Bobby Shriver

His uncles have been a U.S. president and senators, his father ran for vice president, and his movie star brother-in-law was elected governor of California. Now the political wasp has stung Bobby Shriver. At 50, the nephew of U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and the late John and Robert F. Kennedy and the brother of Maria Shriver, wife of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is making his first bid for political office -- for the Santa Monica City Council.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week tried to yank one of his appointees from a state board after the man balked at an administration-backed proposal he considered too risky for taxpayers. But lawmakers, in an end run, kept the San Francisco businessman on the panel. The appointee to the California Transportation Commission, James Ghielmetti, objected to an administration plan to accelerate the expansion of private companies' role in freeway construction. He advocated giving regulators more time to assess the potential effects of such a move.

Bobby Shriver joined the family business last November, handily garnering a seat on the Santa Monica City Council despite being new to local politics. Lately, he has found it to be rather a hot seat. This becomes painfully clear, he said, when he pops into coffee shops and constituents admonish him with: "You haven't done a damn thing on the homelessness issue, have you?" It's not for lack of time spent on the problem.

Like their parents before them, many of the so-called fourth generation of the Kennedy family are public servants, attorneys, authors and activists. They, too, have suffered addiction, divorce and untimely ends. With the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the family patriarch, public attention has naturally turned to the next generation of the family many liken to American royalty. The question on many minds: Will the Kennedys ever produce another political giant? It may not, however, be a question the Kennedys are asking themselves.

Like their parents before them, many of the so-called fourth generation of the Kennedy family are public servants, attorneys, authors and activists. They, too, have suffered addiction, divorce and untimely ends. With the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the family patriarch, public attention has naturally turned to the next generation of the family many liken to American royalty. The question on many minds: Will the Kennedys ever produce another political giant? It may not, however, be a question the Kennedys are asking themselves.

Bobby Shriver, the brother of Maria Shriver and brother-in-law of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, had an early lead Tuesday night among a field of 16 running for four seats on the Santa Monica City Council. What started as a dispute over hedge-trimming turned into a maiden voyage into politics by Shriver, a lawyer and the chairman of the state Park and Recreation Commission. A newcomer to politics at age 50, he arrives with a storied family pedigree. He is the nephew of U.S. Sen. Edward M.

Bobby Shriver is the custodian of one of the top charity album franchises of all time. The two "A Very Special Christmas" collections, released in 1987 and 1992, have sold a combined total of more than 5 million copies in the U.S. and brought in more than $40 million for the Special Olympics, which was founded by his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Sporting such megastar names as Madonna, U2, Sting and Whitney Houston, they rank as Nos.

NeverMIND the budget deficit. In a matter with substantial implications for Earth and stars, one of Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger's first duties may be deciding whether to say hasta la vista to a pair of state Park and Recreation commissioners named Eastwood and Shriver. Clint Eastwood has served on the nine-seat state commission since Gov. Gray Davis appointed the actor-director in late 2001. His term expires Jan. 15, and the new governor gets to choose who will occupy the job next.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week tried to yank one of his appointees from a state board after the man balked at an administration-backed proposal he considered too risky for taxpayers. But lawmakers, in an end run, kept the San Francisco businessman on the panel. The appointee to the California Transportation Commission, James Ghielmetti, objected to an administration plan to accelerate the expansion of private companies' role in freeway construction. He advocated giving regulators more time to assess the potential effects of such a move.

Bobby Shriver, brother-in-law of California's governor and a member of the Kennedy clan, extended the family political pedigree Tuesday with his election to the Santa Monica City Council. In his first campaign for office -- prompted by a dispute with City Hall over hedge heights -- Shriver was the top vote-getter by far among 16 aspirants for four seats. Shriver, 50, said being a freshly minted politician doesn't mean he's a novice: "I feel like I've always been in the business of politics.

Bobby Shriver joined the family business last November, handily garnering a seat on the Santa Monica City Council despite being new to local politics. Lately, he has found it to be rather a hot seat. This becomes painfully clear, he said, when he pops into coffee shops and constituents admonish him with: "You haven't done a damn thing on the homelessness issue, have you?" It's not for lack of time spent on the problem.

Few were surprised when Bobby Shriver won a seat on the Santa Monica City Council recently. After all, politics is the family business for the nephew of JFK, oldest son of Sargent and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, brother of Maria Shriver and brother-in-law of fellow Westsider and current California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bobby Shriver, brother-in-law of California's governor and a member of the Kennedy clan, extended the family political pedigree Tuesday with his election to the Santa Monica City Council. In his first campaign for office -- prompted by a dispute with City Hall over hedge heights -- Shriver was the top vote-getter by far among 16 aspirants for four seats. Shriver, 50, said being a freshly minted politician doesn't mean he's a novice: "I feel like I've always been in the business of politics.

Bobby Shriver, the brother of Maria Shriver and brother-in-law of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, had an early lead Tuesday night among a field of 16 running for four seats on the Santa Monica City Council. What started as a dispute over hedge-trimming turned into a maiden voyage into politics by Shriver, a lawyer and the chairman of the state Park and Recreation Commission. A newcomer to politics at age 50, he arrives with a storied family pedigree. He is the nephew of U.S. Sen. Edward M.

His uncles have been a U.S. president and senators, his father ran for vice president, and his movie star brother-in-law was elected governor of California. Now the political wasp has stung Bobby Shriver. At 50, the nephew of U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and the late John and Robert F. Kennedy and the brother of Maria Shriver, wife of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is making his first bid for political office -- for the Santa Monica City Council.

Bobby Shriver wolfed down a burger at a restaurant near his office in Beverly Hills as he took stock of what's ahead for his little sister, his brother-in-law and the state of California. There's a $14-billion budget shortfall and difficult decisions about raising taxes, cutting spending or both. "The honeymoon is over," he said, but no one should underestimate Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger or Maria Shriver. "Arnold's a very hard-headed guy, and Maria's a very hard-headed girl.

Bobby Shriver wolfed down a burger at a restaurant near his office in Beverly Hills as he took stock of what's ahead for his little sister, his brother-in-law and the state of California. There's a $14-billion budget shortfall and difficult decisions about raising taxes, cutting spending or both. "The honeymoon is over," he said, but no one should underestimate Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger or Maria Shriver. "Arnold's a very hard-headed guy, and Maria's a very hard-headed girl.

First, Maria Shriver was seen as the spoiler -- the one person with the power to veto a run for governor by her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and she was expected to use it. Then, when Schwarzenegger surprised the political world and announced he was running after all, Shriver turned into the public backer.

NeverMIND the budget deficit. In a matter with substantial implications for Earth and stars, one of Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger's first duties may be deciding whether to say hasta la vista to a pair of state Park and Recreation commissioners named Eastwood and Shriver. Clint Eastwood has served on the nine-seat state commission since Gov. Gray Davis appointed the actor-director in late 2001. His term expires Jan. 15, and the new governor gets to choose who will occupy the job next.

First, Maria Shriver was seen as the spoiler -- the one person with the power to veto a run for governor by her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and she was expected to use it. Then, when Schwarzenegger surprised the political world and announced he was running after all, Shriver turned into the public backer.