New state education secretary

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed a Sacramento consultant as education secretary, the fifth person to hold the post in as many years.

Glen Thomas, a consultant to philanthropic and education groups, was executive director of the California County Superintendents Education Services Association from 1998 to 2006.

He also has been a strong advocate of preschool education and worked on a failed 2006 ballot initiative that would have provided universal preschool for 4-year-olds. Schwarzenegger opposed the preschool initiative. 

Thomas was named to the position Wednesday. He succeeds David Long, who resigned last September after 18 months on the job.

The education secretary is the governor's chief liaison to the state Board of Education. The elected superintendent of public instruction has control of the state Department of Education.

By Juliet Williams of the Associated Press.