Reply #20: CA Bill would limit election official's political role, donations [View All]

[dzika]

March 16, 2005

CA Bill would limit election official's political role, donations

By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer

The secretary of state couldn't endorse other candidates or ballot measures or serve as an officer in a political party or organization, under a bill advanced Wednesday by the Senate elections committee.

The bill by Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, who is seeking the top elections office next year, would also bar contributions from makers of ballot counting equipment or software.

Bowen, who chairs the elections committee, helped derail a proposal by Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Salinas, to make the office nonpartisan, similar to the state's superintendent of public instruction.

The debate came as the Senate Rules Committee endorsed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's nomination of former Republican Sen. Bruce McPherson to replace Democratic Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who left office March 4 amid several investigations. McPherson's nomination will stand if neither chamber rejects the appointment by June 3.

The rejection of Denham's proposal marks the second time in two days that efforts to make the office nonpartisan failed in legislative committees. An effort by Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla, D-Pittsburg, was rejected in his chamber Tuesday. He and Denham said they may try again at future committee hearings.

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