http://admin.politickerca.com en http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3463/rnc-member-shawn-steel-wants-next-party-chair-be-superstar Shawn Steel, one of three Republican National Committee members from California, is looking for a "superstar" to be the face of the party as the next RNC chair. "I'm looking for a superstar that can go on T.V. or radio and put a couple of sentences together and make an effective, immediate presence, not somebody who has to be trained and tested," Steel, who will vote for the next RNC chair in January, told PolitickerCA.com. http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3463/rnc-member-shawn-steel-wants-next-party-chair-be-superstar#comments California Republican Party Linda Ackerman Republican National Committee RNC chair Ron Nehring Shawn Steel Local Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:15:00 -0500 James B. Gerber 3463 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3464/lieu-forms-exploratory-committee-attorney-general-2010 Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) filed paperwork this week to run for California Attorney General in 2010. Lieu is the third Democrat to make the move, joining San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and former Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla. 2010 Election Attorney General Jerry Brown Joe Canciamilla Kamala Harris Ted Lieu Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:45:00 -0500 James B. Gerber 3464 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3461/denhams-2010-lieutenant-governors-race State Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Merced) formally announced a bid Thursday for lieutenant governor in 2010, and in doing received the endorsement of three other potential competitors for the Republican nomination. Denham, who is termed out of his 12th Senate District seat in two years, said in a statement released by his campaign that he would focus on improving the state's regulatory environment for businesses, selling properties the state owns needlessly, and curb perks for top officials at the cash-strapped University of California system. 2010 Election Dave Cogdill Dean Florez Don Perata George Plescia Jeff Denham Jim Battin John Garamendi Kevin McCarthy Mike Villines Sam Aanestad Governor Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:41:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3461 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jeffmitchell/3459/schwarzenegger-nomination-stem-cell-institute-board-creates-instant-mini-election SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week nominated his own pick to serve as vice chairman of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine board, thus touching off what will be a small but interesting election. The governor initially nominated Dr. Claire Pomeroy for the post, but subsequently withdrew her name with the University of California, Davis, vice chancellor and dean determined that she would not have enough time to serve on the board that the voters created in 2004 when they approved Prop. 71. Schwarzenegger then nominated Duane Roth, already part of the institute's Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. http://admin.politickerca.com/jeffmitchell/3459/schwarzenegger-nomination-stem-cell-institute-board-creates-instant-mini-election#comments Arnold Schwarzenegger Art Torres Duane Roth Governor Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:31:00 -0500 Jeff Mitchell 3459 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3460/mccarty-interested-assembly-seat-termed-out-jones-2010 Sacramento City Councilman Kevin McCarty has filed a statement of intent to run as a Democrat for the Assembly seat being vacated in 2010 by 9th District Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento). McCarty, on the council since 2004, was elected to fill Jones' seat after Jones was elected to the state Assembly that year. 2010 Election Bonnie Pannell Dave Jones Kevin McCarty Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3460 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3458/fppc-postpones-decision-slush-fund-ballot-measure-committees SACRAMENTO - The state Fair Political Practices Commission postponed a decision Thursday that would make it more difficult for politicians to use generic ballot measure committees as less-regulated slush funds for political fundraising. Bowing to concerns from both concerned election law attorneys and some commissioners, the FPPC voted unanimously to delay adoption of the regulation until its details could be clarified, which would happen before the commission's next meeting in early January. Arnold Schwarzenegger California Democratic Party California Republican Party Don Perata Fair Political Practices Commission Governor Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:48:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3458 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jeffmitchell/3457/perata-transfers-whopping-15-million-leadership-california-pac-personal-legal-defe OAKLAND - In an act that could be nothing more than a politician taking an abundance of caution or a sign that his ongoing FBI corruption probe may finally be heating up, former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata transferred $1.5 million from his Leadership California to his personal legal defense fund, state records show. Don Perata FBI SD-09 Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:24:00 -0500 Jeff Mitchell 3457 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3456/becoming-ranking-gop-member-house-oversight-issa-issues-warning-democrats The House Republican Steering Committee Wednesday made U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) the ranking Republican on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is tasked with keeping tabs on fraud and abuse of power within federal agencies. Darrell Issa House Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:19:00 -0500 James B. Gerber 3456 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3455/poizner-continues-rack-republican-endorsements Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced another slew of Republican endorsements Thursday in his campaign for the 2010 Republican nomination for governor. The list of endorsements includes state Senators Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) and Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel) and state Assemblymembers Mike Duvall (R-Yorba Linda), Martin Garrick (R-Carlsbad), Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point) and Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber). President Dennis Hollingsworth Diane Harkey Jim Nielsen Martin Garrick Mike Duvall Mimi Walters Steve Poizner Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:10:00 -0500 James B. Gerber 3455 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3451/california-league-conservation-voters-approves-obamas-choice-sutley The California League of Conservation Voters is enthusiastic about the news that Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Nancy Sutley will chair the White House Council on Environmental Policy in President-elect Barack Obama's Administration. "In summary, Nancy Sutley rocks!" Warner Chabot, incoming CEO of the California League of Conservation Voters, said. President Barack Obama Nancy Sutley Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:14:00 -0500 James B. Gerber 3451 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3450/la-deputy-mayor-nancy-sutley-heads-obama-administration Nancy Sutley, Los Angeles deputy mayor for energy and environment, will chair President-elect Barack Obama's Council on Environmental Quality, according to multiple news reports. http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3450/la-deputy-mayor-nancy-sutley-heads-obama-administration#comments President Antonio Villaraigosa Barack Obama Nancy Sutley Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:12:00 -0500 James B. Gerber 3450 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jamesgerber/3439/following-crash-hunter-calls-maintenance-records-marine-fighter-jets U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-San Diego), the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, has asked the Marine Corps to release all maintenance records of its F/A-18D Hornet fighter jets after one crashed into a San Diego neighborhood Monday, killing four members of a young family. Barbara Boxer Dianne Feinstein Duncan Hunter House Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:23:00 -0500 James B. Gerber 3439 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jeffmitchell/3449/mcnerney-named-influential-house-energy-committee WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney is apparently quickly moving up the House political food chain as evidenced by his appointment Wednesday to the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. House House Energy and Commerce Committee Jerry McNerney Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:08:00 -0500 Jeff Mitchell 3449 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3448/obama-skips-nichols-run-federal-epa President-elect Barack Obama has bypassed state Air Resources Board chief Mary Nichols for a post leading the Environmental Protection Agency, tabbing a woman who previously held a similar position in New Jersey instead, according to media reports Wednesday. Nichols, reportedly one of the top two choices for the job, lost out to Lisa Jackson, former New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection commissioner who also worked at the federal EPA. President Barack Obama Lisa Jackson Mary Nichols Mike Thompson Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:06:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3448 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3447/replacement-names-surfacing-if-obama-tabs-rep-thompson If U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) is tabbed to the President-elect Barack Obama's Secretary of the Interior, a handful of contenders will look to replace him. Former Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Eureka), who was termed out at the beginning of this month, said this week that she'd hate to lose Thompson as a congressman, but wouldn't definitively say no to running as his replacement if the opportunity arose. President Barack Obama House Mike Thompson Pat Wiggins Patty Berg Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:54:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3447 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jeffmitchell/3446/uc-berkeley-physics-professor-expected-be-named-energy-secretary BERKELEY -- Steven Chu, a 1997 Nobel Prize-winning physicist, will be named the nation's next Secretary of Energy, officials and media reports indicated late Wednesday.  President-elect Barack Obama is expected to soon name Chu, who holds professorships at the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University to the high-level post. Chu, 60, an Oakland resident, is currently the director of the prestigious Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. President Barack Obama Steven Chu Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:18:00 -0500 Jeff Mitchell 3446 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3445/nunezs-son-out-after-bail-amount-halved After a judge cut his bail amount in half, the son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) was released Tuesday on bail related to a murder charge against him, according to media reports. Esteban Nuñez, 19, was released from San Diego Central Jail Tuesday evening with a bail amount of $1 million. A judge originally set the amount at $2 million in his initial court hearing last week. Fabian Nunez Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:49:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3445 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/jeffmitchell/3443/unique-anti-prop-8-protest-underway-wednesday SAN FRANCISCO - While many of the more publicized anti-Prop. 8 protests following the Nov. 4 election have been loud, high-profile street marches and rallies, organizers Wednesday launched a quieter protest against the successful ballot measure which prohibits gay marriage in the state. Gay MArriage Prop. 8 Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:12:00 -0500 Jeff Mitchell 3443 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3442/delta-college-trustee-quits-over-double-dipping-scandal A trustee for the San Joaquin Delta College board has resigned this week after pleading no contest to charges that she double-dipped on travel reimbursement expenses. According to media reports, Lodi-area trustee Marie Elena Serna, 67, resigned amid charges that she received about $1,500 through filing duplicate expense forms for about five trips with both the college and the Community College League of California. Marie Elena Serna Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:04:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3442 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickerca.com/benvandermeer/3441/stanislaus-county-supervisor-mayfield-dies Stanislaus County Supervisor Thomas Mayfield, weeks away from the end of his tenure on the board, died Tuesday in Modesto, the Modesto Bee reported Tuesday. Mayfield had been on the board since 1992, and had chosen not to run for re-election this year to another four-year term. The Bee reported that he died of lymphoma, and would've turned 78 on Friday. Thomas Mayfield Vito Chiesa Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:47:00 -0500 Ben van der Meer 3441 at http://politicker.com