Branch Assails County Supervisors : Politics: Embattled recorder and his attorney say he’s the victim of a ‘hidden agenda’ to oust him from office.

The misconduct investigations dogging Orange County Recorder Lee A. Branch are part of a “hidden agenda” by the Board of Supervisors and other top county officials who have sought to oust Branch and replace him with a candidate of their liking, the recorder and his attorney said Friday.

Branch vowed to seek a fifth term in office and “take back” control of his troubled department.

“The supervisors have attempted to intimidate Mr. Branch through false, spurious and non-meritorious allegations of wrongdoing,” Branch’s attorney, Lloyd Charton, said. “Lee Branch is not intimidated by coercion and cannot be bought off.”

Branch, an elected official whose office is a repository for real estate and financial transactions, is the subject of a county investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, physical abuse and office mismanagement.

During a press conference at his lawyer’s office, the recorder made his first extensive public comments since early in the investigation, which began in October.

Responding later to Branch’s suggestion of a county conspiracy intent on seeking the recorder’s removal, County Administrative Officer Ernie Schneider said: “That’s ridiculous. It shows just how out of touch with reality he really is.”

On Friday, one of Branch’s employees attended the press conference to hear her boss answer the complaints against him. “I’m not satisfied,” employee Patty Newcomb said afterward.

Newcomb was one of dozens of employees in the recorder’s office interviewed by county affirmative action investigators, who handle such complaints. She told investigators that she was once grabbed by supervisor Nancy L. Smith, and that Smith strongly scolded her for making a mistake in the office.

A key part of the Branch investigation has centered on the recorder’s personal relationship with Smith, a documents manager in the office. Employees have alleged that the relationship caused serious morale problems, and that Branch has shown favoritism to Smith.

Friday, Branch again acknowledged his relationship with Smith but said he was unaware that it might have caused difficulties for others in the office.

“I will admit to a relationship with Smith that has been going on for some years,” Branch said. “I am a single person and she is a single person. . . . The relationship was not brought into the office.”

In the case of Newcomb, the recorder said he did not witness the incident but became satisfied that there was no “intended abuse” of the employee. Branch said Smith’s action was “merely an attempt to get the employee’s attention.”

However, Branch denied that the subsequent reprimand issued to Smith was delayed by any personal concern he had for her. Because of the relationship, Branch said he had asked the county counsel’s office for direction on the matter. Ultimately, he said, the incident was handled “appropriately” by Assistant Recorder Ella M. Murphy.

In wake of the county’s investigations, Murphy has said that Smith is expected to be transferred to another position in county government. Smith has also denied any wrongdoing.

Branch is back at work after a monthlong leave last year during the investigation.

The Newcomb matter is among a number of allegations involving the recorder’s office that are to be addressed in a forthcoming county report scheduled for public discussion by the Board of Supervisors Jan. 25.

Among the other claims are that Branch made lewd comments to a female worker and that he shoved another employee who had been seen talking with a union representative. There are also deep concerns, county officials have said, about allegations of general office mismanagement.

On Friday, Branch and his attorney, Lloyd Charton, generally denied the other allegations. Branch said he did recall a meeting with a female employee in his office to discuss her concerns, but said there was no use of “foul language.”

“The allegations of sexual harassment are, basically, that Mr. Branch used inappropriate language on one occasion,” attorney Charton said. “He does not use foul, four-letter words in his vocabulary, as that was not his upbringing. For 37 years, he has been a complete gentleman in the office.”

Branch, who has held the position of recorder for 15 years, has spent his entire county government career in the obscure office. The recorder also said he had no recollection of ever shoving an employee out of anger. “I don’t shove, push or hit employees,” Branch said. “I don’t condone that kind of behavior.”

Branch, however, did acknowledge that some management problems existed in the office and that he had not spoken with one top assistant for more than a year because of a past incident involving the computer systems manager. Branch declined to discuss the incident Friday.

For the most part, Branch said his management problems are rooted in an inability to freely reassign or remove employees from the staff without encountering county-mandated personnel guidelines.

Charton said the Board of Supervisors and other county officials have only made Branch’s task more difficult by encouraging the investigation of “laughable” allegations in the hope that Branch would resign.

Supervisor William G. Steiner dismissed Branch’s contentions, saying that problems in the recorder’s office have been “longstanding.” He also called the recorder’s decision to seek reelection a “frightening thought.”

“Because the office is so obscure,” Steiner said. “I’m worried that the voters may not clearly understand his poor performance and will return him to office.”