Fresh Start in Two Key Posts

Two names conspicuous by their absence on the list of Orange County officials seeking reelection are Assessor Bradley L. Jacobs and Auditor-Controller Steve E. Lewis. Both were right not to try to extend their tenures.

Jacobs has held his post for many years and until recently had done a generally good job. But his refusal to apply for a state loan that would have let him increase his staff to reduce a backlog of assessment appeals left his office short on help it could have used.

Jacobs argued that his office did not meet requirements for the loan. But he should have sought it, since the worst that could have happened would have been a rejection. He also argued that the county would have to repay the loan someday. But every other county that has obtained the loan has had it converted later to a gift by Sacramento.

Last month, county supervisors said they had no confidence in Jacobs and voted to make it possible to trim the assessor’s $100,000-a-year salary starting in January. That threat may have been a factor in Jacobs’ decision not to seek another term.

Lewis has held on to office several years too long. He should have resigned soon after the county declared bankruptcy in December 1994.

As auditor-controller, Lewis was one of the people who should have seen the county’s financial problems coming. He did once issue a warning about the reckless investment practices of Robert L. Citron, who then was the county treasurer-tax collector. But Lewis’ warning was a whisper; it should have been a shout. County officials said they never recalled receiving Lewis’ advisory.

After the bankruptcy, supervisors rightly stripped Lewis of most of his auditing duties, establishing a separate department of internal audits. That would have been unnecessary had Lewis stepped down.

The departure of the assessor and auditor-controller will clear the decks for newcomers. Those seeking to replace them in this year’s elections should study how to avoid making the same mistakes and thereby give the county a fresh start in two key posts.