Famed toll road opponents dropped from Calif. board

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveils his budget proposal in Sacramento, California, January 10, 2008.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not reappoint his brother-in-law or fellow Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood to a board overseeing state parks, including one where a bond-financed toll road is planned, an aide said on Wednesday.

Bobby Shriver, brother of Schwarzenegger's wife Maria Shriver, served as chairman of the State Park and Recreation Commission and Eastwood served as member. Both opposed the proposed Foothill-South toll road, which would run through San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said the two were not dropped from the commission over their opposition to the toll road. Instead, the governor wanted "fresh legs" on the commission, McLear said.

"Their terms expired," he said, noting Schwarzenegger in 2004 reappointed both men to second terms.

"It's very common that when a commissioner's term is up, that's it ... and we appoint someone new. But the governor thinks they both did tremendous jobs," McLear said.

Schwarzenegger backs building the estimated $875 million project to ease traffic on Interstate 5 and planners aim for the 16-mile-long road to be the final stretch of toll roads already in operation in Orange County between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Environmentalists oppose the project and in February they swayed the California Coastal Commission to reject it.

Two local agencies in the joint Transportation Corridor Agencies spearheading the project are appealing the commission's decision while seeking the U.S. government's support for the planned road.