State of CA Supervisor of Public Instruction became acting Governor last week

Temporary Acting Governor is not am all ceremonial role, and sure enough a State of Emergency occurred.

The Mercury News/Internal Affairs, 7/30/16. "Tom Torlakson takes charge of California with top six leaders gone."

State of Fire Emergency declared,
Monterey and Los Angeles Counties.  

School chief Tom Torlakson 4 days
acting governor, 7/25 - 7/28.

....  "Even in our always-connected era, California's Constitution requires that executive power be transferred temporarily to the lieutenant governor whenever the governor is out of state. But both Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom were in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention. And so was Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Kamala Harris. That left Torlakson -- way down in the line of succession -- as the only statewide elected official left in California, and therefore, acting governor.

Normally, acting governors don't get to do much, but Torlakson saw a bit of action during his brief tenure, which lasted from Monday (7/25) through Thursday (7/28).  Some of his moves were ceremonial: He declared Tuesday as Change Lives -- Be a Teacher Day and Wednesday as Be Active Day and led a walk around the Capitol. But on Wednesday (7/27), he also declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Monterey counties because of the Sand and Soberanes fires, which had burned tens of thousands of acres and forced residents to evacuate."  Read more.

Related article.  Los Angeles Times/John Myers, 7/25/16, "Who's governor of California? This week (7/25 - 7/28), it's not Jerry Brown." .... ... Brown, under the provisions of the California Constitution, won’t be the actual governor until he ventures back across state lines. 'Don’t worry, you’re in safe hands,' said Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, who on Monday night became California’s acting governor. ....  The geographic requirement of being California’s governor dates back to the state’s inception in 1849, remaining untouched through successive eras of instant global communication. The state is not alone in its outmoded legal language; 19 other states also remove power from a traveling governor, although some do so only during a prolonged absence."

Reference, State of California Executive branch, chain of command. Wikipedia/Government of CA: 1) Jerry Brown, Governor; 2) Gavin Newsom, Lieutenant Governor; 3) Kamala Harris, Attorney General; 4) Alex Padilla, Secretary of State; 5) Betty Yee, State Controller; 6) John Chiang, State Treasurer; 7) Dave Jones, Insurance Commissioner; 8) Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Note photographs. Tom Torlakson clapping from  Sacramento Bee, 10/18/14,"State schools chief Tom Torlakson touts experience in tight re-election battle."  The Charlotte Observer/Associated Press, 7/26/16, The Latest: Emergency declared on 2 California wildfires."  ...."Acting California Gov. Tom Torlakson has now declared a state of emergency for both major wildfires burning in the state."

Posted by Kathy Meeh