A Dictator? Blame the Supervisors

* William J. Popejoy, current volunteer county chief executive officer and the brains behind the Measure R sales tax hike, is unquestionably the dictator of Orange County.

I don’t mean to use the word dictator pejoratively. While the word certainly has sinister connotations, given the experience of the 20th Century, the chief didn’t obtain his position by marching on Rome or burning down the Reichstag building. Popejoy was appointed dictator democratically, by our elected Board of Supervisors.

According to published statements by the supervisors, the special powers Popejoy is wielding are necessary because of our county’s recent bankruptcy. “These are times of crisis,” is the general line supervisors articulate to justify Popejoy’s firm control of the reins of power at the county building. Popejoy has used his extraordinary powers to cut county spending and is busily developing further plans to address the financial crisis, including the sale of John Wayne Airport.

He is campaigning hard for Measure R, as his name is seen appearing on thousands upon thousands of mailers being delivered far and wide across our county. Supervisor Roger R. Stanton says that Popejoy is doing a good job “so far.” But criticism of Popejoy’s authoritarian style seems to be brewing. Supervisor Marian Bergeson says sarcastically that she learns of news about developments in the county in “the newspaper.” County supervisors’ staffers are reported to be griping that they don’t have much to do, that everything is happening on Popejoy’s third floor of the county building. Popejoy is reported to be thwarting even his own attendance at meetings of the Board of Supervisors.

Rather than assuming firm responsibility for the financial situation created by Supervisors Gaddi H. Vasquez, Stanton, William G. Steiner and former Supervisors Harriett Wieder and Thomas Riley, the current Board of Supervisors has declared an emergency and given the reins of power to Popejoy. However, the emergency they have declared is also politically expedient. The board can thus blame Popejoy for any failure of his work, including the results of the Measure R campaign, or they can take credit if Popejoy is successful.

What the supervisors may be forgetting is that we live in a democracy, and not in ancient Rome. The voters will not allow the supervisors to pass the blame when their time comes. Even if Popejoy is successful, Supervisors Vasquez, Steiner and Stanton are likely not headed for a hearty performance appraisal should their names ever appear on the ballot again. So when the supervisors and their staffs are reported to be complaining about Popejoy’s powers, let them remember that they are the cause of the problem in the first place, and that Popejoy is the solution they created. And let them remember the old adage “Absolute power corrupts, absolutely.”

JAMES V. LACY

Dana Point

* This is not a condemnation of the idea to conduct a management audit of the operational activities of Orange County. As a practicing management consultant, this is a part of the type of work we do. But this effort is misdirected.

County Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy and his associates appear to be doing an effective job of cutting costs. The anguished cries of the interest groups affected seem to attest to some form of pressure. Much more can be done, no doubt. It always can. And an outside body can effectively, clinically, help to point the way.

But this misses the more significant point that from the beginning, the county has had the opportunity to redefine the strategic direction of county government, its role and the roles of cities, local boards, nonprofit organizations and citizen groups. Instead, it has trivialized this opportunity. The political paralysis has led to business as usual. It is an opportunity lost.

Orange County, as any other state, county and local government, requires fundamental transformation. This is a strategic issue. What is our purpose? What is to be done? By whom? How? This is more important than to find a few more clerks to lay off.

O. MARK MARCUSSEN

Fullerton