EDITORIAL THE PEOPLE'S GOVERNOR ARNOLD WILL NEED THE PUBLIC TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISES.

THE cliche of the moment is that, for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the ``easy'' part is behind him. When he becomes governor today, he will face challenges unlike any he's ever had to encounter, be it in becoming a world- champion bodybuilder, a movie star or a political giant-killer.

While it's true Schwarzenegger has his work cut out for him, it would be a mistake - for observers and political opponents alike - to underestimate the enormity of his accomplishments so far, or his potential for future success. Toppling a sitting governor and triumphing over a crowded field of opponents is no mean feat.

And Schwarzenegger is no political fool. He's already proved he knows how to succeed in politics. The rigors of governance should be well within his reach.

The key is reaching out to the public.

That was how Schwarzenegger mounted his successful and historic campaign. He pledged to be the people's governor, striking a populist theme that a fed-up public desperately wanted to hear.

``I set always big goals for myself and most of them I accomplish,'' Schwarzenegger said during the recall debate that made his campaign. ``But this one is a little bit bigger than I am. And that's why I need your help. I need a lot of help.''

He needed it then, and he will need it in the months and years ahead.

Schwarzenegger couldn't have toppled the deep-pocketed, politically slick Gray Davis without the support of a massive popular uprising, a willingness on the part of the public to hold their politicians accountable and demand more from them.

To topple the special interests that dominate Sacramento, the unwieldy state bureaucracy and a two-party political system that cares about nothing beyond its own self-perpetuation, Schwarzenegger will need more of the same.

The state Legislature is firmly entrenched in its big-spending ways. Public-employee unions won't give up their sweetheart deals without a fight. Each and every interest will scratch and claw for its very survival.

And not even the Terminator can be expected to fight them off alone. He can, however, do it with the help of an active, engaged public, one that's willing to hold its legislators accountable in demanding a better, truly progressive state government.

Only if the state's elected officials fear for their jobs will they be willing to make the sacrifices and tough decisions that Schwarzenegger's expected to ask of them. And if, even then, they won't be part of the solution, Schwarzenegger might need to go over their heads and take his reform proposals directly to the people.

During the recall campaign, something truly transformative happened in California politics. For the first time in a long time, the public, in great numbers, paid attention to state politics. Citizens debated the issues. They registered to vote and showed up at the polls.

Nothing short of that sort of public involvement will make the promises of the Schwarzenegger revolution a reality.

It's going to take a people's governor - and the people - to turn California around.