Vasquez Takes Edison Executive Job : Careers: Former supervisors chairman had made earlier commitment to rejoin Orange Police Department but opts for public affairs post with utility instead.

Former County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez is taking a job with Southern California Edison after backing away from an earlier commitment to join the Orange Police Department, officials said Thursday.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Vasquez, who starts next week as a division vice president for public affairs and will often be working in Orange County. “I think this is a very important public service.”

“He’ll be working in a legislative capacity, helping us to respond to different issues facing our company,” including the restructuring of the utility industry, said Cathy Sedlik, Southern California Edison spokeswoman.

Vasquez, 40, stepped down from the Board of Supervisors in September following months of criticism over the county’s bankruptcy. He said then that he was leaving office after eight years to spend more time with his wife and teen-age son.

Vasquez said Thursday that while he has no regrets about leaving the board, he misses his former colleagues and county employees.

The former supervisor declined to discuss in detail how he made his decision to join Southern California Edison or what his salary will be. Those close to Vasquez said he was expected to be sworn in this month as an officer with the Orange Police Department, where he still serves as a reserve officer.

Vasquez later asked the department for a week’s extension to reconsider, and ultimately decided instead to take the position with Southern California Edison, the utility where Vasquez worked nearly a decade ago.

Most Orange Police Department officials said they were disappointed but did not feel snubbed.

“We wish him well, we’re excited for him,” said Police Lt. Timm Browne, a spokesman for the department.

One Orange city official who asked not to be named, however, said Vasquez should have sorted out his feelings before leaving the Police Department with the impression that he was signing on.

“That would have been preferable to this, ‘Wait, let me rethink this,’ ” the official said.

Vasquez has had a long history with the Orange Police Department. At 19, he became the department’s youngest officer ever. He later left to enter the political arena but remained a reserve police officer.

“He will continue to be a reserve officer,” Browne said.