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News briefs on the California recall campaign
The Associated Press
Saturday, August 23, 2003
©2003 Associated Press

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/23/state1837EDT0098.DTL

(08-23) 15:37 PDT SACRAMENTO (AP) --

Gov. Gray Davis' top individual contributor since 2000 has joined Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger's team of economic advisers, a move some analysts characterized as a new sign of the governor's falling support.

Broadcasting baron A. Jerrold Perenchio, a Republican, made the move just weeks after donating $50,000 to the anti-recall campaign. He has given Davis $775,000 since 2000, outdone only by $956,000 contributed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association.

"Psychologically, this is a sign that Schwarzenegger is invading the governor's turf," said Claremont McKenna College government professor Jack Pitney. He said Perenchio "likes to play the side he thinks is going to win."

Perenchio, chairman and chief executive of Spanish-language Univision Communications Inc., donated $1 million last year to Schwarzenegger's successful Proposition 49, which sets aside part of the state budget for children's' after-school programs.

Contribution reports indicate no donations yet to Schwarzenegger.

Davis anti-recall spokesman Peter Ragone declined comment on Perenchio's decision to join the council chaired by billionaire investor Warren Buffett and former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz.

Perenchio did not attend the 23-member council's first meeting Wednesday because he was traveling. A request for comment left on the voicemail of a Univision spokeswoman was not immediately returned Saturday.