of front-runner Arnold Schwarzenegger, and therefore would appear (in alphabetical order) right next to Schwarzenegger's name on the ballot. Schwartzman for his part disputes the claim, and argues it was his cross-state activism that earned him his electoral success.
Schwartzman contemplated running in the special elections to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of disgraced congressman Duke Cunningham, but eventually chose not to do so.