New in CW 07.06.06

Here's what I've got this week: Labor splits in secretary of state race Republican Secretary of State BruceMcPherson's election bid has received a boost from an unlikely source--several of the state's leading unions, including the powerful California Teachers Association, which has endorsed a statewide Republican for the first time. Three unions, which in the last two years have spent more than $50 million opposing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have endorsed and contributed to McPherson, a Schwarzenegger appointee. A fourth union endorsed and donated to McPherson in his unopposed primary, but remains neutral in the general election. Labor splits in secretary of state race This June's primary may have had the lowest voter turnout in California history, but don't tell that to the residents of Sierra County. While only 30.5 percent of eligible voters statewide cast a ballot, more than two out of three eligible voters in this rural, mountainous county made their way to the polls.