I’m blogging live from the San Jose Technology Museum. I am sitting next to former California Republican Party Chairman Mike Schroeder and his wife, Susan, in the third row – where we have a great view for the proceedings. Nearby is Jim Richarsdson, Poizner’s new Chief of Staff, Larry Greenfield who is Director of the California Republican Jewish Coalition.
The crowd looks to be several hunded here for Poizner’s big day. At work are Tim Clark who heads up Poizner’s transition team (he and Wayne Johnson were lead consultants for the campaign), and Robert Molner, Mike Richman and Jennifer Kerns, other key aides to Pozner. Helping out at the event is also Catherine Brinkman, President of the California Young Republicans. They are all smiling – broadly – as they should be on this big day for Team Poizner.
Being here in Santa Clara County, on hand is the leadership of the local GOP, including Chairman Keen Butcher and Treasurer Steve Moore. Also on hand is Linda Boyd, Chairman of the Los Angeles County GOP Linda Boyd with her husband, former CRP Treasurer Doug Boyd. Intersestingly, Butcher and Boyd are locked in a contest to win election as the next President of the California Republican County Chairmens Association! Of course there are too many notables to mention… At least I have given you some of the local flavor.
Welcoming the crowd is former San Jose Mayor Tom. McEnery. The invocation is being given by Paul Locatelli, who is the President of the University of Santa Clara. Cantor Devorah Felder-Levy sang “Sabboth Prayer” (for those who recognize the song name from the musical Fiddler on the Roof, you get brownie points). Leading the pledge to the flag is Santa Clara County Sheriiff Laurie Smith.
Administering the oath of office is former legislator-now-Judge Quentin Kopp. Poizner, with his wife, Carol, and daughter by his side, proudly took his oath at precisely 11:40 a.m.
Congratulations to our new Republican Insurance Commissioner and to all of those who worked hard to elect him to office!
(Look to Adam Aleman’s Commentary today for some excerpts from Poizner’s prepared remarks.)