More Schwarzenegger Shakeups

December 17, 2006 @ 11:36 PM

Last week's staff shakeups by Governor Schwarzenegger were smart moves designed to make the horseshoe staff more functional. The reorganization is a near carbon copy of the reshuffling of Governor Gray Davis' inner circle after the 2002 election, with the naming of a layer of Deputy Chiefs of Staff that will report to Chief of Staff Susan Kennedy, a Davis veteran herself.

In fact, it was interesting (at least to me) to see that the Governor's office actually is mentioning the words "Governor Gray Davis" in their press releases these days. In Schwarzenegger press office announcements in the administration's early days, those words were conspicuously absent. Now, the former Governor is on Schwarzenegger's inaugural committee, and several of his key staffers hold prominent positions in his administration. Go figure.

Capitol insiders have had nothing but good things to say about the changes, particularly the appointments of veteran insiders to the legislative secretary and cabinet secretary posts. They are also applauding the finesse of denying Margaret Fortune the Secretary of Education job after the education community spoke out against her selection. Fortune's portfolio is still unclear.

Fortune, an energetic crusader for education reform, had spent a considerable amount of time on the campaign trail for Schwarzenegger, during both the 2005 special election and last year's general election campaign. One of the few visible African-Americans on the Governor's staff, Fortune stirred controversy last year when she took on local Sacramento African-American officials at an event where the Governor was a no-show.

Meanwhile, two other Schwarzenegger staffers have moved on.

Ryan Jimenez, First Lady Maria Shriver's Press Secretary, had an abrupt departure last week after only a few months on the job. The reasons for his departure are unclear, but it was a short stint after he moved to Sacramento from LA.

Also gone is the Governor's talented taxpayer-paid personal photographer, John Decker. Decker was a photographer at the Sacramento Bee before joining the Schwarzenegger staff.

The Governor has yet to fill the press secretary post vacated by Margita Thompson last week. And there are two key cabinet posts -- leaders of the Business, Transportation, and Housing department, as well as the Department of Education, that remain unfilled. Stay tuned.