Only 1 in 9 O.C. Residents Praise Work of Supervisors

Orange County emerged from bankruptcy four months ago, yet the public’s deep dissatisfaction with county supervisors remains strong, according to a new Times Orange County Poll.

The survey found that more than half the county’s residents believe the Board of Supervisors is doing a poor job managing the county budget, with only one in nine rating the performance of board members as good or excellent.

Moreover, a third of those surveyed said the supervisors do a poor job representing the views of residents, while 38% said they do a fair job and 12% said they do a good or excellent job.

“We haven’t seen a lot of improvement in terms of the public’s image of supervisors as fiscal managers . . . even though the bankruptcy is becoming a distant memory,” said Mark Baldassare, who conducted the poll.

“The fact that supervisors were front and center during the financial crisis still seems to tarnish their image, even today,” said Baldassare, chairman of the department of urban planning at UC Irvine.

The performance ratings are dismal when compared with pre-bankruptcy surveys. In May 1992, for example, about one in four residents believed the supervisors provided excellent or good leadership, and 18% said they provided poor leadership. The latest survey found that just one in nine gave excellent or good marks, while nearly four in 10 gave poor marks.

Poll respondents said that even though the financial crisis has passed, they remain distrustful of county government and believe more reforms are needed.

“I honestly didn’t feel many effects of the bankruptcy,” said Dave Delaney, a Huntington Beach oil industry worker. “But I still feel mistrust over the way everything was handled.”

Dee Schader, a homemaker from Trabuco Canyon, said the Board of Supervisors is out of touch with residents. “People go down there to explain a problem, and it’s like, ‘Thank you, now next,’ ” she said. “They try to be polite but don’t do anything.”

County officials expressed frustration but little surprise at the findings, insisting they deserve at least some credit for bringing the county out of its 18-month bankruptcy.

But several supervisors acknowledged that a credibility gap exists and must be addressed.

“It’s an attitude of ‘us versus them.’ I sense it when I’m out in the community,” Supervisor Marian Bergeson said. “I think the board still has to earn the trust and confidence of the public. The sting of the bankruptcy will be around for a long time.”

Supervisor Don Saltarelli said the county could improve its public image by reapportioning supervisorial districts to better group communities with similar interests and needs. He also suggested holding board meetings in the evening, when more people can attend.

“I think people are rightly concerned about their political representation,” he said.

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How the O.C. Poll Was Conducted

The Times Orange County Poll was conducted by Mark Baldassare and Associates. The telephone survey of 600 randomly selected Orange County registered voters was conducted October 19-21 on weekday nights and weekend days. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. For likely voters in the November election, the error margin is plus or minus 5 percentage points. The sample is statistically weighted to reflect the political party, demographic, and geographic distribution of Orange County voters.

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Supervisors Rate Little Confidence

Orange County voters continue to heavily favor term limits for county supervisors--a position they have maintained all year. Supervisor job performance ratings have declined, as majorities say they are at best doing only a fair job in providing leadership, managing the budget and representing the views of residents.

* Measure A on the Orange County ballot would set term limits of two consecutive four-year terms for members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no on Measure A?

Yes: 75%

No: 17%

Don’t know: 8%

*

How would you rate the performance of the Orange County Board of Supervisors:

On providing overall leadership?

Excellent/Good: 11%

Fair: 38%

Poor: 39%

Don’t know: 12%

*

On managing the county budget?

Excellent/Good: 11%

Fair: 25%

Poor: 54%

Don’t know: 10%

*

On representing the views of local residents?

Excellent/Good: 12%

Fair: 38%

Poor: 33%

Don’t know: 17%

*

Here’s how those job ratings have eroded:

% saying “excellent” or “good”

On providing overall leadership?

May 1988: 32%

May 1992: 31%

May 1994: 28%

October 1996: 11%

*

On managing the county budget?

May 1988: 27%

May 1992: 19%

October 1996: 11%

*

On representing the views of local residents?

May 1988: 26%

May 1992: 27%

May 1994: 25%

October 1996: 12%

Source: Times Orange County Poll