UNDER ATTACK FROM ALL SIDES SHELLEY FORGOT WHOSE MONEY IT IS.

Byline: JILL STEWART  Capitol Punishment

LAST year, some trade unions were privately fretting over California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley's role in the Gray Davis recall, because although the unions publicly backed Davis, some quietly blamed him for the dismal economy and wished him gone.

One union analyst expressed to me his worry that elections czar Shelley, a deeply partisan Democrat steeped in party religiosity, would do something sneaky with state election laws to save Davis.

Shelley did not abuse his office during the recall. But the warning seems prescient now, as Shelley's career careens toward possible self- destruction.

Shelley is the son of late San Francisco Mayor Jack Shelley, a deeply partisan politico. The young Shelley acquired something of a ``to the manor born'' style, and as a San Francisco County supervisor and state assemblyman, he emerged as rigidly partisan - and also as a cad who belittled employees during vicious personal rages.

When elected secretary of state in 2002, it became Shelley's job to stay free of partisanship and protect elections for everyone. Now mired in election-manipulating allegations that could dash his career, it is easy to see how his immovably partisan worldview played a key role.

In contrast to state Controller Steve Westly, another handsome, engaging Northern Californian of the same generation, Shelley failed to adapt to a new world in which bipartisan cooperation is demanded not only by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but also by voters.

Week after week, revelations in Northern California newspapers delineate how little Shelley was able to change after becoming election czar. Still vicious to his staff, as juicily reported by the Sacramento Bee, he crafted a partisan fiefdom starring him. The only question is whether he misused public money to do it.

Shelley denies wrongdoing, but that will be decided by the FBI, the attorney general, a legislative audit committee, a federal election commission and others.

The first glimmer of scandal broke when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Julie Lee, a San Francisco civic leader with ties to Shelley, received fat state grants to build a community center - that was never built. Meanwhile a six-figure sum appeared in Shelley's campaign chest via Lee. That report set off frenzied investigations, mostly by Northern California papers. Statewide, several papers now demand Shelley's resignation, including the Sacramento Bee, Long Beach Press-Telegram and Pasadena Star-News.

Among the revelations are:

--A Shelley aide told election workers that part of their taxpayer-funded job was to find people to raise money for Shelley's political campaigns. Election worker Dawn Mehlhaff found the suggestion so outrageous she demanded reassignment (Bee).

--Shelley directed some $500,000 in federal funds to Democratic allies without competitive bidding to help him write speeches and boost turnout in a heavily Democratic Assembly district (Mercury News).

--The FBI is investigating whether $125,000 donated to Shelley's 2002 campaign was illegally diverted from a state grant Shelley helped Julie Lee obtain (Chronicle).

--An association of California election officials led by L.A. County registrar Conny McCormack says Shelley failed to adopt federal measures to ensure everyone's vote is counted, including an office to help voters now serving in the military overseas (Daily News).

Shelley disputes many of the charges, yet he now seems paralyzed and unable to perform basic election duties.

For example, in the 80th Assembly District of Republican Bonnie Garcia, hundreds of suspect ``twins'' appear to be eligible to vote on Nov. 2. Garcia wants Shelley to clean up these questionable Republican and Democratic registrations in what could be a tight race for Garcia. Shelley spokeswoman Carol Dahmen says Shelley is ``aggressively investigating'' election oddities in Imperial County.

Yet the Chronicle reports that Shelley handed over federal election funds in Imperial County to hard-core Democratic activist Primitivo Castro, who is running a ``Democratic voter registration drive'' aimed against Bonnie Garcia. The paper also reports that Eric Jaye, a Shelley consultant, is managing the campaign for Garcia's Democratic opponent.

Democrats have every right to take on the lively Garcia, an appealing Latina who draws Latinos into the GOP. But a secretary of state should never be remotely connected to it. His entanglements smell. How is it possible that Shelley doesn't get this?

Back when Shelley was assemblyman, he had a field day with Republican Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush, who resigned after taking millions from insurers whom he regulated. Shelley put on quite a show, demanding change. Emphasize the word show.

Shelley's career dreams are all but dashed - even if investigators find that he handed public money to Democratic causes only because he was incredibly inept, rather than incredibly devious.

Whether sloppy or sneaky, the too-partisan and too-insulated Shelley forgot that in politics, you can get away with being a jerk while you viciously claw your way up. But no matter the excuses, you can't use the taxpayer's dime.

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(color) California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley finds himself under a cloud of allegations.

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press