Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed yet another termed-out lawmaker to a six-figure post in state government, his sixth such appointment in recent months.
The latest appointee, former GOP Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, will earn $128,109 as a member of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, which meets publicly once twice a month.*
*The original version of this post said the board met once a month. It meets twice.
The Schwarzenegger appointments -- whose cumulative salaries total more than three-quarters of a million dollars annually -- have come as the state is battling record-setting deficits.
Last week, the Legislature adopted a Schwarzenegger-backed budget plan that contained a wide array of tax hikes and spending cuts in education, health and many other state services.
The Schwarzenegger administration defends the ex-lawmaker appointees as all qualified for the job.
"The governor is always interested in doing what's best for the state of California," said spokeswoman Rachel Cameron. "Regarding appointments, he's always looking for the highest and best qualified individuals for these positions."
Cameron said Runner could draw on her legislative "experience of bringing people together to address the needs of our state" on the board.
In 2008, Runner revealed she had been diagnosed with a rare lung disease, limited scleroderma, with no known cure. She is on a transplant list waiting for two new lungs. The condition caused her to miss much of the final weeks of the end of last year's legislative session.
Cameron said the governor's office has "every confidence in her that she'll be able to fulfill all of her obligations on the board."
Runner's own husband, state Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, has been an outspoken critic of state government spending.
"Now is the time to live within ours means," Runner said after Schwarzenegger's State of the State speech last month. "We must adopt a spending limit, hold the taxations of our citizens to a minimum and allow government to provide only the most basic needs."
He was among the Republicans who lead the ouster for former Senate GOP leader Dave Cogdill, because the Modesto Republican supported a budget plan with tax hikes.
Neither Runner could be immediately reached for comment.
Republican and Democratic ex-lawmakers alike have benefited from Schwarzenegger's appointments.
Among the prior appointees:
• Former Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra was appointed the director of the Governor's Regional Development Initiatives in the Central Valley. The job pays $128,124 per year.
Asked on the day of her January appointment by The Bee what the job entailed, Parra said, "No, not at this time. ... I hope to talk to folks tomorrow."
• Former Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, was appointed in January to the Worker's Compensation Appeals Board., which pays $128,109 a year.
• Former Republican Assembly members Bonnie Garcia and George Plescia were both appointed to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. The jobs, which pay $128,109 per year, were announced on New Year's Eve.
• Ex-Sen. Carole Migden, a Democrat, was appointed to a $132,178 job on the Integrated Waste Management Board in December.
The Democratic leaders of the Legislature have appointed two ex-lawmakers to six-figures posts since December, as well.
Democratic ex-Sen. Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica and ex-Assemblyman John Laird of Santa Cruz were given positions on the Integrated Waste Management Board.
All told, the annual salaries of the eight ex-lawmakers appointed to government posts since December top $1 million.
Photo: Then-Assemblywoman Sharon Runner listens to Mexican President Felipe Calderon speak to the Joint Session of the California Assembly and Senate in February 2008. Credit: Brian Baer/Sacramento Bee/ MCT/
@Nyx.CommentBody@