1st District Competition

First District Supervisor Roger R. Stantonis leaving office in December, and two men seek to replace him. Here’s a look at the pair and the district.:

The District

Covers a densely populated, ethnically diverse section of central Orange County including Fountain Valley and large parts of Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Westminster. It also includes the unincorporated community of Midway City. The district features large Vietnamese, Korean and Latino populations.

The Candidates

Mark Leyes

Age: 38

Occupation: Government relations officer for Orange County Water District; Garden Grove city councilman.

Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Cal State Fullerton.

Residence: Garden Grove.

Family: Married.

Background: Elected to Garden Grove City Council in 1990; head of coalition of cities pushing for development of a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

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Where They Stand

* On efforts by County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier to reorganize county government by eliminating the General Services and Environmental Management agencies..

Favors: “I support what Mittermeier has proposed so far. But for everyone’s sake, I hope she is not satisfied with it. There needs to be a much more serious look at restructuring.

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* On whether the county should provide defense funds to officials facing bankruptcy- related charges.

Oppises: “There are no simple answers. . .I would not vote in favor of any (defense) fees for bankruptcy defendants unless they agreed to repay the money if found guilty.”

Charles V. Smith

Age: 64

Occupation: Retired aerospace manager.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University; graduate work at UCLA.

Residence: Westminster.

Family: Married; four children; three grandchildren.

Background: Elected to Westminster City Council in 1984; former chairman, Orange County Transportation Authority; former president, Orange County League oof California Cities.

Where They Stand

* On efforts by County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier to reorganize county government by eliminating the General Services and Environmental Management agencies..

Favors: “I think she is moving in the right direction. But I am not sure if it goes far enough. We need to look not just at the county but at all government agencies to develop a broad-based restructuring plan.”

* On whether the county should provide defense funds to officials facing bankruptcy- related charges.

Favors: “In general, any government body should defend officials who are being sued for things they did as part of their official duties and as long as personal gain was not involved. . .I would have to look at each case on an individual basis.”

Sources: Individual candidates; Times reports; Researched by SHELBY GRAD / For The Times