Schwarzenegger selects new DMV director

Associated Press

[BurbankKarl]

SACRAMENTO (AP) In one of his first moves as Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger named a new Department of Motor Vehicles director.

Chon Gutierrez started Tuesday as the DMV's interim director, said Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson.

Until his appointment, Gutierrez was the state's chief assistant secretary of state.

Gutierrez has also served as director of the California Lottery.

Thompson could not confirm reports by The Sacramento Bee that DMV director Steven Gourley had been fired Monday. She said did not yet know.

Gourley and the DMV did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press.

[goldstategop]

The DMV Director serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Steve Gurley was a Gray Davis political appointee and the DMV didn't get the message the Chief Executive meant it that he wants the car tax increase rolled back. Hopefully with the changing of the guard at the DMV, that will happen more quickly now.

[snopercod]

When I lived in Kali, I dreaded going to the DMV. The workers there were the most obnoxious people you would ever not want to meet.

Arnold is doing well so far.

[Serb5150]

What happens if you've already paid your hiked up car tax and the increase gets repealed?

[sheik yerbouty]

Arnold does not want a Gourley man on his team!

[goldstategop]

You apply for a rebate.

[Publius]

Gov. Schwarzenegger is in clean-up mode right now, and his first priority is administering an enema to California state government.

In this earliest phase, firing is much more important than hiring.

[goldstategop]

LOL! That's the funniest quote of the day.

[joey'smom]

We're due a refund as I read the proclamation -- but no word on the exact process yet.

[My2Cents]

After the comment made yesterday by some drone over at the DMV, someone's head should have rolled. Asked to comment on Gov. Schwartzenegger's executive order rolling back the car tax, some spokesperson at the DMV said, "It isn't official until we receive it, and we haven't yet received it." Pompous moron! I hope this firing gives the strong message that left-over bureaucrats better not drag their feet in following this governor in his initiatives.

[pageonetoo]

I believe there must be a school to teach DMV employees how to be slow, rude, and beligerent. It is not a problem unique to Kalifornya, but is national!

[My2Cents]

lol....very good.

[My2Cents]

Whenever I get into a discussion with someone who supports state-funded, single-payer health care, I tell them that if they like the way the DMV operates, they'll LOVE the way a single-payer system will look after their health care.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I really liked the inauguration and his speech.

Arnoold is doing very well so far!

Somewhere down the line he needs to address building of new power plants!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL!

Arnoold delivers a message to the Bureaucrats!

[martin_fierro]

[BibChr]

It'd be kind of fun to see an anthology of pundits (and FReepers) who specifically said he either couldn't or wouldn't do this as promised.

And he did.

AS PROMISED.

Dan

[FairOpinion]

"What happens if you've already paid your hiked up car tax and the increase gets repealed? "

==

They addressed this in the news. They said you will get a refund. Also, if you recently got an increased bill, you still have to pay that too, to get your registration renewed, you will get the excess refunded, but you can't just not pay the amount you are being billed.

[FairOpinion]

"Somewhere down the line he needs to address building of new power plants! "

==

He did say during his campaign that he want to build new power plants in CA. I am sure he will keep that promise too.

[anoldafvet]

Believe it or not the folks who work for the BMV in Louisville, KY are not like those in California. They are courteous, helpful, friendly, they smile, and they get you in and out as quickly as possible. When I changed my Indiana driver's license to Kentucky, it took all of 10 minutes, and five of that was waiting for the printer (It took me half a day to do the same thing in California). Our BMV people are truly professional.