California taxpayers are paying more than $207,000 annually for Terry Schanz’s government role — and the longtime Democratic operative is now under scrutiny after allegedly using part of a workday to make vulgar remarks.
Schanz, who serves as chief of staff to Democratic Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor, is facing multiple formal human resources complaints after he reportedly interrupted an Aug. 19 sidewalk interview outside the California Capitol and aimed a crude personal insult at independent journalist Nick Shirley.
KCRA reported that several complaints have been submitted to the California Legislature’s HR office, and Schanz is expected to face some form of disciplinary action over the incident.
Public payroll records show Schanz receives $17,319 per month, bringing his taxpayer-funded salary to $207,828 a year.
The controversy unfolded as Shirley was conducting an interview outside the state Capitol, when Schanz allegedly approached holding a sheet of paper that read:
“Allegedly Nick Shirley Has a Small Penis. Prove Me Wrong.”
Then he piled on.
“Did you guys hear that Nick Shirley has a small penis allegedly?” Schanz asked.
The spectacle came in the middle of a serious political debate.
Shirley was interviewing California politicians about Assembly Bill 2624, the “Privacy for immigration support services providers” bill, authored by Democratic Assemblywoman Mia Bonta.
The legislation calls for protections for immigrant-run businesses, including health care providers, from “online harassment” and doxxing.
Republicans have dubbed it the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.”
Shirley has criticized the legislation, saying it was created after he “exposed widespread fraud in immigrant communities” in California and Minnesota.
The bill has passed the California Legislature and is now sitting on Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.
Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto it.
The Senate passed the measure 30-10 along strict party lines.
But Schanz’s Capitol sideshow is just the latest controversy surrounding the Democratic operative.
His name previously surfaced in a 2025 wrongful-termination lawsuit containing allegations of political bullying and a toxic workplace culture within top Assembly leadership.
Then, in January, his office faced scrutiny over allegations that it pressured nonprofit newsroom CalMatters to alter footage involving McKinnor after a reporter asked her a tough question about an expensive designer handbag.
As chairman of the Sacramento Democratic Party, Schanz has also faced accusations from local moderates and conservatives of aggressive political bullying and freezing out opponents.
Now he has managed to generate a fresh scandal with perhaps the least dignified political prop imaginable.
