Clark, Orange County Supervisor, to Retire

After 15 years as an Orange County supervisor, Ralph B. Clark announced Friday that he will not seek reelection next year because of his age, his health and questions about his involvement with W. Patrick Moriarty, the central figure in a statewide political corruption probe.

Clark, 68, whose north county district includes such major tourist attractions as Disneyland and Anaheim Stadium, said he decided against running because he would be 74 at the end of another term. He added that he recently had two non-cancerous polyps removed from his colon and said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

But the supervisor also said that what he called “the W. Patrick Moriarty matter” influenced his decision “to some degree.”

Trial Testimony

Moriarty, 54, an Anaheim fireworks manufacturer and longtime contributor to state and local politicians, pleaded guilty in March to corruption charges and has agreed to provide information to prosecutors about his relationships with political figures. He testified in a federal trial last month that he provided prostitutes for state politicians but said he could not recall their names.

However, two of Moriarty’s former aides, Richard Raymond Keith and John E. (Pete) Murphy, told The Times last January that Clark was one of the politicians supplied with prostitutes. Clark said he never engaged in sex with prostitutes.

In a written statement, Clark said Friday that “I have known Mr. Moriarty as a legitimate, respected Anaheim businessman. Mr. Moriarty has never asked any special favors of me.

“But being constantly ‘linked to’ Mr. Moriarty’s legal troubles still is bothersome and hurts a whole lot . . . after so many years of public service free of even a whisper of impropriety,” Clark added.

Clark’s announcement prompted Anaheim Mayor Don Roth to immediately announce his candidacy for the seat. Orange Mayor Jim Beam scheduled a press conference for Monday at which he, too, is expected to declare his candidacy.

Until the Moriarty issue arose, Clark had been considered virtually unbeatable. A former gas station owner in Anaheim and mayor of that city, he built his career on such nuts-and-bolts issues as getting sidewalks installed for constituents and keeping gutters repaired.

Clark helped engineer a major coup in 1980, when he was in the forefront of a lobbying effort to convince the Rams football team to leave Los Angeles and move to Anaheim.