Former Aide Says Kildee Fired Him Days After Losing Race for Her Seat

Days after a failed bid to replace his boss as county supervisor, Al Escoto says he was fired from his job as administrative aide to Supervisor Maggie Kildee.

Escoto, 56, said he believes his dismissal was related to his candidacy and to Kildee’s support of another of her aides, Kathy Long, for the 3rd District seat.

In last month’s primary election, Long and Camarillo City Councilman Mike Morgan qualified for a fall runoff in the supervisorial campaign to replace the retiring Kildee. Escoto finished last in the four-person race.

Less than a week later, Escoto says, Kildee called him into her office and dismissed him from his $46,000-a-year job, despite more than seven years of service.

“She gave me one day to get out of the office,” Escoto said Thursday. “I was given no choice. She said there had been too much damage done during the campaign.”

Kildee would not discuss the matter, but issued a statement confirming that Escoto no longer worked for her. She said the split was by mutual decision.

“Mr. Escoto received a 60-day notice as provided for in county rules and procedures, and the supervisor is assisting him in seeking employment elsewhere in the county,” the statement said. “Mr. Escoto was a long-time employee and the supervisor is sorry there had to be a parting of the ways.”

Last June, on the same day Kildee called a press conference to announce she would not seek another term, Escoto announced his candidacy for her seat. One month later, Long followed with her own announcement.

In the months before the election, Escoto said, Kildee’s support of Long became more evident.

She appointed Long senior administrative aide last summer, and then endorsed her outright less than two weeks before the March 26 election.

“Throughout the campaign, she was totally supportive of Kathy,” Escoto said. “The whole thing has been a real difficult situation. From Day 1, she has undermined me and undermined my campaign.”

Escoto said he was given 60 days’ severance pay and is now hunting for work.