Anaheim Union Turns on Ex-Ally Ehrle : Politics: City workers vow never to aid councilman again after his swing vote to rescind utility tax. They fear for their jobs.

Angered over City Councilman William D. Ehrle’s vote to rescind a citywide utility tax, the head of a municipal employees union has vowed to withdraw the group’s political support that has helped him maintain his council seat.

“Right now, my employees couldn’t be happier if he (Ehrle) was seen hanging from the flagpole,” Sharon Ericson, Anaheim Municipal Employees Assn. president, said Thursday. “I’m sorry he’s one of the people leading this city.”

City officials have said reversal of the 4% tax, meant to cover a $14-million budget deficit, could mean that more than 200 city workers will lose their jobs.

Ericson, who believes that the 800-member employee group will be hit hard as a result of Ehrle’s action last Tuesday, has communicated the membership’s displeasure in a recent letter to the councilman.

“Good luck in ‘92, Mr. Ehrle, because luck is all you will have,” it said. “The employees will never support you again.”

Ehrle’s decision, supported by council members Irv Pickler and Tom Daly, was seen by tax proponents and even those who lobbied heavily for reversal of the levy as a move designed to bolster his political standing when he and Daly face reelection next fall.

But the backlash created by the councilman’s action has rippled through the employee groups, including police and firefighters associations, which over the years have contributed thousands of dollars and their time to keep the existing council majority of Ehrle, Mayor Fred Hunter and Councilman Bob D. Simpson in office.

While admitting that he has enjoyed the grass-roots support of city employee groups in past political campaigns, Ehrle said Thursday that he has received more calls from taxpayers supportive of his decision.

“I’ve heard from people that I thought never in my life would call me up,” said Ehrle, who acknowledged receiving Ericson’s angry missive. “I believe the city can come out of this much stronger.”

In place of the tax, the councilman has advocated paring some city services and positions, while trying to maintain the existing strengths of the police and fire departments. Earlier this week, the councilman said the city should consider eliminating its Public Information Department and Commuter Services Office altogether.

Hunter, who continues his support of the tax proposal, said that without the additional revenue there is no way to avoid cutting back the city’s public safety services. He said city staff has already asked the Police Department to trim an additional $5 million from its budget as a result of the tax reversal.

Since the tax reversal still must be formally approved by the council Tuesday, the mayor said he is hoping that one of his colleagues, after seeing the impact of the cuts, will vote to bring the tax back.

Of the three now opposing the tax, Hunter said he believes that Pickler might be the most vulnerable to switching his vote, since he is not immediately facing reelection.

Pickler could not be reached for comment Thursday.

“I am sure right now you are proud of yourself because I am sure people are telling you that you did the right thing,” Ericson said in her letter to Ehrle. “But just wait until the devastation hits.”

“Where you have gone wrong is that a year and a half from now, the citizens would have not remembered this tax but they will remember the severity of the cuts that will be imposed,” the letter added.

Although city officials have not made final decisions on what cuts would be made, City Manager James Ruth has said the reductions would be severe.

Ericson said she expects the bulk of the cutbacks to be absorbed by the city library system, park programs and maintenance staffs.

“He (Ehrle) no more understands the budget than my 5-year-old granddaughter,” Ericson said in an interview. “We’re not trying to pressure him to change his vote, but he’s shown us he doesn’t care about the people who work here.”