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For state elections boss, it's total recall "I think he's tried to avoid stepping on any land mines, but that has caused him to not make the right decision, which is to call for the recall to be expedited," said Republican consultant Sal Russo, who is advising one group of recall supporters. "He's not being forthright in his advice." From Democrats, Shelley said, the pressure has been "nothing tangible." He speaks in vague terms of "suggestions" as Davis supporters question the process: "(They ask): 'How does the timeline work here?' Little nuances here and there." Shelley said that he was invited to a California Labor Federation strategy session on how to best oppose the recall but that he declined and was never pressured to reconsider. Neither the governor nor Taxpayers Against the Governor's Recall has asked him for anything, Shelley said. Asked just who had pressured him, he said, "I can't say. Just supporters." He won't say whether he thinks it is legitimate to recall a governor who is accused not of corruption but of understating the state's fiscal problems, Shelley said: "I don't have an opinion. I cannot have an opinion." He also won't say whether he thinks Davis has done a good job as governor. Nor will he venture an educated guess as to if and when a recall election will be held. While some Republicans are giving Shelley a hard time, the director of Rescue California, the pro-recall group that gathered most of the signatures, says he has changed his mind about Shelley in the last week or two. At first, Shelley seemed inclined to drag out the signature-verification process, David Gilliard said. Ultimately, Shelley told counties that he would count signatures as they submitted them. "That was a huge step in my mind," Gilliard said. "Right now, I think he's going to be fair and he's not going to stand in the way." Wills, of the anti-recall group, said other Davis opponents have unfairly smeared Shelley. "They've sort of thrown this sinister specter out there that Kevin Shelley is in league with the governor to thwart the will of the people," Wills said. "From our perspective, nothing could be further from the truth. For one thing, he doesn't talk to us about what he's doing."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Writer ---------------------------
The Bee's Margaret Talev can be reached at (916) 326-5540 or mtalev@sacbee.com.
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