Third-Party Fallout Helps Sullivan Challenge Silva

In the increasingly spirited campaign for the 2nd District supervisorial seat, challenger Dave Sullivan has enlisted the unplanned help of Supervisor Todd Spitzer in a mailer that questions the integrity and honesty of 2nd District incumbent Jim Silva.

Spitzer, who publicly sparred with Silva earlier this month over contract renewal for County Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier, said he was unaware of the mailer and “had nothing to do with it.”

But Spitzer added he was not surprised that some of his public comments about Silva had been used as part of Sullivan’s campaign effort, and “what I said about Silva is my opinion and I stick by those words.”

The anti-Silva mailer is only the latest development in what has become a lively campaign for the 2nd District, with Sullivan aggressively challenging the entrenched incumbent.

Sullivan’s campaign commercials are scheduled to begin this week.

A lot is riding on that seat.

Silva supports plans for an international airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, while Sullivan opposes them. A Sullivan victory would tilt the balance of power against the airport, since Spitzer and Supervisor Tom Wilson also oppose it.

Sullivan’s latest mailer, which was sent to more than 150,000 voters in the district, quotes Spitzer as stating that “Jim Silva tells the public he is going to do one thing--then he breaks his word to the voters. It goes to his integrity and honesty.”

Spitzer withdrew his support for Silva’s reelection after Silva reversed field and voted against Spitzer’s attempt to rein in Mittermeier’s powers when her contract was up for renegotiation. Spitzer has been at odds with Mittermeier for months, particularly over her staunch support for an El Toro airport.

Spitzer wanted the supervisors to be able to overrule Mittermeier’s choice of department heads by a simple, 3-2 majority vote of the five-member board.

Silva initially sided with Spitzer, but after Mittermeier threatened to quit, he agreed with a rival proposal that the CEO’s department head selections could be rejected only by four out of five votes. After the vote, Spitzer passed Silva a note withdrawing his endorsement.

Spitzer said he did not want his action to be known publicly. “I intended it to be a private matter between me and Jim Silva. Jim Silva decided to talk about it to the press,” he said.

Sullivan said Spitzer’s words will influence voters.

“I think he’s an admired supervisor and his opinion would resonate strongly with people,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan’s mailer increased speculation in the Silva camp that Spitzer was actively aiding Sullivan in his bid to unseat Silva.

Spitzer appeared last week at a Sullivan fund-raiser. A Spitzer staffer was listed on a South County host committee for Sullivan and another staffer was passing out literature critical of Silva at a Republican gathering. In addition, Silva campaign manager Matthew Cunningham said he received reports that Spitzer had been calling lobbyists asking them to support Sullivan financially.

“I think he’s come out of the closet on this one,” Cunningham said. “I don’t think it’s wise to try to unseat one of your colleagues just because you lose a vote.”

Spitzer denied that he made any fund-raising calls for Sullivan and maintains that he has not endorsed Sullivan.

Allowing his name and picture to be used so prominently against his colleague might be a politically risky move for Spitzer. Orange County’s Republican leadership frowns upon GOP candidates breaking ranks to attack each other. Earlier this year, Spitzer began exploring the possibility of running for higher office, discussing the idea with Assemblyman Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton), who is vacating his seat due to term limits.

“[Spitzer’s] ambition and inexperience show in these kinds of areas quite frankly,” said Doy Henley, chairman of the Republicans’ influential Lincoln Club. “He is a bit out of his element in this regard. . . . It’s terribly disappointing, [but] everything that goes around comes around.”