Peace Named New State Finance Chief

The Senate has approved Governor Davis´ appointment of former Senator Steve Peace as state finance director, despite one Republican lawmaker´s claim that Peace was guilty of odd behavior and questionable integrity.

Freshman Senator Jeff Denham said Peace had hurled abusive insults at local governments, a lobbyist for the American Heart Association and other lawmakers and that his crowning achievements as a legislator included the state´s energy, workers´ compensation and budget crises.

Senate President Pro Tem John Burton said Republican leaders supported the first state budget Peace helped craft as Senate Budget Committee chairman and that Senate Republican leader Jim Brulte had a major role in drafting the workers´ comp and electricity deregulation legislation that Denham criticized.

The Senate approved Peace´s nomination today 32-6 with nine Republicans backing the appointment.