Supervisors’ Vote Was Irresponsible

Was it hypnosis, witchcraft or the full moon? What else could have happened Oct. 6 to cause the county’s supervisors to take leave of their senses and approve a contract with the county executive that requires a 4-1 vote to reject a candidate for a department head position?

Department heads have primary responsibility for implementing county policies established by the supervisors. When an individual is proposed for a department head position, I would expect each supervisor to carefully evaluate the candidate’s character, integrity and preparedness to carry out the board’s policies. We are now confronted with the ridiculous situation where an individual could be hired even if three of the five supervisors have strong misgivings about any of these vital criteria.

This is outrageous and effectively strips the Board of Supervisors of the authority and accountability to the citizens of Orange County. In fact, it makes one wonder why we need a board at all. Why don’t we just elect the county executive, chief executive officer or whatever title we are using this year?

This is not an issue about Jan Mittermeier, the county executive. This is an issue of responsible government. We elect our supervisors to set county policy and oversee its implementation on our behalf. We do not elect them to turn over their authority to an appointed officer, no matter how qualified that person may be.

WAYNE RAYFIELD

Dana Point

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Is the process applied to the reappointment of Jan Mittermeier as county executive an anomaly? Let’s consider the facts.

Why do the supervisors require a 4-1 vote to reject the hiring of a department head, while permitting only a 3-2 vote for the county executive? Why apply a lower standard for the CEO?

Why reappoint the CEO just before the election of a new board? Especially when at least one candidate for supervisor, Dave Sullivan, has stated strong opposition to the three-year contract?

If the new board decided to modify the contract, the CEO would probably resign. This will cost the taxpayers almost $150,000 in severance pay, a new benefit added to the new contract.

Is Supervisor Jim Silva responsible for this debacle?

Before lunch he voted to reject the proposed contract. After lunch he approved it. His explanation that Mittermeier will not accept the contract is misleading; he knew that all along. Did the political power structure persuade him to change his vote? Very likely.

PAUL WILLEMS

Laguna Niguel