Free Republic

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed two well-connected Southern California Republicans to the University of California Board of Regents on Friday, filling two vacancies on the 26-member body. William De La Pena, 52, is a prosperous ophthalmologist in Whittier (Los Angeles County) with chains of eye clinics serving Latino communities in East Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Bruce Varner, 69, a civically involved Redlands lawyer whose clients include grocery chain Stater Brothers, is a friend and contributor to longtime Republican Rep. Jerry Lewis of Redlands (San Bernardino County). Lewis, who is under federal investigation for his ties to lobbyists and contractors, wrote...

For three months, news has spread about Rep. Jerry Lewis and the controversy linked to a federal inquiry into his ties to lobbyists and contractors. During that time, the prominent Redlands Republican has barely uttered a word about the investigation publicly. His staff issued a handful of news releases, and Lewis, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, gave a few brief telephone interviews. A staff member said in June that Lewis was too busy to discuss the federal investigation because of his congressional duties. But the staffer said Lewis' schedule would relax some after July 4th, and Lewis would...