O.C. Should Conduct Treasurer Search

We were terribly disappointed that the Board of Supervisors is apparently prepared to move ahead with the appointment of John M.W. Moorlach as county treasurer-tax collector without conducting a comprehensive search, as recommended by interim Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy and acting Treasurer Thomas E. Daxon, to find the most qualified candidate (“Board Wants Moorlach as New O.C. Treasurer,” March 2).

It is clearly in the county’s best interest to find the best professional with treasury, investment and departmental management experience for this critical treasurer-tax collector position. While we understand that Mr. Moorlach may have earned respect for bringing to the county’s and public’s attention problems associated with the Orange County investment pool, that fact alone does not necessarily make him the most qualified individual.

Instead, the failure to follow what we think would be prudent business management practice--conducting a thorough search and interview process, as was done with the selection of Mr. Popejoy--comes across as politics as usual.

While there are some aspects of government that cannot be run as a business, because certain services such as child care, welfare and education will never show an economic profit, there is no reason why sound business management practices cannot be used in this instance.

The county board hired a seasoned and well-respected professional manager with solid business experience as chief executive officer to help Orange County get out of our financial morass. We strongly urge the supervisors to follow his prudent suggestion to conduct a comprehensive search to find the most qualified, professional investment manager as county treasurer-tax collector.

ROBERT M. BROWER

JERRY THOMPSON

Irvine

* The Orange County Board of Supervisors is about to do it again: blindly put its faith in one individual. Haven’t they learned anything?

John M. W. Moorlach may be the best person for the (county treasurer’s) job; he may not. Only considering one candidate is stupid and irresponsible. We will only know if Moorlach is the best person for the job if he is compared to other candidates.

ELLIOT GORDON

Irvine