I think you're referring to Gray Davis, who was governor of California from 1998 to 2003. Here’s an article published in the New York Times in 1998 titled "California's Governor Plays Tough on Crime", which refers to his attitude towards murderers being released from prison. query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9506E2D81F3AF930A15756C0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

I also found an article released on the ACLU’s website that refers to a comment Davis made while being interviewed by the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times regarding his position on releasing murderers on parole.
www.aclu.org/crimjustice/sentencing/10288prs20010418.html