Bruce McPherson

30^th California Secretary of State
Bruce A. McPherson
In office March 30, 2005 – January 7, 2007
Preceded by	Cathy Mitchell
Succeeded by	Debra Bowen

Born	January 7, 1944 (1944-01-07) (age 64) Santa Cruz, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary McPherson

For the Australian jurist, see Bruce McPherson (Australian judge).

Bruce A. McPherson (born January 7, 1944) is a California politician who was the 30th California Secretary of State, sworn in March 30, 2005. He was nominated to replace former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who resigned on March 4. McPherson, a Republican from Santa Cruz County, served his term as Secretary until January 8, 2007. He was confirmed unanimously by both Democratic-controlled houses of the California State Legislature after being nominated to replace Shelley, a Democrat, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He lost his bid for a first full term to Democrat Debra Bowen in November 2006.

Previously, McPherson was a State Assemblyman from 1993 to 1996 and a State Senator from 1996 to 2004, when he retired due to term limits. McPherson was defeated in the 2002 election for Lieutenant Governor of California by incumbent Cruz Bustamante. Prior to his political career, he worked as the editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel, a newspaper owned by his family. He is married, and he and his wife have a daughter, Tori Kistler. Their son, Hunter, was tragically murdered in a 2001 San Francisco street robbery.

[edit] Electoral history

2006 Race for California Secretary of State
- Debra Bowen (D), 48.4%
- Bruce McPherson (R), (inc.) 44.8%

Political offices
Preceded by Sam Farr	California State Assemblyman 27th District 1993 - 1996	Succeeded by Fred Keeley
Preceded by Henry J. Mello	California State Senator 15th District 1996 - 2004	Succeeded by Abel Maldonado
Preceded by Cathy Mitchell	California Secretary of State 2005 - 2007	Succeeded by Debra Bowen