LAT: Gov.'s Top Aide to Woo Donors (Dem key to Arnie reelection campaign)

[DeepModem Mom]

Gov.'s Top Aide to Woo Donors
Potential contributors will get private access to Schwarzenegger's most trusted policy advisor.
By Robert Salladay, Times Staff Writer


SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is dispatching his newly appointed chief of staff to woo wealthy Republican donors for his reelection effort, injecting his most influential policy advisor into the job of collecting money for his campaign.

Susan Kennedy, once a top-level Democrat, will play a key role in the governor's reelection bid, the administration confirmed Wednesday. She is being paid campaign funds in addition to her $131,000 government salary and will mix freely with influential contributors.

Campaign finance experts and legislative Democrats questioned why Kennedy — the lead negotiator on major decisions in the Schwarzenegger administration — would be allowed to attend private meetings with donors when many have business before the administration.

Paul S. Ryan, associate legal counsel at the Campaign Legal Center in Washington, D.C., said allowing donors access to Kennedy creates "the appearance of corruption in California. If you are fortunate to afford the price of admission, then you automatically gain access that the vast majority of Californians do not have."

Appointed last month to the highest-ranking position in the Schwarzenegger administration, Kennedy is a former Democratic Party executive and aide to former Gov. Gray Davis. She has nevertheless vowed loyalty to the Republican governor and his 2006 reelection effort....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-kennedy12jan12,0,6614835.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[DBoon]

1. for a second I thought Michael Woo was running for office again

nt

[Spirochete]

2. She's no relation

to his wife, is she?

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I don't think she is. nt