CRITICAL POST NOW FILLED
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a new press secretary.
The Governor’s office announced today that Aaron McLear will be taking over the post vacated last week by Margita Thompson.
McLear was recently the regional press secretary for the Republican National Committee and responsible for the Northeast region of the United States. Before that he was communication director for President Bush’s re-election in Ohio.
McLear is expected to start in mid-January.
GOV SAYS HE’S STAYING PUT
There’s been buzz around the Capitol that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may be leaving the Hyatt Hotel in Sacramento to move into a private penthouse condo now under construction a few blocks away. Unlike previous Governors, Arnold Schwarzenegger does not rent or own a home in Sacramento.
He’s been staying in the Hyatt, conveniently located directly across the street from the Capitol, since becoming Governor. But the Gov put the rumor to rest today, saying, “I’m very happy in my little hotel room.”
MARGITA HAS MOVED ON
Margita Thompson, the Governor’s popular bilingual Press Secretary has left the Capitol for her new job in L.A. as Communications Director for Health Net. Pinch hitting for her over the holidays is the English/Spanish speaking Julie Soderlund, Communications Director for the Governor’s Inaugural Committee. Soderlund says the assignment is “temporary” and will continue to wear two hats until a permanent Press Secretary is named. Soderlund, a UC Berkeley grad, lived in Mexico for a year where she honed her Spanish skills.
M.C. BROWN
Willie Brown, the former Mayor of San Francisco and self-proclaimed ‘Ayatollah of the Assembly’ has been named the official master of ceremonies for the inauguration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger next month. The controversial former Speaker of the Assembly held court for 31 years in Sacramento before leaving the Legislature in 1995 to serve two terms as San Francisco’s Mayor. Many capitol insiders consider Brown to be the target of voter anger that inspired term limits, so why would the Governor pick such a polarizing Democrat as emcee?
BIPARTISANSHIP SELLS
“It’s in the spirit of bipartisanship,” proclaimed Julie Soderlund, the Governor’s Press Secretary for the Inauguration. Bipartisanship is the new mantra at the State Capitol. Recent surveys show voters want Democrats and Republicans to roll up their sleeves and work together to solve California’s problems. It’s a theme endorsed by Willie Brown who says, “The people of California elected this Governor to move the state forward and working across party lines, he has done that.” Moving the state forward was a theme of the Governor’s re-election campaign, which portrayed his Democratic opponent Phil Angelides as moving the state backwards.
ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Arnold II, the sequel, officially begins at 11a.m. on Friday January 5, 2007, when the Governor is sworn in for his second term at the historic Memorial Auditorium in downtown Sacramento.
CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME
Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th President, was one of 13 original members inducted into the new California Hall of Fame exhibit in Sacramento earlier this week. The former President’s son, Ron Reagan Jr. was in town for the occasion representing the Reagan family.
Ron Jr. met with Governor Arnold Scharzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, who hosted the red-carpet event. The Reagan artifacts include the flight jacket the former President wore on board Air Force One, a piece of the Berlin Wall and the cowboy boots he’s said to have worn frequently around Rancho Del Cielo – the western White House near Santa Barbara. But were those boots really his favorites? Ron Reagan Jr. gave us the inside scoop saying, “I certainly remember those English riding saddles but he actually used to ride in English riding boots as well, so I’m not sure he got all that much use out of those cowboy boots.” And there you have it.
STAR PARADE
Among those walking the red-carpet were living legends Alice Walker, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Color Purple. Hollywood actor/director Clint Eastwood, famed architect Frank Gehry, AIDS researcher David Ho, tennis great Billie Jean King and the first woman to fly in outer space, astronaut Sally Ride. Other inductees include Cesar Chavez, Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, John Muir and the Hearst and Packard Families.
LAIRD ELECTED CAUCUS CHAIR
Assemblyman John Laird (D) Santa Cruz has been elected chairman of the California Legislature’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus. Formed four years ago, the Caucus includes five members – all Democrats – with two of them – Senator Carole Migden and Assemblyman Mark Leno - representing San Francisco. John Laird says the top priority for the Caucus this year will be Mark Leno’s Assembly Bill 43, the Marriage Equality Act.
PUBLIC OPINION SHIFTING?
When it comes to gay marriage, “public opinion is starting to change” says Laird. “There’s a big difference by age,” he notes. “Younger voters seems to think it’s not a big deal at all.” Laird is hopeful Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will take note of that and sign the Marriage Equality Act next year, despite the Governor’s veto of a similar measure back in 2005.
Don’t bank on it. The Governor is very much aware Californians voted overwhelmingly to ban gay marriage six years ago and in a recent interview, told me, “I think the people have spoken in California and already feel strongly about that – domestic partnerships are ok, but marriage no, so I would not overturn that.”
TERMED OUT
At its height, the LGBT Caucus had six members, but with the recent departure of former Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg of Los Angeles, the Caucus is down to five and now shrinking. John Laird tells Capitol Insider, “If term limits aren’t changed by 2008, three of the five members will be gone.” Laird and Leno will be termed out in 2008, along with Senator Sheila Kuehl (D) Santa Monica. That would leave just two members of the Caucus – Senators Christine Kehoe (D) San Diego and Carole Migden.
Asked if the LGBT Caucus would consider adding Republicans, Laird said he wouldn’t rule it out, but noted, “There’s never been an ‘Out’ Republican elected to the Legislature.”
