Free Republic

(02-11) 10:01 PST SACRAMENTO, (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to name a longtime former Santa Cruz legislator, Bruce McPherson, as California's 29th secretary of state Friday, sources told the San Jose Mercury News. McPherson, 61, who left the state Senate last year after 11 years in the Legislature, would replace Kevin Shelley, who resigned last Friday while facing numerous investigations into his conduct in office. Shelley's resignation takes effect March 1. The governor's office scheduled an 11 a.m. announcement on the appointment.

By happenstance, a multifaceted scandal is driving Secretary of State Kevin Shelley out of office just as a power struggle between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders is hitting a critical stage - and the governor's choice of a successor to Democrat Shelley is being colored by the escalating battle. Legislative leaders are virtually begging Schwarzenegger to appoint a caretaker who wouldn't seek election to a new term in 2006, but he's planning to name a Republican - perhaps a Latino - who would, in fact, run in 2006 and begin rebuilding the otherwise nonexistent bench of statewide GOP...

I just heard Arnold interviewed on KMJ radio, and he stated that after a meeting this morning, he will *most likely* announce Shelly's replacement. Also discussed the budget, where he said, sadly the Democrats do not look like they are going to cooperate so he will take his agenda to the people. --No more tenure for teachers; --Merit based pay for teachers, dismissal for those not performing; --Dems want to spend 10B more than the 5B revenues taken in, and Arnold refuses to do that and keep his promise that CA will not spend more than they take in.