LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) — Happy, angry, sad, worried, vindicated, satisfied, frustrated, surprised and relieved.
Emotions were all over the map Wednesday in California, one day after the state ousted its governor and installed an Austrian-born Hollywood action-movie star in his place.
Arnold Schwarzenegger swept Gov. Gray Davis out of office during a stunning recall election in which Californians vented their fury over the state’s sputtering economy and the career politician leading them.
Anger at Davis seemed to resonate more loudly Wednesday than enthusiasm for Schwarzenegger, who has never spent a day in political office, hardly ever voted, and now faces the daunting task of closing a $10 billion budget gap.
Allegations that Schwarzenegger had sexually harassed 16 women had been brushed aside by the majority of voters but left a bitter taste in others’ mouths.
“I’m not a big fan of Arnold because of the women stuff and because he didn’t answer a lot of political questions, but I guess we’ll have to deal with it. I’m not really confident in him, but hopefully his family will help him out,” said Jennifer Taylor, a working mother and principal at MDS & Associates, a commercial real-estate investment firm in southern California. She was referring to his wife Maria Shriver’s family, the Kennedy clan; Shriver is a niece of assassinated former President John F. Kennedy.
Many voters seemed simply relieved to be rid of Davis. “As long as it’s not Gray Davis, it doesn’t matter who it is,” said Maria Corpuz, a legal assistant in Los Angeles.
Anger and disappointment seemed more the emotion du jour in the northern, more liberal reaches of the state.
“People up here are pretty disgusted with it. It’s the only thing people are talking about. I think people are disappointed that somebody with so little experience and such an undefined agenda would be put in a position to lead the state at such an important time,” said Matt Graves, a public-relations executive in San Francisco.
“There may not be any love lost for Gray Davis, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for a governor with the experience and credentials to effectively run the state,” he said.
The recall process itself invoked strong emotions.
“Many people wish Davis had just stepped down and made Bustamante governor. The recall would have been off. I believe that people who didn’t vote in the general election shouldn’t have been allowed to vote in the special election,” Graves said.
Los Angeles attorney Marva Wyatt expressed regret. “I guess the democratic process was served in this case, but I think the recall process sets a dangerous precedent,” she said.
Others applauded the process. “I’m very pleased. I don’t love Arnold, but it was time for a change. Davis exhibited poor judgment at crucial times, and I support the electorate being responsive to his poor decision-making,” said David Robinson, an attorney from Irvine.
David Stairs, vice president of a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate firm, said, “I think it’s a step in the right direction. I think it’s a populist movement and a win for the small guy. I don’t think he’s the ideal candidate, but I think hopefully we’ll see some changes. I hope to see less government intervention and interference in the people’s lives. I hope we reverse this trend,” he said.
Meanwhile, Claudia Laber, an Austrian-born flight attendant for Lufthansa on a stopover in Los Angeles, said she had no thoughts either way about the recall or Schwarzenegger but was happy he had raised awareness about her homeland.
“People know where Austria is now because of Arnold. They used to be like, ‘You’re from where? Australia?’ and now you turn on CNN and they’re interviewing people in his hometown. There’s a lot of publicity for Austria right now,” she said.
