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Now that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed AB 1381 into law and everyone has left the photo-op, and clarity has returned to the eyes of those blinded by all the flash bulbs, what happens next? 

The bill–due to go into effect on January 1, 2007­–will give the “Council of Mayors” hiring authority over the Superintendent and gives authority for hiring and awarding construction contracts to that Superintendent in addition to other powers.

The question on everyone’s lips now is: “Who will be the next LAUSD Superintendent?”  Since Roy Romer is anxious to step down from the position, the LAUSD Board of Education is feverishly searching for his replacement.  Amid chaos?  It appears so.  The Board of Education–currently possessing hiring authority for the next three months–is, according to Mayor Villaraigosa, withholding information about candidates vying for the position. The Board claims their decision is to protect those candidates who wish for their application to remain confidential–and with 26 mayors receiving the information it would be difficult if not impossible to respect their wishes.  The mayor’s office in response has accused the Board of using “obstructionist tactics.” 

Oh, to be a fly on that wall.  I can only imagine how quickly the Board would like to hire someone to replace Roy Romer and retain some of their authority–if for no other reason than to avoid Jackie Goldberg getting the position.  I wonder if her résumé has made it into the stack of applicants, yet.  Maybe they’re busy checking her references. 

“Let’s see, previous employment: Assemblywoman.  Hmmm, that sounds familiar. References?  Here we go: Antonio Villaraigosa and Fabian Nunez.  Hmmm!  Those names sound familiar.”

For us regular citizens, if you don’t like what your elected officials are doing, you can go to the polls and vote them out of office.  But it appears–in California, anyway–if you are a politician, the process is different.  Instead of going to the polls or soliciting the voters, you draft a bill shifting authority from one elected body to another, place pertinent decision-making into the hands of one individual and empower a third party with the hiring and firing of that individual.  Now you have successfully constrained the elected body with whom you disagree and placed authority into the hands of your cohorts.  WOW! And to top if off, you get a governor in a re-election year to sign the bill by promising photo-ops with inner city teachers and community leaders and you have successfully circumvented the entire electoral process.  Congratulations, Mayor Villaraigosa and Fabian Nunez, for staining us with your own brand of democracy.

Donna Connolly is with Republicans for Rational Reform.