GOODBYE GRAY, HELLO TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

Byline: KEITH RICHMAN 

ON Oct. 7, California voters spoke loud and clear about the need for strong leadership. They recalled a governor whose waffling and lack of leadership in the face of preventable crises lost the public's confidence.

Yet this failed strategy of delay, defer and deny was not only used by the governor, but also by the Legislature.

There is a common thread that runs through many of California's recent political failures. Experts become aware of a problem, politicians wring their hands over the tough choices needed to resolve it, public pressure builds to address it and the politicians take a few weak, insufficient steps before declaring the problem solved.

Of course the underlying problems are not truly solved, but the politicians' half-measure solutions make good press releases. Reforms only go as far as the special-interest groups allow, making the public interest merely a talking point for a well-staged press conference. California's energy, budget and workers' compensation crises are all excellent examples of this well-worn road to disaster.

It is the governor and Legislature's failure to address these critical issues that have driven the public's confidence in state government to new, well-deserved lows.

With their votes, the public has placed a great deal of confidence in Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. His calls to clean up the mess in Sacramento and reform state government did not lead this voter revolt, it simply gave frustrated Californians a credible, articulate and unwavering voice that we are not going to take it anymore.

Yet the new governor needs common sense, solution-oriented leaders to be his partners in making these important changes. Some legislators heard the voters' recall message loud and clear. They know many voters have high expectations for substantial improvements and will hold legislators accountable for results.

Recognizing the voters' clear mandate to work together to solve the state's problems, Arnold has reached out to leaders on both sides of the political spectrum, inside and outside the Legislature. He is optimistic that he will receive their cooperation and best efforts, but some have already started the carping, name-calling and juvenile politics that have eroded voter confidence and thrown roadblocks in the path of badly needed solutions.

Indeed, California's long-term future depends upon reforming state government - making the structural changes needed to encourage problem-solvers to serve in public office while making it harder for extreme ideologues from both parties to dominate the debate in Sacramento.

Many experts believe California needs three key political reforms to regain its balance and focus on problem-solving: An independent redistricting process that creates competitive districts, a primary system that encourages mainstream candidates and a modification of term limits that would stabilize leadership in both houses of the Legislature without advancing career politicians.

Much like the energy, budget and workers' compensation solutions, these common-sense fixes are not new, they are simply opposed by many powerful, partisan politicians and the dominant special interests that have created our current mess.

The next few months will set the tone for Schwarzenegger's first three years in office. Many tough decisions lie ahead on the still unresolved energy, budget and workers' compensation issues, just to name a few. He will quickly sort out the leaders who work on behalf of California and those politicians who advance their own careers and devise schemes to benefit their parties.

California government is beginning one of the most exciting and important times in its history. We must get back on track to a brighter future and Schwarzenegger is dedicated to using his leadership, intelligence and determination to stay that critical course. Only time will tell how many leaders eventually join his team.

Yet in the long run, regardless of which party is in charge of which branch of government, California must change the tone and motivation of its politicians. Indeed, during his first trip to the Capitol after winning the election, Schwarzenegger called for ``action, action, action, action.'' The experts and voters already know we need rapid progress and fundamental political reform. Though few will be surprised if voters must send another clear ballot-box message to complete the job.