Antonovich Deputy Named in Complaint

A former secretary in Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s office claimed Monday that she was demoted and transfered out of the Republican supervisor’s office because she is Latina and a Democrat.

In a complaint filed with the county’s Civil Service Commission, Gloria A. Salmeron said she was told May 2 by Antonovich’s chief deputy, Tom Silver, to clear out her desk immediately and report to work in the executive office because “her work was not getting done.”

During her 15 years with the county, including the last three with Antonovich’s office, Salmeron was always rated competent, said Rees Lloyd, attorney for the Los Angeles County Chicano Employees Assn., which assisted her in filing the complaint.

The complaint alleges that shortly before Salmeron was demoted from her $34,284-a-year job, a co-worker approached her and said in an accusing manner, “I didn’t know that you are a Democrat.”