Supervisors’ Private Feud Goes Very Public

A simmering private feud between Orange County supervisors Jim Silva and Todd Spitzer erupted in public Tuesday when the board chairman branded Spitzer a liar who can’t be trusted.

In a tirade that left Spitzer speechless, the usually mild-mannered Silva accused him during the board’s regular meeting of leaking information from closed-door sessions and meddling in contract negotiations with county lawyers.

“The history for the last 23 months is that closed sessions are not really closed. The information is out on the street within an hour,” Silva said. He threatened to boycott all closed sessions that Spitzer attends.

He also accused Spitzer of lying to the public by reneging on a campaign promise two years ago not to accept a county car or car allowance.

Spitzer, who took office in January 1997, did not respond at the meeting and would not comment later.

The meeting marked the first time Silva and Spitzer met publicly since the Nov. 3 election. During Silva’s campaign for reelection, Spitzer had privately withdrawn his endorsement of Silva and publicly questioned his colleague’s “integrity and honesty” in flip-flopping on a controversial board vote.

The unexpected eruption Tuesday left other supervisors flummoxed.

Supervisor Tom Wilson said he empathized with Silva’s concern about leaks of sensitive information but said that boycotting closed sessions is not the answer.

“I think reason will prevail,” Wilson said. “I don’t see this as being a board problem.”

Supervisor William G. Steiner agreed that Silva raised a legitimate issue but predicted that “tempers will cool.” Supervisor Charles V. Smith was in Washington on county business.

Silva’s most serious allegation involved divulging information discussed during closed-session meetings, where supervisors are briefed on personnel matters and litigation. The information is supposed to remain secret.

He said he was angered after a closed session two weeks ago in which supervisors discussed a union contract for prosecutors, public defenders and county counsels.

Shortly afterward, Silva said, he received a call from Ernie Schneider, who represents the lawyers, saying Spitzer was proposing a separate solution. Schneider confirmed he talked with Spitzer but would not say more about their discussion.

Silva’s outburst didn’t end when the gavel closed the meeting.

“Mr. Spitzer lied to get into office and he’s been lying ever since,” Silva charged afterward.

He was referring to Spitzer’s 1996 campaign pledge not to accept a county car or car allowance of $4,800 a year. After taking office, Spitzer accepted a used county car, saying it would be less expensive than receiving mileage compensation for driving his own car.

Relations between Silva, 54, and Spitzer, 37, had been cordial before this fall’s election.

The two often voted together but opposed each other on a number of major issues, particularly plans for an international airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and the powers of the county’s executive officer, Jan Mittermeier. Silva typically voted with the majority, Spitzer in dissent.

The relationship between them fell apart in recent months when Silva was challenged by Huntington Beach Councilman Dave Sullivan.

Last month, Spitzer abruptly withdrew his endorsement of Silva and publicly accused him of lacking “integrity and honesty” by changing his mind on a critical vote involving Mittermeier’s authority. Sullivan, who lost the election, used Spitzer’s comment in a campaign mailer.

Schneider, the former county administrative officer, said that personal spats between board members can hurt the orderly operation of government.

“In 25 years of working down there [in county government], when there is a dispute between two board members, it tends to spill over to other issues,” he said.