After sitting Governor [[Gray Davis]] mismanaged electric [[power deregulation]] and instituted a new registration tax by [[executive order]], infuriated citizens initiated a petition to place a measure on the ballot to remove him from office. Despite [[Democratic]] predictions that the petition would fail, it was delivered to then Secretary of State [[Kevin Shelley]] with more than the required number of signatures. In accordance with the law, Lieutenant Governor [[Cruz Bustamante]] became Acting Governor and called a special election for October 7, 2003. | After sitting Governor [[Gray Davis]] mismanaged electric [[power deregulation]] and instituted a new registration tax by [[executive order]], infuriated citizens initiated a petition to place a measure on the ballot to remove him from office. Despite [[Democratic]] predictions that the petition would fail, it was delivered to then Secretary of State [[Kevin Shelley]] with more than the required number of signatures. In accordance with the law, Lieutenant Governor [[Cruz Bustamante]] became Acting Governor and called a special election for October 7, 2003. |