Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political steward from San Francisco drove to the green hilly slopes of Danville to spread the word that her Austrian-American boss has done a terrific job in improving the state.
Barbara Kaufman, the director of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s San Francisco Regional Office and former San Francisco Supervisor, promoted the governor’s achievements at the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce in early March.
Around 16 local officials, business people and residents attended the event, which was sponsored by the Town of Danville’s Government Relations Committee.
“I think the governor is on the right track,” Kaufman said. “He has the attitude that he just wants to get things done.”
As the gubernatorial election approaches in November, the governor is readying his re-election campaign and has hired political consultants from President Bush’s administration to help win in the fall, she said.
Kaufman, 72, predicted the governor will win the Republican primaries in June.
“He has a zest for living that seems to ooze out every pore,” she said. “He looks like he is having a good time as governor.”
“He is running unopposed,” she added.
Kaufman – a Democrat – said Schwarzenegger has improved California during the past two years. She said the governor has cut the state’s $16 billion deficit to $4.7 billion, reformed the state’s workers compensation, not raised taxes, and lowered the unemployment rate from 6.7 percent to 5.1 percent.
After talking about the governor’s achievements, she shared some of her experiences with meeting the former mega movie star and fitness mogul. She said when she met him, she realized that he wasn’t that tall but she still found it difficult to embrace him.
“He’s impossible to hug,” said Kaufman, who stands at 5 foot 1 inch. “It’s like hugging a refrigerator.”
Kaufman said Sacramento focused too much on partisan politics, and there was too much gridlock in the Capitol.
“I hated the way government was being run, and I thought I could do a better job,” she said. “I suspect that’s the same reason why Schwarzenneger decided to become governor.”
Robert Storer, Government Relations Committee chairman and Danville planning commissioner, said speakers are scheduled at the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce at 11:45 a.m. the first Thursday of the month. Bill Pollacek, Contra Costa County Tax Collector, will give a talk April 6; and Stephen Weir, Contra Costa County Clerk, will speak May 4.
Appeal over redevelopment project at old Chevron HQ coming to San Ramon councilApril 6, 2026 10:32 pm
