deukmejian was elected in 1982 to his first term as governor of california, defeating lieutenant governor mike curb, a recording company owner, in the republican primary. one of his early primary backers was former gubernatorial candidate joe shell of bakersfield, california, a conservative who had opposed richard m. nixon in the 1962 primary. upon his victory, "the new york times" published, "the image that comes across of mr. deukmejian - a devoted family man, an episcopal churchman, an ice cream lover - led one reporter to write, <nowiki>"</nowiki>california may have accidentally elected iowa's governor.<nowiki>"</nowiki>"