Chief in California turned up on a list (8)

I believe the answer is:

capitano

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'chief' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'california turned up on a list' is the wordplay.
'california' becomes 'ca' (abbreviation).
'turned up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'list' becomes 'tip' (both can mean to lean or incline).
'on'+'a'+'tip'='onatip'
'onatip' written backwards gives 'pitano'.
'ca'+'pitano'='CAPITANO'

'in' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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