Governor tabs Democratic activist as chief of staff
Laura Kurtzman, San Jose Mercury News
November 30, 2005

Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today he has hired Susan Kennedy, a longtime Democratic activist who was a high-level aide to former Gov. Gray Davis, as his new chief of staff.

Speaking at a news conference, with Kennedy at his side, the governor said her appointment did not signal a shakeup of his staff, although the Sacramento rumor mill has been churning for months that there would be a staff shakeup after the disastrous special election.

Kennedy, who surprised many Democrats by taking the job, said she was honored to work with Schwarzenegger, whom she said she supported in the recent special election by voting for all of his ballot initiatives.

"This was not a light decision for me but it was actually a pretty easy decision,'' she said. "I believe very strongly that we have a historic opportunity to change the political dialogue in this state.''

She added, "If this gov is willing to risk his leg by taking a chance on me, I'm willing to risk my political career to do what I believe is right.''

Kennedy, who is 45, gay and lives in Marin County, began her political career as head of the California Abortion Rights Action League. She later served executive director of the California Democratic Party under Phil Angelides, who is running for governor against Schwarzenegger. She has also worked for Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The appointment was publicly applauded by several high-ranking Democrats. But it has also been panned on the left and the right.

Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, a group that opposes gay marriage, said in making the appointment, Schwarzenegger has betrayed conservatives.

"By placing a leading homosexual, pro-abortion Democrat activist in charge of his entire administration, Arnold has taken a disastrous turn to the left,'' Thomasson said in a statement.

"Conservative voters who supported him are waking up from their dream and stepping into reality -- and the reality stinks.''