Steiner Names Orange Councilman Spurgeon as Chief of Staff

County Supervisor William G. Steiner on Wednesday named Orange City Councilman Michael Spurgeon as his chief of staff.

The move comes as Steiner is representing the county in sensitive negotiations with the City of Orange, which has sued the county over the placement of maximum- security inmates at the Theo Lacy Branch Jail in Orange.

Steiner, himself a former Orange city councilman, said the appointment would disqualify Spurgeon from participating in any city discussions relating to that lawsuit.

“This has been discussed with the county counsel and the city attorney in Orange, and they have found no conflict that would prevent him from serving,” Steiner said. “The jail lawsuit is the only matter that the city and the county are cross-ways on.”

Spurgeon, rumored to be a possible candidate for mayor of the city, pledged not to seek that office so that he could devote time to his new county duties, Steiner said. Spurgeon will fill a post that has been vacant since Steiner took office more than a year ago.

The city filed its lawsuit against the county last month after Sheriff Brad Gates transferred 48 maximum-security prisoners to the 1,326-bed facility, which had housed only minimum- and medium-security inmates. Orange officials contend that an agreement with the county prohibits placement of maximum-security inmates at Theo Lacy, a point the Sheriff’s Department disputes.

The lawsuit claims that housing maximum-security criminals at the jail could endanger nearby residents and business owners.

Late last month, Steiner was chosen by his colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to try to settle with the city to avoid legal fees.

Spurgeon, 52, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Steiner said his new appointee would earn about $65,000 per year and supervise staff operations in his 4th District office, which represents Anaheim, Buena Park, La Palma, Placentia and Orange.

For 11 years, Spurgeon has worked as a managing consultant for an Irvine-based human resources firm. Prior to that, he worked for 15 years as director of flight administration for Pan American Airlines.

“He’s a businessman with a businessman’s approach,” Steiner said.

Spurgeon is a fourth-generation Orange resident whose great-grandfather, William Henry Spurgeon, was the first chairman of the county Board of Supervisors.

He will begin work July 1.