ATTENTION: Political editors and reporters, Washington D.C.-based reporters

WHAT: "Government by the People in California: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly," a one-day conference on the politics behind the Nov. 8 Special Election in California. The event is being held by the University of California, Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies and the University of California Washington Center. It is free and open to the public.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's name is not on the ballot, but some observers believe that his political future may ride on this controversial special election, which he called to promote his reform agenda. Experts and political practitioners will gather to discuss this as well as the national implications of key issues in California's special election including abortion, the state budget, prescription drugs, campaign finance, redistricting, teacher tenure and electricity regulation.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the UC Washington Center, 1608 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.

WHO: The conference is being organized by Bruce Cain, director of the Institute of Governmental Studies and of the UC Washington Center. Cain also is a UC Berkeley political science professor who is widely quoted in the media on California and national politics.

Panelists will include policy experts, governmental officials, pollsters, political columnists, political consultants, academics, pundits and others.