R. Brian Kidney, retired Chief Clerk of the Assembly, died in Sacramento Saturday morning after succumbing to major injuries sustained in an automobile accident last month.
Kidney’s long legislative career spanned several Speakerships, from Jesse Unruh to Willie Brown. He served as Assistant Chief Clerk of the Assembly from 1965 to 1986, and his career culminated with his election as the nonpartisan Chief Clerk, serving from 1987 until his retirement in 1991. The Chief Clerk is the parliamentarian of the house and is in charge of recording votes, publishing the house agenda, and a host of other administrative duties. Kidney was the last Chief Clerk to serve in the pre-term limits era.
According to his web site, rbriankidney.com, Kidney was an Air Force veteran and had a Master’s Degree from the University of San Francisco. After retiring from the Assembly, he advised emerging democracies (including Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Hungary) on legislative institutions, and lobbied for The Gualco Group for several years. He was active in several civic groups, including the Rotary Club.
He will be missed by many of us in the Capitol community.
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