Google Builds Golden State Bridge

Google (GOOG) execs have ramped up their project to convince journalists and government regulators that it's not a scary, unstoppable monopoly. They assembled the tech press in a San Francisco conference room and gave them their spiel about how their natural marketplace is the entire world of advertising around the globe and how Yahoo (YHOO) showed that today's behemoth could easily be tomorrow's also-ran. But as the rest of the tech and business press was scribbling notes, Wall Street Journal reporter John Letzing was touching up an interesting story about one of Google's new business partners: the state of California.

According to Letzing, Google has managed to hire as head of state policy for the Western United States one Ross LaJeunesse, a big behind-the-scenes player in California politics; He once served as deputy chief of staff for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But it's his second gig that's the most interesting. LaJeunesse also sits on the board of the California Emerging Technology Fund, an arm of the state's Public Utility Commission that is charged with getting as much of Obama's stimulus cash as possible to build broadband infrastructure around the state. There's no denying that more pipes laid down will only advance California's edge in high tech. But there's also no denying that the faster Californians can access the Internet, the better off Google will be.

The story's a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of politics, government regulation, and business in California. But it can't be the best PR for Google. After all, a company desperate to avoid being seen as a public utility has one of its top guys working for ... the Public Utility Commission. Stories like this don't make for the best start to Google's new campaign.