ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Time to Step Down

Auditor-Controller Steve E. Lewis did good work for Orange County for many years. Unfortunately, with strong questions now raised about his performance before the bankruptcy, his effectiveness has ended. He should step down, as he has been urged to do by Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy.

Lewis has come under sharp criticism, deservedly, for not blowing the whistle on the risky investment practices of Robert L. Citron, who was forced to resign as treasurer just before the county declared bankruptcy Dec. 6. However, because the voters last year elected him to his third four-year term as auditor-controller, he cannot be fired by the Board of Supervisors.

In defending his performance, Lewis has contended he raised red flags about Citron’s investments. But if he indeed did so, his warnings were too late and too weak. He also has been criticized for letting Citron transfer some investors’ interest earnings into county-held accounts.

Popejoy has said he has no confidence in Lewis. As a practical matter, that makes it very awkward for everyone. Popejoy has done a necessary housecleaning at the top since taking office last month, an action necessary to restore confidence in government.

One supervisor has suggested trying to bypass Lewis’ office, but that would be expensive and distracting for a county that needs to focus all its energies on recovery. For Lewis, who worked his way up from the bottom rung to the top in 30 years in county government, bowing out now would be an appropriate exit.