Guess clothing co-founder Georges Marciano to run for California governor

SACRAMENTO — The co-founder of the Guess clothing empire has joined the race to become California's next governor.

Georges Marciano of Beverly Hills filed paperwork Monday with the secretary of state's office to run as an independent in 2010, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's term ends.

Marciano publicist Rod Harrell says the 62-year-old plans to focus on exposing and eliminating political corruption. He says Marciano plans to launch a formal campaign soon.

Marciano and his three brothers founded the Los Angeles-based Guess in 1982. He was bought out in 1993 and the company went public in 1996.

At least 21 other gubernatorial candidates have registered to run, including former EBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman and former Gov. Jerry Brown.

-- Juliet Williams / Associated Press

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Comments

[Inga]

Ok this is so wrong in so many levels. Most of all because when I worked at GUESS headquarters in Los Angeles they used the Maintenance staff to run personal errands for the Marciano brothers. It was a well know company information that The Maintenance crew went to the Marciano family home and did personal things for them like babysit their children on company hours, do fix up at their homes, and all sorts of different personal errands on company time. This was in 2007 and a practice that continued. I know that One of the Marciano's children would go to the lot and being under age, he was 12 at the time, was able to drive the company gold cart around the lot. The gates would be closed for him and one of the maintenance crew would play babysitter while the child was visiting the facility.
I would questions this mans ethics first. It was well know that although GUESS was a publicly traded company, the Marciano brothers ran the company as if they called the shots still and everyone did what they were told.
The corporate behavior in headquarters was unethical and should have been investigated. And probably should be investigated for some of the things that were being done at the facilities. If you did not fall in line you were demoted or black listed.

This guy run for Governor?!!! God help us. He does not deserve it.

[john Smith]

Sounds like the LA times has been given an investigative lead to follow on exposing possible corruption with Marciano and Guess.

So let's see what the LA times decides to do next with this scoop.

John Smith

[Public Relations]

GUESS, Inc. would like to clarify that Georges Marciano is no longer a part of GUESS, Inc. and has not been a part of the company, nor has he had any relationship directly or indirectly with GUESS in 16 years. Furthermore, Maurice Marciano, Chairman of the Board of GUESS, Inc. and Paul Marciano, Chief Executive Officer, have not been in contact with Georges in the last 8 years.

The company of GUESS, Inc., including Maurice and Paul Marciano are not a part of Georges candidacy for Governor of California and do not plan on being involved in the campaign in the future.

[anonymous]

I also worked for Guess for quite some time in the '90s. The things that went on there were scary and disturbing. Unethical only describes a small portion of what went on at the Guess headquarters downtown. Is is absolutely horrifying - and perhaps delusional- that Mr. Marciano has decided to run for governor. Be afraid, be very afraid.

[Muse7360]

Georges left Guess in 1993 and one of the earlier posts talks about incidents happening in 2007 which would have nothing to do with Georges. I worked at Guess when Georges was there. I worked closely with Georges and his three brothers. I always felt that I was treated well and was paid well for what I did at Guess. To this day it was one of the best work experiences of my life. I don't know what Georges is like now but when I worked with him he had a vision and was very focused on that vision.