The Monterey Herald announced today (Dec. 14) that its president and publisher, Jayne Speizer, will take a temporary leave of absence due to health-related concerns. Speizer, 56, said that although her heart condition has improved during the past few years, it recently took a turn for the worse. A search will begin in January for someone to fill in for Speizer while she recuperates, said George Riggs, president of the MediaNews-controlled California Newspaper Partnership, which has oversight of The Herald. Speizer has headed the 34,000-circulation daily since 2003.