(snip)Costigan's depature was expected and is the first of potentially several changes in the horseshoe as Schwarzenegger begins his second term. Others expected to leave include press secretary Margita Thompson, cabinet secretary Fred Aguiar, and senior advisor Bonnie Reiss. The likely-to-depart include two Republicans and one liberal Democrat, for those keeping track of Schwarzenegger's electic inner circle.
Definitely staying: chief of staff Susan Kennedy, communications director Adam Mendelsohn and Daniel Zingale, who is Maria Shriver's chief of staff and the lead architect of the governor's efforts to tackle health care next year.
It was clear to anyone who'd been at a GOP victory party before that the election-night gathering at the Beverly Hilton was a bit out of the ordinary. And we're not just talking about the presence of Tom Arnold and Rob Lowe on stage, either. The room was crawling with Democrats, many of them are familiar faces in the current Republican administration: Susan Kennedy, Daniel Zingale, Maria Shriver, etc.But there were also some new faces. Among them Ross LaJeunesse, the former chief of staff to Steve Westly. More importantly, LaJeunesse has worked for both of the Kennedys in Schwarzenegger's life: Teddy and Susan. Westly and Schwarzenegger sources say LaJeunesse is expected to be the latest Democrat to join the administration for the second term.
Meanwhile, a pair of GOP stalwarts are expected to be leaving. The oft-rumored departure of Legislative Secretary Richard Costigan is now confirmed as Costigan heads to the law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge. Also said to be on his way out is Fred Aguiar, the gov's cabinet secretary. Maybe LaJeunesse could fill one of those gigs.
Costigan was liaison to Republican offices. I guess they don't need him any more. There are only one or two solid Republicans left in the Governor's office. The transition is almost complete.