Brown and Newsom to Nominate Two of the Next CIRM Chair Candidates

One news article on the re-election of Robert Klein as head of the California stem cell agency surfaced quickly tonight with an interesting reminder.

Reporter Ron Leuty's piece in the San Francisco Business Times was straight-forward. But it also refreshed readers on the nomination process for CIRM chair. It noted that two of the next nominees for chair will come from two new state officials, incoming Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, both Democrats.

Klein was nominated by the sitting governor and lieutenant governor, both Republicans.

Brown's choice could be interesting. However, he has been known to dally on filling vacancies in his own administration, much less enterprises outside the scope of his influence, such as CIRM. He also has a penchant for sometimes unusual appointments. Brown and CIRM vice Chair Art Torres, former longtime state legislator,also have known each for for decades.

Two other Democratic state officials, Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Controller John Chiang, also will make nominations for the new chair. Chiang had previously nominated Torres. Lockyer and Torres are old friends and colleagues. Lockyer did not nominate this month for chair, but nominated Torres for vice chair.

CIRM also produced a routine news release on the re-election tonight. You can find it here.