33 Nominated for Post of California Poet Laureate

Less than a week before the deadline, the California Arts Council had received only 10 nominations for the freshly formalized post of state poet laureate, prompting pointed gibes at California’s literary might.

But thanks to a flurry of last-minute entries from everyone from university presidents to entertainment executives, the final tally of nominees is 33, the council said Thursday.

The state has had chief poets since 1915, but historically has chosen them based as much on politics as literary merit. Last year, legislators decided to change that, approving a detailed set of qualifications and duties for the job.