ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE

Orange County Supervisor William G. Steiner should not vote on a controversial Trabuco Canyon housing development. There may be nothing to legally stop him, as he argues, but this case certainly poses an appearance of a conflict of interest.

After becoming a member of the county Board of Supervisors, Steiner worked for Planet Hollywood, a Santa Ana restaurant, and received $5,500 for his labors. That was his first mistake. Supervisors should be free of financial connections to any interests that may come before the board.

An investor in Planet Hollywood, Franklyn R. Elfend, is a lobbyist representing Aradi Ltd., a company that wants to build more than 300 houses on a 232-acre site in Trabuco Canyon. Steiner said he plans to vote for the housing development and that the money he took from Planet Hollywood will not influence his vote.

That may be true, but the process leading up to the supervisors’ approval or rejection of the housing can only deepen the suspicion of county government prevalent among residents, especially those in South County.

A consultant for Aradi said Steiner and Supervisor Don Saltarelli have had several meetings with Aradi representatives. The consultant said the developer used Elfend’s long-standing relationship with Steiner to get the supervisor’s support for the project.

That is how Orange County business often is done. Lobbyists make introductions to the supervisors, who then give the developers ample time to make their case. It is legal. But it is an advantage usually denied to residents who are unable to afford lobbyists or make donations to politicians’ campaigns. Many residents have reached the understandable conclusion, based on history, that Orange County government represents a green light for developers.