[CA] State finance director steps down to join special election team

AP ^ | 9/7/5 | BETH FOUHY

[SmithL]

San Francisco -- State Finance Director Tom Campbell is stepping down after less than a year in the job to join the campaign team promoting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "year of reform" ballot initiatives.

Beginning Thursday, Campbell will take unpaid leave from the Department of Finance to help Schwarzenegger sell his initiatives, which will go before voters in a Nov. 8 special election. The Republican governor wants to cap state spending, strip lawmakers of the power to draw political boundaries and lengthen the probationary period for teachers from two years to five.

"Gov. Schwarzenegger is working to change California for the better, but we are at a historic crossroads," Campbell said in a statement issued by the California Recovery Team, Schwarzenegger's campaign arm. "The state has two options: It can continue to spend more than it takes in, or the people can reform the system."

[SmithL]

Good man.

[pogo101]

I always liked Tom ever since he guest-lectured for an undergraduate class when I was at Stanford (where he was one of the youngest tenured law profs at the time). He drifted left over time on social issues, but he's rock-solid on economic issues. His Ph.D. advisor at U. of Chicago was (as Campbell puts it) "St. Milton of Friedman."

[ElkGroveDan]

This is the man who couldn't break 32% in a statewide election...they should hire hire some college kid for $3000 a month instead and let him go back to managing state fiscal policy.

[calcowgirl]

A brainy former congressman and Stanford Law professor, Campbell was hailed as a witty and engaging budget whiz when he replaced former Finance Director Donna Arduin last November. But he quickly alienated Democrats, who found his style overly dogmatic and arrogant.

Campbell refused to consider tax increases to close the state's multibillion dollar budget deficit, instead advocating deep cuts to state programs. In the end, higher-than expected tax revenue this year helped fund many programs, including an additional $3 billion to public education.

I don't care how important the special election is, nothing should be more important than working the darn budget. Turning over the director position every year is NOT going to help. First Arduin, now Campbell. Certainly someone else could make an equivalent contribution to the special election campaign.

Is he being removed to make way for tax increases?

[calcowgirl]

Campbell's departure is one of many anticipated out of the governor's office in the next several days. Pat Clarey, Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, is expected to become campaign manager for the ballot initiative campaign, while communications director Rob Stutzman will be its chief spokesman.

So who will replace them? Team Maria? Hertzberg? Bonnie Reiss?

[SierraWasp]

"Is he being removed to make way for tax increases?"

It sure wouldn't surprise me as this new position takes him technically out of the Schwartzenegger administration!!! Something BIG is UP!!!

Carry_Okie? What do you think of this? Most Conservatives have always considered Campbell a RINO in most regards execpt maybe fiscally, somewhat. You seemed to have a reasonably high regard for him... What do you think is going on???

[SierraWasp]

I'm sorry to be so negative, but after looking at those miserable polls, it looks like re-arranging the deck chair on the Titanic, to me at this moment!!!

[NormsRevenge]

FRom the high seas, (actually we're docked at Victoria, BC as I send this).

Methinks Tom will be back teaching after the election, the Capitol is a grinder for most these days.

One nice thing here at sea is no political ads are shown on board. :)

[calcowgirl]

Ahoy!

You probably don't have to see Mark Leno's mug on the news, either. I'm jealous!

[SierraWasp]

Eye, matey! Why din'tcha take a boat-load of them gayblade newlyweds up there an feed them big black an white whales up there in the inland passage of gas???

[Alia]

bookmark

[editor-surveyor]

"He drifted left over time on social issues"

Ya wouldn't be puttin' us on now, would you? It looked more like a 'full port rudder' to me :o)

"Is he being removed to make way for tax increases?"

CCG, it's called 'harmony' in RINO politicks; when a conservative policy has to yield to a liberal policy, it's always called harmonious, but when a liberal policy is booted for a conservative policy it's called 'bitter, devisive partisan politics.'

[calcowgirl]

>>CCG, it's called 'harmony' in RINO politicks; when a conservative policy has to yield to a liberal policy, it's always called harmonious, but when a liberal policy is booted for a conservative policy it's called 'bitter, devisive partisan politics.'

Thanks! I've been collecting a glossary. I will add these terms.
Question: Is "harmony" synonomous with "unity"? ;-)

[editor-surveyor]

"Question: Is "harmony" synonomous with "unity"? ;-)"

No, but unity is achieved when all the conservatives give up after harmony is applied ;o)

[calcowgirl]

Kumbaya....
Imagine all the people...

That'll be the day...

;-)