Alan Salazar, the governor's chief strategy officer and director of the office of policy and research, was the one who first put civil unions on the agenda to be included in the State of the State. While the governor was out of the room, Salazar said to Chief of Staff Roxane White: "I think it's one of those very bold things, and we're accused of not being bold. Just a thought. The press cynicism is he's too cautious, he's not going to take a firm stand." White agreed: "We have at least one place where we don't protect the last and the least.... And we should fix it, damn it! But not written like that. Either we stand for civil rights or we don't."