The governor spent the day on defense, defending his deal with bodybuilding magazines that
pays him millions. " Schwarzenegger believes that questions about his company's five-year agreement are "much ado about nothing,"
Rob Stutzman, the governor's communications director, said.
But the governor did apparently change his plans after the story broke. A release late Wednesday from the governor's press office said the governor would "hold a media availability" after discussing education funding at a Los Angeles middle school. That availability never happened.
Meanwhile, everyone from
Steve Westly to
Sen. Jackie Speier honed in on the contract. Speier called a quick press conference Thursday and said news of the governor's contract calls into question
last year's veto of her bill restricting health supplements to minors
But the governor's problems pale in comparison to the soon-to-be-former Congressman from San Diego County. Congressman
Duke Cunningham announced he would not seek reelection to Congress at the end of his term.
Cunningham made the announcement at a
"hastily called press conference," where he took no questions from reporters. "The time has come for me to conclude the public chapter in my life," the eight-term San Diego-area Republican said, reading from a brief written statement. "Quite simply,
right now I may not be the strongest candidate." An ongoing criminal investigation into Cunningham's financial dealings may go a long way in determining the next chapter in the former fighter pilot's life.
Never one to allow a political corps to cool,
Howard Kaloogian took all of 17 seconds to put out a press release after the announcement.
Mark Wyland is considered by many to be the early favorite for the seat, but much Republican speculation will ensue in the weeks and months ahead.
A Sacramento judge
refused to allow legislative leaders to join a lawsuit that seeks to throw the redistricting measure off the special election ballot.. But the Bee's Jim Sanders reports
the governor's office knew about problems with the initiative's signature gathering process before the measure was submitted to the Secretary of State.
"
Lance Olson, attorney for Assembly Speaker
Fabian Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem
Don Perata, said
the governor had a moral responsibility to disclose the legal defect before Secretary of State Bruce McPherson certified the measure June 10 and the governor called a special election three days later.
And you thought your city council was tough. In Burbank,
a local councilwoman was arrested after
drugs and guns were found in her home as police investigate whether her boyfriend is a gun runner for a local gang.
