Branch Aide Vows to Resist Job Transfer

Nancy L. Smith, whose office romance with Orange County Recorder Lee A. Branch was found to have seriously disrupted the department, will fight any effort to transfer her to another county job, her attorney said Friday.

A recommendation to transfer Smith--a 22-year employee and supervisor in the recorder’s office--was included in scathing county reports that upheld allegations of sexual harassment and mismanagement by Branch.

The investigative reports, made public Thursday, also found that Branch’s relationship with Smith created a hostile work environment for other employees.

“We feel that any transfer is politically motivated and part of the Board of Supervisors’ hidden agenda against the recorder’s office,” said attorney Lloyd Charton, who represents Smith and Branch. “She doesn’t want to go and learn a new job.”

Smith and Branch have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Branch has said he will seek reelection this year, despite calls for his resignation from top county officials.

During a three-month county investigation, employees complained that Branch showed favoritism to Smith in the office and allowed her wide latitude in dealing with matters beyond her authority. Employees alleged that Smith used that authority to intimidate workers.

Other findings in the reports related to Smith were that Branch allegedly barred Assistant Recorder Ella M. Murphy from evaluating Smith’s work performance for nine years and that Smith had been granted a “preferential” work schedule.

Branch has defended his relationship with Smith, saying that the two had been able to keep their personal lives out of daily business dealings.

“(Smith) has every intention of fighting a transfer and suing if they attempt it,” Charton said. “This is just a manifestation of the chicken way the county has handled this.”