SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Dan Schnur as chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). “The people of California deserve a political environment that is fair and puts their needs first,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Dan Schnur has spent years teaching and advocating for equality and transparency in California politics and I am grateful that he will continue his service to our state in this new role.”
Since 2008, Schnur has been director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California (USC) and adjunct instructor at the University of California, Berkeley since 1996. He served as co-chairman for California Voices of Reform from 2006 to 2007 and was founder and director of the Center for Campaign Leadership from 2002 to 2003. Schnur was the national communications director for McCain for President 2000 from 1999 to 2000 and communications director for the Office of Governor Pete Wilson from 1991 to 1994.
Schnur has served as an advisor to the William & Melinda Gates Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Broad Education Foundation, James Irvine Foundation and Stuart Foundation on a variety of K-12 education, college and workforce preparedness, governance and political reform efforts.
“The people of California voted to create the FPPC over 30 years ago because they wanted fair elections,” said Dan Schnur. “Equality, transparency and honesty in our political process are essential to the success of this state and I look forward to continuing the reform that the people of California demanded.”
Schnur, 46, of Sacramento, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from American University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $132,179.
To read Dan Schnur’s biography on the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC website, click here.
The mission of the FPPC is to promote the integrity of representative state and local government in California through fair, impartial interpretation and enforcement of political campaign, lobbying and conflict of interest laws.
Governor Schwarzenegger has pledged to create a more open and transparent government, and he has followed through. From opening his schedule to the public, to making access to government records a civil right, the Governor has made good on his promise to shine more light on state government. Some of his most prominent actions include:
· Championing the Sunshine Initiative. In 2004, the Governor championed and 83 percent of Californians approved Proposition 59 to make access to government records and meetings a civil right under the California constitution.
· Being the first sitting governor to open his public schedule: In 2004, the Governor opened his daily official state calendar for public inspection. He has since made his official state calendar public, updated on a bi-weekly basis.
· Ensuring full compliance for information requests. In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-03-06, directing California’s executive branch to train and ensure full compliance for information requests made under the California Public Records Act.
· Launching a government transparency Web site. In 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger launched www.reportingtransparency.ca.gov to make publicly available the Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700, and the Travel Expense Claims for the Governor’s Office Senior Staff and Deputies, Agency Secretaries, Agency Undersecretaries and Department Directors.
· Cracking down on travel and income rules. In 2009, the Governor cracked down on travel and income rules, strengthening the policies and ensuring accountability. The Governor has since ensured that the travel and income forms for his senior appointees are posted for public view at www.reportingtransparency.ca.gov.
· Creating the first-in-the-nation Recovery Act Inspector General. Governor Schwarzenegger named Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick to be the first-in-the-nation Inspector General to act as watchdog over American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds.
· Centralizing government audits online. In 2009, the Governor signed an Executive Order to make government audits and contracts easily accessible on www.reportingtransparency.ca.gov.
