Let Supervisors Pay for Their Defense

Thank God the Orange County supervisors are going to be held to account for their dereliction of duty for failing to supervise the treasurer’s office.

These supervisors were responsible for overseeing how our tax dollars were collected and spent and they failed miserably at the task.

Public servants need to be held accountable for the kind of job they do. And the supervisors have further infuriated the public with their arrogant attitudes and denial of responsibility.

In no way should the taxpayers be made to pay the supervisors’ legal bills. The public wants them removed from office and if they want to try to hang on to their jobs, they can hire their own attorneys.

JENNIFER MARKS

Irvine

Re: “A Justifiable Expense,” Editorial, Dec. 22.

I think The Times missed the point. Want to save a million dollars? As a taxpayer, I feel the two supervisors owe it to us to resign.

As the editorial says, “The only penalty is removal from office.” They both belatedly have stated they do not plan to run for reelection, so why are we taxpayers paying a million dollars to keep them from being removed?

Although there may be no criminal wrongdoing, the bankruptcy fiasco [belongs] at all the sitting supervisors’ feet. Former Supervisors Harriett M. Wieder, Thomas F. Riley and Gaddi H. Vasquez all escaped.

I say, please, Supervisors Roger R. Stanton and William G. Steiner, resign.

It seems ludicrous for us to pay the million to keep you in office for a few more months.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

The county taxpayers should not have to pay attorneys’ fees for Stanton, Steiner and Auditor-Controller Steven E. Lewis.

I am sure they can afford to pay their own legal fees, or they can use a public defender. All they face is removal from office. I do not think people seek public office with the concern of incurring on-the-job legal fees.

LEONARD HERNANDEZ

Tustin