Ortiz Quits; Makes No Apologies

San Diego County Registrar of Voters Ray Ortiz officially quit his post Friday and told County Chief Administrative Officer Norman Hickey in a letter of resignation that he had “no apologies to make.”

Ortiz, who is under investigation by the district attorney’s office for allegations of embezzlement and grand theft, resigned effective Monday. He had notified county officials Aug. 20 that he planned to step down from his $54,000-a-year job and has been on a voluntary leave without pay since July.

“I have no apologies to make and will let my record as registrar speak for itself,” he said in a letter signed for him by his lawyer, Merle N. Schneidewind. Schneidewind was not available for comment, said an office spokeswoman.

Hickey declined to comment on the resignation letter and referred inquiries to county spokesman Bob Lerner, who said that Hickey had accepted Ortiz’s resignation and his “departure will not impact or affect the (administration of) elections in November.”

The county will began a nationwide search for Ortiz’s replacement next week, said Lerner. Acting Registrar Keith Boyer will be among those who will be considered for the job, he said.

“Ray has been extremely well-known by other registrars in the country, so it has been no secret he would be stepping down,” said Lerner. “We expect other registrars to begin contacting the county for the job.”

In addition to allegations of embezzlement and grand theft, district attorney investigators are also probing charges that Ortiz used “misleading information, collusion and favoritism” to guide over $400,000 in contracts to Election Data Corporation of Escondido, which is owned by a close friend of Ortiz. No criminal charges have been filed against Ortiz.

Oritz, 51, alluded to the investigation in his letter of resignation and said that it played a prominent role in his decision to resign.

“I am sure you can appreciate that, under the circumstances, it would be impossible for me to return to the office and be an effective registrar,” he said.

Despite charges that he unfairly steered county contracts to his friends, Ortiz’s letter encouraged Hickey to “utilize the many contracts I have developed during my tenure as registrar . . . “ He claimed that these contracts “have saved our county taxpayers a great deal of tax dollars.”

Ortiz ended his one-page letter by saying that the upcoming November elections “will be watched by all the nation.”