Gavin Newsom

Former Congressman and current UC Berkeley business school dean Tom Campbell, an independent-minded Republican known for his work as Schwarzenegger's budget director and his love of really bad movies, has opened a committee to explore running for California governor in 2010. On the other side of the aisle, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has done the same thing.

These exploratory filings are being closely watched by the dwindling number of reporters who still cover state politics. And while they are important, those of you interested in the 2010 race would do well to keep your eye on a different set of filings: ballot initiative filings at the attorney general's office.

QUESTION TIME: Last year, San Francisco voted down a ballot initiative that would have required the mayor to submit to "question time" from the board of supervisors, in the same manner that British prime ministers must take questions in the House of Commons. But the board of supes hasn't given up, inviting Mayor Gavin Newsom to show up and take questions. He is declining these invitations. Newsom, who remains popular despite a public confession of adultery with a top aide's wife, has been deflecting requests for information of all kinds as he explores a race for governor in 2010. (Arnold is termed out, so the seat is open).