Top Capizzi Deputy Wade to Run for D.A.

Wallace J. Wade, one of Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi’s top lieutenants, said Tuesday he will run for district attorney in the 1998 election, promising to make the prosecution of violent criminals, three-strikes cases and street gangs priorities.

“I think the citizens want a person with the professional and management experience to run what amounts to the largest law firm in Orange County,” Wade said.

Although he has not officially announced his candidacy, Capizzi is actively campaigning to become California attorney general.

A 17-year veteran of the office, Assistant Dist. Atty. Wade is the director of special operations and supervised the 30-month criminal investigation of the Orange County bankruptcy.

Wade, 50, a resident of San Juan Capistrano, said county residents “deserve a chief prosecutor who not only understands their legitimate desire to live in safe neighborhoods and have their children attend safe schools, but [who] also has the professional experience and management ability to accomplish these goals.”

Before attending law school, Wade was a teacher at St. Bernard High School in Los Angeles and assistant football coach at Loyola University.

Wade said he would continue the reorganization of the offices’ family support unit and seek to inject more people into the process of collecting child support.

Although the district attorney’s office has come under heavy criticism from some Republicans for pursuing technical violations of the election law, Wade said he would not avoid prosecuting election fraud.

But, he noted, “clearly some cases that involve charges so dangerous to the system, like bribery, will always be a top priority.”

Wade is third person to announce for the post. Assistant Dist. Atty. Brent Romney and Superior Court Judge Anthony Rackauckas have also said they intend to run.