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.

[My2Cents]

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

I suggest we build them next to Indian casinos.

[snopercod]

Not so. When my wife and I moved to FL, we were absolutely floored when the DMV people were extremely pleasant and efficient. They even bent a few rules for us regarding the registration of a jet-ski trailer which had been parked for about ten years.

Here in NC, where we live now, they are almost as nice as in Florida.

[My2Cents]

The Gubernator will surprise a lot of people. They underestimate this man at their own risk.

[Reeses]

"The state Department of Motor Vehicles says it takes at least 90 days, to reconfigure computer systems and change outgoing bills to drivers whose registration is up for renewal"

I bet this claim alone caused the DMV director to get chopped. The days of telling lies as a way of life under socialism is over.

[snopercod]

Hey, if the price is right, I might be persuaded to come back out there and build you a power plant or two.

But it would take the proverbial BIG BUCKS (evil grin).

[My2Cents]

I suspect the reason for this is that EVERYONE in Kentucky is more courteous, helpful, and friendly than people in California.

[anoldafvet]

I absolutley agree!!!!

[My2Cents]

The days of telling lies as a way of life under socialism is over.

I pray to God in heaven, the creator of free enterprise and capitalism, that you are right.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Send a note to Arnoold, I think he just turned in his Salary so they have an extra 175,000 at least!

[pageonetoo]

"Here in NC, where we live now, they are almost as nice as in Florida. "

As a NC native, I can speak for them, and you are right, but for one significant difference from most DMV offices. In NC, they use private companies, under contract, and I would suspect the same to be true in Fla (don't know).
Any time you have private companies, and/or individuals taking over g'umt functions, service improves, and the people are usually nicer (there are always excepttions, but most folks in the private sector MUST please their customers!

[pageonetoo]

"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. "

CAnada, Great Britain, most of the EU, are all socialsists nanny-states, where service is non-existent, and everything is rationed.
I differ from your opinion, though, in that DMV still has some usefulfunction, and people won't die from slow, or lack of, service!

Thank the unions, and g'umt beaurocrats, for our present predicatment in the economy. There are people getting paid to stand around and do nothing (unless you think it takes skill to turn those stop/slow signs. OSHA, EPA, and Energy Dept., Education Dept, and 90% of the functional g'umt offices are crammed with do-nothing folks.
I did get a breath of fresh air while visiting the AFRH in DC. The lady helping my father's admission told me that they got a new administrator last year. After spending time looking around, he got rid of 40% of the workforce. he said they needed people working 40 hours for their 40 hour pay!

[Amerigomag]

but you can't just not pay the amount you are being billed.

Most I talked with who've been billed but not yet paid said they are not about to pay the now unlawful increase and then wait for a corrupt, liberal legislature of a bankrupt state to find the motivation to slash their own wrists so as to fashion a refund from funds that aren't there unless they cripple their pet programs.

[republicofdavis]

In fact, I remember a fair amount of people that said he would use the fires as an excuse not to cut the car tax.

I wonder where those people are now.

[w1andsodidwe]

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.

I wonder if voicing this policy is part of the reason for the firing. They also said that you would get a large fine if not paid on time. Such statements could easily be seen as insubordination. I certainly wonder when I read about this last night.

[radiohead]

I believe there must be a school to teach DMV employees how to be slow, rude, and beligerent.

LOL! I think that school is in DC. : )

To give props where they are due - when I moved to Seattle I went to get a non-drivers ID. I took my walkman, a book, and a pack of crackers. Based on my experience in DC, I figured I would be there awhile.

I was served, had my picture taken and laminated and was out of the door in 15 minutes. After the guy took my picture, I turned around to sit down, figuring I'd have to wait to pick up the finished product. He called me back, showed me the pic, asked if it was ok, then gave me the finished card.

I have to admit, after years of incredible bureaucratic idiocy in DC, I was floored. The two people I dealt with were polite, service was fast, I was treated like a citizen instead of a leper.

[Carry_Okie]

When charged with reading the handwriting on the wall and doing what it said, this idiot bureaucrat Gourley couldn't find his pen. Arnold made what has to be the easiest decision he will ever make in office and the best move I've seen him make yet:

He didn't wait a single day to can the goofball in charge of the most hated agency in State government. You can bet that every department Sacramento has taken notice.

[mendedheart]

Our local Orange County, CA newspaper stated this morning a refund will be mailed in the next 45 days.
(Speaking of the car tax for CA)

[mendedheart]

Arnold stated in his speech today that he gives back his income of $ 175,000.00 per year to the general fund of the state.

[mendedheart]

Arnold stated in his speech today that he gives back his income of $ 175,000.00 per year to the general fund of the state.

[My2Cents]

Arnold made what has to be the easiest decision he will ever make in office

I agree with you. It was easy, and, frankly, it would have been a serious stubbing of his toe to have done otherwise. The DMV is clueless, but it's a great example of the kind of entrenched disrespect of the public that pervades state bureaucracy.

But I disagree with you on one thing: The most hated public agency in California is the South Coast Air Quality Management District. I know. I used to work for the District.