IT’S UNANIMOUS

On Aug. 24, the full Assembly approved retired Court of Appeal Justice Harry Low’s appointment by Governor Gray Davis to replace former California Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush who resigned from office July 10. The 69-year-old Democrat served as a judge in the San Francisco area for 25 years. He retired from the appellate court in 1992, and has since been working as an arbitrator. Gov. Davis said he picked Low to fill the vacancy because he believes the retired judge will restore credibility to an agency tarnished by scandal. Sam Sorich, vice president and western regional manager for the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII), is confident that Low “will establish stability and integrity at the Department of Insurance.” According to Sorich, the Senate vote confirming the new Commissioner took less than a minute.