LOCAL : Capizzi Named Orange County D.A. to Replace Cecil Hicks

Michael R. Capizzi was unanimously appointed today by the Board of Supervisors to replace Cecil Hicks as Orange County district attorney. Hicks was named to the Superior Court bench last month.

Capizzi, 50, has been in the district attorney’s office nearly 25 years and was given the title of chief assistant three years ago.

His appointment means that he will run for the office on the ballot next June as an incumbent, which his two opponents, also from the district attorney’s office, acknowledge will make him almost impossible to beat.

One of those opponents, Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas Avdeef, has vowed to go to court to block the board’s action. Avdeef claims that the law provides for Hicks to be succeeded by the chief deputy in the office, James G. Enright.

Few legal experts agree with Avdeef. Thomas F. Riley, supervisors chairman, said he had been assured by the county counsel’s office that the board has the authority to replace Hicks.

Supervisor Roger B. Stanton praised Capizzi before the appointment, calling him Hicks’ “field general in the war against political corruption” in the 1970s, when Hicks’ office prosecuted more than 40 people for political violations under Capizzi’s direction.

Hicks, who had been district attorney for 23 years, announced last August that he would not run for reelection. Word spread quickly that he would step down before next June so the board could appoint Capizzi in time to run as the incumbent.

Hicks has formally endorsed Capizzi’s candidacy.